2017 World Series Email Exchange

2017 World Series Email Exchange

During the ALCS and NLCS Nicholas Burmeister (AKA @PadresHaiku) and I wrote back and forth between games. We did the same for this amazing World Series that took place between the Astros and Dodgers. It was a lot of fun and, like it often does, brought up feelings about our own San Diego Padres. Enjoy!

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 8:04 AM

McCann,

How are you? The World Series starts tonight. Who you got? I’m not 100% sure, but if the LA Dodgers win, its four or five. If the Astros win, I think it goes seven. The Astros hitters are getting hot, but the Dodgers pitchers have been resting for a while. If Houston wins in LA tonight I think they take the series.

Padres Twitter is getting chippy.

Talk soon, Haiku

NICK MCCANN – Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 3:12 PM

I’m living my worst sports nightmare. The Dodgers are in the World Series and I have them winning.

I was at a wedding in Oakland when Kirk Gibson hit his iconic blast off of Eckersley. I was eight and was blown away that the A’s fan groom insisted on having a TV at his reception to watch the game. It was a big deal then, and having the Dodgers back on the biggest stage, is a big deal now. I hate this about myself. I care about what the Dodgers do and it will never change. Clayton Kershaw has to fail tonight. The universe owes me that.

Also, Padres Twitter is going to be a disaster over the next few days. I might check out.

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 5:21 PM

Padres Twitter is eating itself. Remember mid summer when there was all that love? That’s over. It’s weird that some Padre fans don’t understand why they’re supposed to hate the Dodgers.

Bums are already up by one. This is going to be the longest winter.

Dodgers beat the Astros 3-1 in Game 1. Clayton Kershaw dominates in one of the great postseason performances of the modern era.

NICK MCCANN – Wed, Oct 25, 2017 at 1:32 PM

I felt this way after Peyton Manning won his first Super Bowl over the Bears in 2006. We couldn’t say he wasn’t clutch anymore. With Clayton it’s basically the same thing. Sure, he’s had some strong performances in the playoffs, but up until last night he had never shined fully on the biggest stage. That’s over now. Outside of giving up a solo shot, he was virtually flawless in the biggest game of his life. He might never quite reach the heights of Madison Bumgarner in 2014 (probably nobody will), but he is now a clutch postseason performer. He did his part regardless if they win it all or not. This sucks. I’ll miss my old tortured Clayton.

Now he is without question the greatest pitcher of his generation and there really isn’t anything more to say. Step it up, Astros. Don’t give up.

Astros beat the Dodgers 7-6 in Game 2. It goes to extra innings, but Houston holds on for the win.

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Wed, Oct 25, 2017 at 9:38 PM

You’ve got the wrong Clayton as the best of his generation. Clayton Richard is the GOAT there’s no denying this. Kershaw was great in Game 1, but tonight’s game was a wild one. The Astros really tried to blow it, but eventually pulled it off.

Day off tomorrow. What am I going to do with my life?

NICK MCCANN – Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 4:19 PM

Padres hired Matt Stairs as their hitting coach. Does that seem odd? My first thought was: Beer League Softball. Tonight should be exciting. The Astros are an amazing team and their city has been thrown through the ringer. I’m falling hard for Jose Altuve.

I want that in my life. He’s almost like if Tony Gwynn and Roberto Alomar had a baby with more power than they ever had. We’re talking about doing a World Series Party edition of the Kept Faith’s Podcast (available on ITunes. Podomatic and GooglePlay). Can you stop by?

Astros beat the Dodgers 5-3 in Game 3.

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 12:20 PM

Yeah I’ll be there after work.

Altuve is what’s right with baseball right now. He’s fun to watch & seems to be a good dude. He might end up with more hits than Ichiro. He’d look really good in Brown and Mustard.

This Yuli Gurriel news is a real bummer. I forget sometimes that a lot of these guys are assholes. Yu Darvish seems to be taking a very high road on this which is good. What do you think MLB should do If anything?

Anyway, see you after work.

Dodgers beat the Astros 6-2 in Game 4. The podcast was a blast. Still available on ITunes, Podomatic and GooglePlay!

NICK MCCANN – Sun, Oct 29, 2017 at 3:59 PM

Sorry my son ruined the pod at the end. He’s outside running laps right now. It was a teachable moment. This World Series is blowing my mind. The teams are both beautifully constructed and exciting. Tonight Clayton Kershaw will pitch in the biggest game of his career. His game one was incredible so if he blows this it won’t be completely defining, but it still matters. He has to have a good game to stomp out ammunition for assholes like me. The drama surrounding this game is off the charts. I can’t wait to see what happens to Kershaw tonight. Something will.

Astros beat the Dodgers 13-12 in Game 5. Clayton Kershaw gave up a 4 run lead. The game went 10 innings.

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Sun, Oct 29, 2017 at 11:49 PM

Wow, what a game! If juicing balls created baseball this fun, than I suggest playing the next two games at a Fruteri­a (a real one). Kershaw is going to be the best pitcher and the best “yeah, but” target of his generation. You can make the argument from both sides:

“He’s the best pitcher ever!”

“Yeah, but he choked in the post season.”

 Or

“Kershaw was overwhelmed and couldn’t perform on the big stage”

 “Yeah, but his look at his regular season numbers.”

It has shades of the Trevor Hoffman debate and it’s delicious. Your son didn’t ruin the pod. But his takes are scorching white hot and it made the rest of us feel inadequate.

NICK MCCANN – Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 7:01 AM

I needed a day to regroup after what some people are saying was the greatest game of all time. Yeah, I’m not sure it tops Game 7 of last year. That had everything: Old Testament God, speeches during the rain, that Rizzo guy getting the last out and ending a monster of a curse. Speaking of monsters, it is Halloween and tonight could get really dark in LA. If Justin Verlander crushes it and the Astros win in it all, Clayton Kershaw and the city he plays for are going to spiral. If they lose, every conversation about Kershaw moving forward will start with “except for game 5”. The stakes are high. This is the best overall series I’ve ever seen through 5 games. I want more!

I guess what’s hardest about this is that even though I hate all of the Dodgers, I genuinely feel more connected to them as entertaining personalities than most of the current Padres. When Joc walks up to the plate, I know him and I know why I hate him. Same with Puig, Ethier, Seager, Turner etc. We don’t have that yet here. We don’t really know who the 2020 Padres will be. And we don’t really know if that’s even our year.

Dodgers beat the Astros 3-1 in Game 6. There will be a 7th game.

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 1:30 PM

After the baseball fever dream that was Game Five, Game Six seemed boring. Justin Verlander pulled a Kershaw and was less than spectacular and we ended up with a low scoring game that belonged in the middle of June, not the end of October. It’s like I’ve been eating Kit-Kat’s and Reese’s for 10 days and now you just gave me a Hershey’s bar. I mean it’s good, but it’s just a chocolate bar, whatever.

What did you think of Joc’s home run trot? It’s easy to “know” these Dodgers. You’ve been watching them a lot this postseason and for the past regular season. It helps that they’re in a big market on a good team. The national media frames up all these players. Plus they’re going to be around for a while. These Padres are, with a few #Swoon worthy exceptions, temporary. I know exactly why I hate every Dodger too, and really every Giant, D-Back and Rockie, (except Amarista). The Padres lack personality sure, but who cares? These guys aren’t going to be here long, except you know who. I’ve seen Josh Naylor play. He’s got that thing you’ll connect with and so does Tatis Jr. I don’t know about Urias or Gore, but there’s time.

Last game tonight. McCullers vs Darvish. Joe Buck will be his Buckyest. Hold on to your butts!

The Astros beat the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7. They are the 2017 World Series Champions.

NICK MCCANN – Wed, Nov 1, 2017 at 9:37 PM

The Dodgers are going to be a lot for us to handle for a very long time. Their front office and ownership group is smarter than ours and they can afford to make mistakes. Their core is set and piece will be added. Next year they will be highly motivated to make sure they get to the World Series and dominate. Game 7 was kind of dud after the excitement this series had already brought. Regardless, the Astros are who we want to be. They have the most exciting lineup MLB has seen in a very long time and they came to this point using smart tactics and patience.

This World Series wasn’t technically about the Padres, but everything ends up being about them anyways. It’s time for them to start winning seasons. However, the Astros took their time. Will we build the right way and #EarnHistory? You never know with #ThisTeam.

NICHOLAS BURMEISTER – Thu, Nov 2, 2017 at 10:22 AM

Don’t be so fatalistic, I’m sure there were Houstonians that looked at the Rangers of 2010-2011 and thought that the tank would never work. Not every team with a smart front office and a young core wins a pennant every year ie. Cubs. Be chill. The Padres are building, with direction it seems, and things take time. Doesn’t the Astros success give you some hope?

Preller is smart and he’s dirty. That could be the right combination.

Prepare for bad baseball. Go to games in Lake Elsinore and enjoy the ride.

Now that baseball season is over, all those Dodgers fans can focus on their first love: The Chargers.

<<<

What-ifs and Yeah-buts

A hot stove to keep us warm

Winter upon us

>>> 

 

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Nick was born in San Diego in 1980. He started The Kept Faith on blogspot in 2008.

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