An Unofficial and Horrifying Holiday

I feel like there is an unofficial holiday that has shown up at the beginning of Fall the past couple of years and it is starting to gain momentum.  It had a slow start and over the course of the past few years, it has started to gain momentum.  Almost to the point where you would think that people would start asking for the day off to celebrate.  I don't think there is a specific day that it starts, but maybe it has to do with the weather and the outside atmosphere.  It's the Pumpkin Spice Holiday. 

Yes folks, I am declaring that there is a nation holiday nightmare that is starting to take over and it smells of pumpkin and random spices.  It started out small, with a few things here and there with pumpkin flavoring.  Earlier this month, my wife texted me a picture of Pumpkin Spice oatmeal.  OATMEAL.  Stop it.  There is seemingly pumpkin spiced everything.  From consumable items like coffee, ice cream, and even beer to household items like candles, air fresheners, and potpourri.  It is starting to take over the gap between summer and Halloween.  I am expecting in the next year or two to walk into a Target and see an entire seasonal aisle run of nothing but pumpkin/pumpkin spice stuff.  To me that is a scary thing.  Now, I do like the smell of pumpkin, and even the taste of some pumpkin foods it's just becoming bigger than it should be.  

I know that when I think of fall, I think of smells.  It's a sensory season for me.  You step outside and there's something different in the air from the summer air.  I don't know if it's because of the temperature dropping and the leaves changing, but there's just something.  It's also a change in wardrobe for most people.  It's sweatpants, hoodies, and thermal long sleeve shirts.  It's comforting clothing.  Kinda like how there's comfort food, but it's comfort clothing.  Fall is my favorite season after winter.  One thing that is ruining it is pumpkin spice everything.  Stop ruining this time of the year for me!  And besides, if there is one type of food that should be associated with fall it should be apple. 

Post Season Pursuit

This season has been playing out a lot better for the Detroit Tigers than it did last year.  By this time last year, they were out of the playoff picture.  Hell, they were out of it by the All Star break.  The fans of the team came to the realization that they are going to be rebuilding over the next few years.  Especially after they traded away big names for prospects.  Much to my surprise, the Tigers find themselves in the hunt for the post season.  This is more exciting than the years that they were dominating the AL Central.  Was it nice when they were easily winning their division?  Yes, it was a guarantee they would be playing baseball into the end of September and October.  But the excitement and anxiety of each game just wasn't there.  Plus, the players know that every game counts.  They know that they have to go that extra mile and make that one extra play that could turn a lose into a win.  Now, every game matters as they battle back and forth with several teams for the playoffs. 

As I eluded to, after last season's disastrous end, I did not have many expectations for the Tigers.  I was hoping for a .500 record by seasons end as they worked the new prospects into the system.  They still have hold overs from their domination the past eight or nine seasons, but they also got younger.  With the emergence of some of the prospects throughout the season, the hopes of the fans grew.  This season is a great example of how baseball is a marathon and not a sprint.  In early May, the Tigers went on a horrendous run and lost eleven of thirteen games.  It was a dark time.  Many thought that they were going to dismiss Brad Ausmus as the manager.  If they had a more excitable or unsteady front office they might have.  They have also lost twelve of the thirteen games they have played against the divisional leader, Cleveland.  If you were to combine those two statistics, you would think that this team was dead in the water in June.  However, they are still within reach of the playoffs.  Most people think it will be through the wild card as opposed to the division.  They are five or six games back of Cleveland, which makes their struggles against that team that much more glaring.  Essentially, they have to win all the remaining games against Cleveland to have any shot at catching them.  Imagine if they had won just three more games against them!  They still have seven or eight games against Cleveland, and you know damn well that every broadcaster is going to bring up their struggles.  Let us hope that it doesn't get in the Tigers' head.  The wild card is now a two team play in game.  The Tigers are going back and forth with Baltimore for the second wild card spot, and they have a big series against them this weekend coming up.  That is where they could make their push for the playoffs.  If they sweep Baltimore, or get swept themselves, it could give a more clear playoff picture. 

The Tigers are not an excitable team.  You don't see them jumping out of the dugout after great plays.  They have that 'let's get this win and move on to the next one' approach.  That is a trait of their leadership.  Both the players and the management.  There are plenty of people out there that would like to see more emotion out of the team, but that's not their style.  Many like to point out that Brad Ausmus isn't a very excitable manager, and it's true.  Sure, it was amazing when he covered home plate with his hoodie earlier this year.  I saw that as his moment to show emotion and show the team that he's there for them, to have their backs.  It's like Jim Leyland's explosion all those years ago about the team just wanting to get on the plane after playing terribly against Cleveland (I believe it was).  All you fans know what I'm talking about. 

One thing I love about the Tigers is that they just have their expectations to drive them and their fan base.  They don't rely on a gimmick to drive the excitement.  They don't have a rally monkey or a rally mantis.  They have their solid play.  They have their experience to draw upon.  Even if the Tigers don't make it to the playoffs, it has been more entertaining this year to watch.  Yes, it's more stressful knowing that each lose puts them further back, but it also makes each win that much more important.  And just think, if they're playing this well now, how much better is the future once these rookies and prospects come into their own?