the_matt79

I have just watched my Braves lose yet another game this month. If you had told me a month ago that we would be skidding like this, that we would be struggling like this, that our chance at getting into the postseason was tantamount at best, well I would have laughed at you, and then I would have bit my tongue lest I tempt the fickle Gods of baseball.

DISCLAIMER: Yes I use the term we when I refer to the Atlanta Braves, or any team that is my favorite in any given sport. They are my favorite team for a reason, and I have undying loyalty to me even on the downslide that sometimes happens. So yes, I am one of those people that says we, or my, or our when referring to my favorite team and what is going on with them, and I will continue to do so. Besides, one of the pitchers for the Braves, whom I follow on Twitter, said that we should do that, so I will dangnabbit.

Okay, so I sit here watching the Astros play the Cardinals in the hopes that the Astros can beat them, and bring the Braves magic number down to one. If the Cardinals win, then they are tied with the Braves and tomorrow's game becomes even more important. Yes, I am nervous, yes I am saddened by my teams performance this month, and yes I hope St. Louis falters.

I also sit here and wonder if it is heartening or disheartening that a sports team can seemingly break my heart. It could be heartening in the fact that it isn't anything in my personal life that is causing this turmoil, and that when I look at it in regard to the rest of the world I will get perspective much more quickly than I would if it was a personal thing. It is disheartening for many of the same reasons, because I can let such a thing as sports affect me so, but dammit I don't care. I love baseball, and I love the Braves, and I do not like to see them struggle, to beat themselves up, to try and force greatness when they are capable of it when they want to be.

I will continue to have a discussion within my own head about these things. I hope the Braves make the postseason and make a run at another title. If they do not make it, or they lose out, I hope at least they put forth the best effort they can, as that is ultimately all I can truly hope. If they do lose, then I will take it in, I will lament it, and then I will worry about the moves they make in the offseason. I will also worry about college hockey and professional hockey and football as they have started or will start.

Of course, in sports my first love is Baseball, and much like anyone's first love, it can be great or it can be spiteful, all you can hope for is the great, and take the spiteful in stride.