Monday, October 21, 2013

To The Victorino Belongs The Spoils


I had two bets riding on the Red Sox - Tigers series. I'm happy to report the Red Sox won (via Shane Victorino's wholly unexpected and electrifying grand slam, thus the title to this piece) and will play in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.





(Someone, no doubt from some country outside of the United States, will complain about it being called the "World" Series. Since there are nothing but American teams involved, I suppose it makes sense, on the surface, to question such nomenclature. Take my word for it; for all practical purposes, it is for the world championship. I have no doubt that someday in the near future teams from Japan, Korea, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Mexico, and other places that love the game of baseball, will be able to field teams, in their professional leagues, that could truly challenge for a championship against the best teams from the American professional leagues. That day is not today. If you don't believe that? You're entitled to your ill-informed opinion.)

One of the bets I won involved a forfeit of one's blog in form of a paean of some sort to the winner. You can find payment of that bet, from Sandi McBride, at her blog, Holding Patterns. If you go there, be kind. She's battling the flu.

The other bet, for which I am hungrily awaiting payment (literally), was with my good friend, Craig. I bet him New England Clam Chowder against Michigan Navy Bean Soup. I have not heard from him since the Tigers lost, but I have no doubt he will pay off the bet handsomely. He's a good Catholic gentleman and I trust he will not welch.

(That has been a part of my gambling lexicon for most of my life, but it just now occurs to me that it may be disparaging to Welshmen. If so, I'm sure someone will let me know and I offer my apologies to that nation in advance.)

So, any St. Louis Cardinals fans up for a small wager? The Series begins Wednesday evening. I know I should probably just rest on my laurels, enjoying my well-earned soup when it comes, but I think I might rather enjoy some gooey butter cake for dessert.

Soon, with more bettor stuff?

19 comments:

Sausage said...

Good luck tae yer socks, I think they will take it in 5. Not bad for a foreign correspondant eh! Just you wait until the Scots get into basball it will be like the Hansen brothers on clay and of course the ballparks must add dark beer and fish and chips with malt vinegar! As far as the world coming together to form a world baseball league all it will take is for some owner to see $$$$ signs then it's on. Can you imagine the Tampa Bay Rays versus the Okinawa Blue Wings? just awesome....Hope you win a few bucks, don't tell Uncle Sam.
Cheers, Sausage.

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

I always thought welching had more to do with squeezing grapes than with nationhood.
I would wager my good friend the Brighton Pensioner could elucidate further.
He might also weigh in regarding "World."
...Also on the placement of punctuation?

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

I'm fairly certain you can find dark beer and fish and chips with malt vinegar at AT&T Park.
If not onsite, close at hand.

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

I have to be very careful about how I express my feeling regarding the outcome of the ALCS.
There are family members who are still just a little miffed about last year.

Suldog said...

Being a MacPherson (on my father's mother's side) I would love nothing more than to see a Scottish version of the Hansens in baseball. I would also like to see the faces of fans from America who travel over to see some games when they first encounter haggis at the concession stands.

Suldog said...

I thought about grape jelly when I was writing that, but decided against mentioning it because I thought it might be too esoteric. I should have had more faith in you.

Pearl said...

1. Gooey Butter Cake?!! AHHHHHHH!

2. In my world, he is known as "Victor Eeno".

Pearl

Michelle H. said...

Let me try that again (I've been up since 2am). Congrats! Enjoy the bean soup. And I'm "dreading" the fact that my state is downwind to yours. ;-) Please take some Beano.

JudisJems said...

I'm not really into sports, but am happy for you (and most of my family) that the Red Sox won. Aren't there teams from Canada? Doesn't that qualify as international/world?

Congrats on your win of the soup, enjoy!

Peace, Judi

Suldog said...

I've never actually HAD gooey butter cake, so I hope someone offers a bet (and that I win, of course!)

Suldog said...

I believe in letting wind roam free. Sorry!

Suldog said...

Yes, there is the one team from Toronto, so it IS international, at least. Thanks!

Buck said...

Humbug. HUMBUG, I say!

Suldog said...

This from the man who decided NOT to bet me... Relax, Buck. The Wings beat the B's, and that's probably of more import to you, am I right?

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

I think DC should qualify as a foreign country.
It sure seems to have a foreign gov't.

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

Then the Sharks beat the Wings ...shut 'em out at The Joe.
What's with that?

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

Actually it was a shoot out.

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

Oops! I forgot this was a baseball post ...sorry.
I'll go stand in the corner now.

The Broad said...

I love the Red Sox! I've been a fan since I first heard about them in the 1950's when they were always way down and we all lived in hope that 'one day' they would rise again! Hope to be able to see some of the World Series games here!