Richard Wolfe: Three in the 'W' column: A clumsy fantasy baseball metaphor
The Democrats (Blues) stepped up to the plate. Their fans, 8.3 million more numerous than their opponents’ (per the latest statistics; screeching about "fake gate counts" notwithstanding), were anxious to see if their support for the manager’s game plan was going to pay off.
The Blues had ground to make up and repeated Republican (Reds) rules violations to overcome after it was revealed the Reds had been systematically engaged in sign stealing. Beginning in 2016 they had collaborated with a foreign gaming organization to steal the Blues’ strategies. The league’s Office of Baseball Integrity had dusted off and was reviewing a long-disparaged but nevertheless comprehensive report on the alleged wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, outside the foul lines…
A small but unruly faction of the Reds’ fan base had questioned the integrity of the umpires. They went so far as insisting their home park venues turn over video of past games even though many had been played months ago. To date, not one iota of evidence suggesting misconduct has been brought forward.
That mess was attributed to the disgraced and discarded Reds manager’s continual lying about having been fired from his post. A man of awful and dishonest reputation, he never missed an opportunity to insult others and demean the league that had cosseted his incompetence and vile behavior.
Just prior to his getting the boot, he had tilted the field in favor of his soon-to-be-former team by reinstating several of the Reds’ coaches, each having been suspended for their part in the sign stealing scandal. Some have since been spotted in and around the clubhouse.
Meanwhile, inside the foul lines…
The Blues had already taken a substantial lead by dint of an early (but monster) home run by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. As a result, the score stood at $1.9 trillion to nothing. Even Reds fans were impressed. Except, maybe, the luxury box owners.
The Reds players disparaged what they called "running up the score." The irony here was inescapable, as they had done likewise at their home park, at the behest of and to the primary benefit of those self-same luxury box owners. To the tune of $1.7 trillion.
In the middle innings, the Blues had pivoted to a strategy of what used to be called "small ball." Originally pressing for a home run ($3.5 trillion Build Back Better package) they were nevertheless more than happy with a pair of doubles, courtesy of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, followed closely by the $1.85 trillion social spending bill.
As of this writing, the first one had crossed the plate and the other was in scoring position.
The Blues now appear poised to sweep public opinion; $4.85 trillion (slipping the metaphor a bit now) focused directly upon improving the lives and lots of fans — all fans — will put the Blues in fine stead when the next draft takes place, in 2022.
[Side note: Unless, of course, the Reds (and those luxury box owners) gain traction with their scheming to again undermine the game’s basic tenets of fair play. The entire country is watching, but so many fans — understandably, but sadly — have little grasp of the murky "inside baseball" antics that take place in the off season. Some, even more sadly, care only about winning. At any cost. Tradition and honor being for suckers.]
Lastly, for the post-game wrap up…
The governing body that oversees adherence to salary caps and other fiscal directives issued a detailed report that confirms the $4.95 trillion conforms to all pertinent regulations. No irregularities, current or foreseen, and with only a nominal increase in ticket prices anticipated.
Even a cursory review of these results points to a win, win, win.
And yet, after all that sporting mastery, the baseball world still, somehow, views the Blues’ team as being in disarray and their manager as hapless. But three in the "W" column is hard to ignore.
The Reds’ press outlets will try though. Trumpeting distractions to cover their team’s abject failures.
While the Blues forge ahead, undaunted, and simply let their bats "do the talking."
— Community Columnist Richard Wolfe is a resident of Park Township. Contact him at wolf86681346@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Richard Wolfe: Three in the 'W' column: A clumsy fantasy baseball metaphor
