The last day of summer

This is it.

There will be a final play. It might be a pop out to center, a grounder to second, or even a drive over the wall. Either way, there will be a fitting finale. 

Tonight a champion is crowned. It’s Game 7 of the World Series.

After rallying back from a 3-1 deficit in the Series, the Chicago Cubs won Games 5 and 6 to tie the Series up and force tonight’s championship-crowning game.

There’s nothing like a Game 7. No matter how well both teams play, only one can end the night celebrating. The other is left to wonder if this was its best chance at winning a championship.

It’s much more than just that. It’s the end of the 2016 season; the last day of summer.

While 30 of 32 teams are inactive, baseball has still continued.

Now, either the Cleveland Indians will win the World Series for the first time since 1948 or the Chicago Cubs will end their drought that dates back to 1908.

Perhaps it’s the recent heat wave that’s entered the United States, but it does not feel like summer will end, but this is it. Corey Kluber will throw the first pitch of Game 7 in 70-degree weather. It will be just like any other summer night.

Except it won’t, because it’s the final summer night of 2016.

So while you are enjoying tonight’s game, take a moment to notice the minuscule details of the game; the fist pump after a huge strikeout, the bat flip following a titanic blast, the diving grab by an outfielder.

If you are lucky enough to be at Progressive Field tonight, savor the evening whether your team wins or loses. The smell of hot dogs, the cool (not quite arctic) breeze, and the crack of the bat are all a part of the game that we take for granted.

The beautiful elements of the game won’t be felt again until April (no, Spring Training in March doesn’t count).

Tomorrow, the offseason begins. Today’s low in Cleveland is 60 degrees, which is also tomorrow’s high. All signs of summer will be over.

So even if your team wins tonight, you’ll be sad. Four months without baseball is a capital crime that football, basketball, and hockey can’t fix.

September 21 be damned. November 2 is the last day of summer.