Overall, I’d say it was a mixed season for this group of prognosticators:

In Contest # 1 – About one-third of the specific predictions folks made actually came true.

In Contest #2 – Most predicted the Nats would do better, but the closest anyone got to their 97-65 record was 93-69.

In Contest #3 – No one got close to getting all six of the Division leaders at the All Star break. The best anyone could do was only three out of the six.

In Contest #4 – Most thought the Yanks (94-68) would do better than the Sox (69-93), which they did, but no one foresaw the huge slide for the Sox (nor the Phillies, 81-81, for that matter).

In Contest #5 – A majority of you thought the Yanks would beat the Sox in the 12 games they played after the All-Star break, but only two of you called it exactly (8-4).

In Contest # 6 – Most predicted the Angels and Phillies would be in the WS.  Not happening. Not even close.

Now for the specifics and the winners for the contests that are final.

#1 – Twelve folks are still alive with their predictions, but since one included the expectation that the Reds would win the World Series, I can’t put the predictions up yet for a vote. Once the WS is over, or if the Reds lose prior to the WS, I’ll ask MillersTime readers to decide which was the best prediction.

#2 – Tiffany Lopez and Joe Higdon both predicted the Nat’s record would be 93-69. Tiffany, a three-time winner in these contests, gets the prize as her prediction came in three days before Joe’s. She gets two tickets to any Nat’s 2013 game she wants.

#3 – Elizabeth Miller, see Baseball Winner Chosen won two seats to a game in any stadium of her choice for 2013. However, she failed to claim the prize. Should I extend it into the 2013 season? Please advise.

#4 – Jere Smith, Joe Higdon, Nelson Romero, and Steve Begleiter all got the exact Yankee won-loss record, 95-67.  Of those four, Joe Higdon said the Sox would be 86-76. Peter Shimm, who was only off by one game on the Yankee record, had the Sox at 84-78.  So by the power invested in me by myself, I’m splitting the prize between Joe Higdon and Peter Shimm.  Since I have two tickets to the 3^rd & 4^th Home Games of the NLCS (Championship Series), Joe and Peter can join me for one game each. Joe, by dint of his exact prediction of the Yankee’s record, gets first choice of which game to attend. (Update 10.9.12: Joe, email me at Samesty84@gmail.com to work out details.)

#5 – The question here was to predict the won-loss record in the 12 games the Yankees and Sox played after the All Star game. Monica Rober, a previous winner, and Kevin Curtin, a frequent loser because his excellent predictions come in at the last moment, were tied for picking the Yankee’s over the Sox 8-4. Both predicted the final three games would not affect the standings between the two teams. The winner? Monica Rober because she got her choice in four days before Kevin.  Monica gets a Sox ticket for the 2013 regular season and can choose whether to go with a person of her choice or with me.

#6. World Series winner and who they will beat? Steve Vitri (Tigers/Giants and Steve Begleiter  (Yankees/Giants) have the only possible winning tickets.  If neither of those win, I’ll consider picking between Steve Begleiter, David Price, Dan Cate, Kevin Curtin (all chose the Yankees to win the WS), and Brian Stabach, Cory Kessler, and Todd Endo (all chose the Tigers to win), assuming either the Yanks or Tigers do win.

 

And finally a poem from Troy Lovett, a retired high school math teacher living in Louisville. The poem came to me through a long time Kentucky friend who regularly sends baseball and other good, current writing, and I think received a copy of the poem in a recent email.)

The Last Days of September

The last days
of September carry with them a sense
of change; a longing for what is
fleeting; a remembrance of what is no more;
and an awareness of approaching winter.
Days are filled with a little of all that–warm afternoons, chilly nights, bluer skies,
less daylight, and warm cider.

There is urgency in the precious last days
of autumn. Squirrels and birds scurry to beat the night’s cold and we
unpack winter sweaters and knitted scarves and brace for change.

The greatest game
follows its inevitable path toward conclusion with
athletes playing through the wear and tear of a long season, trying to
find the resources to make one final push
for glory. For some it is the morning of a promising career; for others
the evening of a journey through paradise passing far too soon.

For the players, and for us,
we sense, as at no other time,
that the game goes on and we are fleeting;
that what is real is much more than what is seen;
that life is a prelude to a greater glory;
that we have been blessed in incalculable ways
to have played another season; and that life
and the game are gifts from a Father’s love.

There are lessons to be learned from
late September days.

Sleep warm, my dear friend.