As the season winds down, it’s either the excitement of a playoff push or the resignation of another “rebuilding year.” For the lucky few in contention, every game feels like life or death. We agonize over every strikeout, every bullpen meltdown, and every questionable call from the ump. Meanwhile, fans of teams out of the race start looking forward to “next year” (a phrase that’s become more comforting than a warm blanket).
For those fortunate enough to see their team in the postseason, October is a month of sleepless nights, nail-biting games, and stress eating. We pace around the living room like it’s Game 7 of the World Series (even if it’s just the Wild Card). And if your team actually makes it to the World Series? Well, prepare for heart palpitations and a new level of baseball-induced anxiety.
But whether your team ends the season hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy or with another year of “what ifs,” one thing’s for sure—baseball has a way of pulling us back in, year after year. Because no matter how many heartbreaks or “rebuilding years” we endure, there’s always next season. And who knows? Maybe next year really will be our year.
Until then, we’ll just keep refreshing those trade rumors and dreaming of that perfect walk-off home run. After all, that’s what being a baseball fan is all about—hoping, dreaming, and, above all, surviving the rollercoaster that is baseball season.