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Will it be a repeat for the Red Sox?  A curse-breaking for the Cubs?  Another series for the Southsiders while their uptown rivals wait yet another year?  An exorcising of the Devil for the Rays?  A trip to baseball heaven for the Angels?  A ring for the LA wedding of a former New York manager and former Boston slugger?  A win for the City of Brotherly Love and the team with the most losses in baseball history?  How about champagne flooding the streets of the Brew City? 

The best part of October is that anything can happen.  Favorites fall.  Teams comeback from the brink of elimination.  Heroes cement themselves in the annals of baseball lore.  There are storylines.  Lots of storylines.  Here are this postseason’s most compelling:

The New Rivalry

The Red Sox swept the Angels twice en route to this century’s titles and are 9-0 in their last three postseason series against the California-Anaheim-Los Angeles club.  This time the Angels are the favorites as they return with a power offense (not to be completely overshadowed by Manny in the real LA, Mark Teixeira has been the answer to the Mike Scioscia’s prayers) and the deepest overall pitching staff in baseball.  Still, Terry Francona is 8-0 in the World Series and 7-1 in elimination games.

Josh Beckett

The Red Sox always hog all the stories and this feature is no exception.  Last season Beckett joined Gibson, Koufax, Ford and Schilling as one of the all-time great postseason pitchers.  The news swirling out of Boston is that Beckett won’t pitch until Game 3 at the earliest due to an oblique strain.  Will he go and how effective will he be?

C.C. Sabbathia

Three games on short rest, three wins to send the Brewers into the postseason since 1982 and the first time as a National League club.  How much farther is he going to carry the team?  The word here in the Brew City is that the Crew was planning on going with a one-man rotation in the play-offs, then realized that would not be right because with just one pitcher, there isn’t any rotating.  He’s even going to throw during the day to prevent tightness from setting in. 

Manny Being Manny

Manny might be the best deadline deal ever.  Factor in that he’s one of the best postseason hitters of all-time, the Cubs are going to have their hands full trying to get him out.  Can he carry the Dodgers to a Hollywood ending, complete with himself, Nomar, Derek Lowe and Joe Torre sitting in the visiting dugout at Fenway? 

A-Rod

Will A-Rod be able to break his 0-220 playoff slump to send Yankee Stadium out in style with a World Series win?  No.

White Heat

It took the White Sox 163 games to make the playoffs.  Will they ride the energy through the Rays or did they spend it all getting to Tampa?  The pitching isn’t bad and the team loves the longball.  After years in Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. is finally playing in October again. But for long? 

New Kids on the Block

If the Rays sold their souls to the Devil, why didn’t he insist they keep his name?  This team never had a winning record until this year-when they won the AL East.  The Rays have their youth, the favorite for Manager of the Year, a considerable homefield (or home-can) advantage and little to lose.  They don’t have “playoff experience” but they also don’t have experience losing playoff games, and that might be worth the most of all.

The Storyline That TBS and FOX Will Beat to DEATH

One of four teams to return to the postseason, the Phillies were swept by the Rockies who were one of the hottest teams ever … until they were swept out of the World Series.  The Phillies again took the NL East after an amazin’ collapse by their rival and earned a first-round date with the Brewers.  Will Jamie Moyer and C.C. face each other in the most-opposite matchup between two left-handers in postseason history?  Will fans in Philly hold off on the “Let’s go Eagles” chants for a  few more weeks? 

The Obvious

The Red Sox did it.  The White Sox did it a year later.  Now, will the Cubs finally shake their demons or will April on Addison be more like the past 100?  This is their best chance as they have pitchers with functioning rotator cuffs and an all-around potent offense.  Some credit Lou Piniella (he won the 1990 World Series with the “Nasty Boys”).  Some will point out the 2001 season in which Piniella’s Mariners won 116 games and were bounced out of play-offs in the first round.  Some will also bring up the 1995 and 1997 Mariners but that would just be cruel. 

For the Record

As a fan, I can’t and won’t pick against the Red Sox so they’re my choice to win it all after beating the Rays in war of an ALCS.  As much as we’d all like to see a re-match of the 1918 World Series, I’m honestly feeling Dodgers over Brewers in the NL.

Chris DeMatteo, one of the original Blast launch issue staffers, weighs in on the Manny Ramirez trade.

Friends, readers, websurfers, lend me your eyes.  I write to bury Manny, not to praise him.  His legacy in Boston will live after him.  A legacy that includes two World Series titles and a series MVP. 

I have been a Red Sox fan my entire life and a Manny Ramirez fan since before he arrived in Boston.  I will continue to be a Manny fan through his tenure with the Dodgers and wherever he goes and finishes his career.  I am not saying “good riddance,” but I am not denouncing the trade and I am not condoning his recent behavior. 

As a writer and a fan, I believe that Manny Ramirez represents the best and the worst in baseball.  He plays like a god but always reminds us that he is human.  Although this has become a trade deadline tradition, I spent much of today awaiting the news.  If Manny stayed with the Red Sox, I probably would have titled this column “Mo’ Manny, Mo’ Problems” and speculated on what would and should happen for the rest of the season.  For better or worse, the Manny Era for the Red Sox is over.  For better or worse, the Manny Era for baseball is far from it.

“Manny Being Manny.”  We have heard it, read it and quite possibly said it, but have we really thought about it?  Manny has been decried as a “man-child” and an “idiot savant of hitting.”  He has also-and accurately-been called the greatest hitter of his generation and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

In recent days he has been called “spoiled,” “bratty,” “whiny,” “insulting.”  He is portrayed as a clown, a slacker who is able to get by on his natural talent of hitting and not always try his hardest.  His teammates however, tell a different story.  They have said in the past that no one works harder in the cages than Manny (Julio Lugo recently said that Manny is the first one to the park).  They say that he has an aggressive personal workout.  They have said, for the most part and that may change now that he is no longer with them, that he is a great teammate in the clubhouse.  Manny Ramirez is not a man-child, brat or savant.  He is an enigma.  He is a baseball player.  We mortals cannot comprehend how someone can be so good at anything.  We cannot comprehend the money he makes.  We cannot understand him. 

Major League baseball is not the pure, innocent game that father and son enjoyed so idyllically at the start and end of “The Natural.”  There are big bucks and big egos.  We have seen drugs, gambling and cheating tarnish our game.  We also see tremendous talent and amazing games.  Baseball is a game.  Major League baseball is a business on both sides-the owners and players-and we have the strikes, disputes and contracts to prove it.  Manny’s departure comes in the wake of what has been called his annual “tantrum.” 

This is not the first time he has asked out of Boston nor is it the first time Theo Epstein and management tried to trade him.  (Before the 2004 season, he was placed on irrevocable waivers and was then tentatively traded for A-Rod).  This season was the last of the eight-year contract he signed with the Red Sox but the team had two $20 million options for 2009 and 2010.  While Manny did say at the start of the season that he hoped his options were exercised and that he wanted to finish his career with the Red Sox, he apparently changed his mind and decided he wanted to become a free agent.  There is nothing wrong with trying the open-market.  Now-former teammate J.D. Drew hit payday when he opted out of his contract to sign with the Red Sox for $75 million over five years.  His New York counterpart Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract only to re-up with the Yankees for more years.  Manny wants to play more than two years and wants a longer contract.  I would hardly call it greed.  The league and owners make billions-it is only fair that their workers who help them earn their fortunes be paid what they are worth. 

While Manny without question dug his own hole, none more than this week, I do feel he was unfairly vilified by the media-both national and local.  Maybe it is because he did not talk to them.  Maybe not.  He is far from the first or the only player to do the things he did and even worse things. 

Manny never fell out of shape, went to another team, demanded a trade to a World Series winner so he could win a ring, sign a contract that allows him special travel privileges, play only half a season, then audition his suitor teams like he was on a dating show.  If he did, would his team’s radio announcer lose it on the air?

Manny has never been linked to steroids or any other performance enhancer.  He did not have any abnormal spikes in homeruns (his 1998 total was actually below what he hit most other years) nor did he suffer a mysterious drop after the league’s new testing policy took effect.  If Manny did admit to taking steroids, would growing a mustache make everything better again?

Manny’s trade was not caused by a feud he had with a teammate.  If that did happen, which player would go to Miami? 

Manny never gambled, corked his bat or ripped his teammates (note the word teammates and not team or management) in the media.  

There are different rules for different people.  Manny was always given a lot of leeway because of his talent.  Whether it was ducking into the Green Monster during a mound conference, not running out groundballs, watching and celebrating homeruns, showing up late to spring training, taking time off, demanding trades or any of his other antics, Manny lived above the law.  The elite do.  Manny’s incident with the team’s traveling secretary in Houston is reprehensible.  Unfortunately, unlike what another Boston writer said at the time, that what Manny did would not earn him an arrest if he were not a baseball player, is not true.  Manny is an elite player-he can only be compared to other elites.  Elite lawyers, surgeons, politicians, scientists, musicians?  It is doubtful one of them would have been punished for pushing one of his or her organization’s employees.  If you are that good, you can get away with a lot.  It is the same in every sport.  Who is to blame?  Everyone. 

Because we cannot comprehend the immense talent or the money that it deserves, we fall in love with the so-called “lunchpail” players like Trot Nixon, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek.  While they are still far better at baseball and far richer than we are, we still think they are like us and love that they had to work hard.  The truth is that they are also blessed with amazing talent as much as superstars like Manny do in fact work hard.  In life as in baseball, getting one’s uniform dirty only goes so far.  Talent and performance ultimately win out. 

While Manny at his worst represents the worst in baseball, when he is at his best, there is nothing better in or about the game.  As much as we have seen his business side, we have seen him at his playful side.  We saw him having fun and making the game fun.  Although it was only in 2007, one of my favorite Manny moments was his homerun off K-Rod in the Division Series against the Angels.  As soon as he hit the ball, Manny raised his arms and the ball soared into the sky to win the game for the Red Sox.  In the ALCS against the Indians, Manny did the same thing when he hit a homerun even though his team was still down three runs and lost the game.  That was Manny being Manny: he went up there doing what he always did-hit.  He hit and he hit it far and that was what he celebrated.  For that moment in time, it wasn’t about the money, management or even winning.  It was about hitting.  When the Red Sox fell down 3-1 in that series, Manny drew ire when he said that it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if the Red Sox lost.  He was right.  As much as it pains the players and fans, there are far worse things in the world than losing a baseball game or a play-off series.  If only more people knew that.  Then the Red Sox came out playing loose, came back and won the series four games to three.  All because Manny was what he was, a baseball player, doing what he did best, hit.  There is nothing better than watching Manny hit.  It is the other things he does that cause issue. 

Manny will be remembered for a lot in his career, especially in his almost-eight years in Boston.  He will be remembered for his great moments, his funny moments and unfortunately, his departure.  The Red Sox won two titles in his eight years and those will go a long way in healing wounds.  Only time will tell how they do without him.  I wish he could have stayed and more importantly, I wish he wanted to stay.  He will return to Fenway.  If not as a Dodger in the World Series or interleague play or with another team during the season, then as a Hall of Famer when 24 is hoisted over right field near the worthy company of 1,4,9,8,27,42 and, by then, hopefully 14.  Until then, I’m surely going to miss him.

This was as good a deal for the Red Sox as there could be in giving up one of the best hitters in the game and the best on their team.  It was a great deal for the Dodgers.  For the Pirates, maybe it will eventually make them a buyer at deadline day. 

Jason Bay will step right into leftfield for the Red Sox although he might not fill Manny’s cleanup spot in the batting order just yet.  Francona is very good at integrating players into a lineup and he may very well bat Kevin Youkilis or Mike Lowell fourth and Bay lower until he feels he is comfortable in the lineup.  Bay is not the hitter that Manny is (although his numbers this year are close).  He is however a better outfielder and baserunner (he can steal bases), younger, cheaper and definitely less of a distraction.  His runs and RBI will likely increase in the more-potent Red Sox lineup.  He does have the power that is needed to fill the Manny void.  Most importantly, he is under contract for only $7.5 million next year and may be locked into a long-term deal if he impresses this season and next.  Not to mention, he is a right-handed power hitter playing in Fenway.

Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss can hardly be considered losses.  Hansen has a live arm and high hopes but has yet to deliver for the Red Sox.  To his credit he was rushed, but still, he has had difficulty in pressure situations and when you are on a perennial contender, every relief situation is a pressure situation.  Now the Red Sox will not have the option to use him and that may in fact make their bullpen better.  He will probably do well in Pittsburgh.  Moss is a solid outfielder but he was never going to play regularly in Boston.  He does not have the power to take over for Manny in left, will not play center with Jacoby Ellsbury likely a fixture and will not supplant J.D. Drew in right.  For the Red Sox he was at best a fourth outfielder.  He can be an everyday player for a smaller team and may very well step up like former Pawtucket teammate David Murphy (who was traded to the Rangers with Kason Gabbard for Eric Gagne last year).  He was nothing more than a trade chip and now will benefit by receiving more playing time. 

Manny is one of the best hitters in baseball.  He will definitely help the Dodgers and will still hit homeruns in a more-spacious Dodger Stadium.  His defensive liabilities will show more but great hitting beats weak defense every time.  A new environment will also contribute to what will likely be a tear in August and September.  Manny always hits but he hits better when he’s happy and he should be happy in California.  The Dodgers are also a better landing spot than the Marlins.  There are more veterans-including former teammates Nomar and Derek Lowe-and a manager, former foe Joe Torre, who knows how to deal with larger-than-life players.  Moreover, the Dodgers are a big-market team that can afford to sign Manny when he becomes a free agent.  On top of that the Red Sox are paying the rest of his salary this year.  Despite the crowded outfield situation at Chavez Ravine, Manny will not be sharing time with anyone.

Andy LaRoche has played only a little in the majors but has shown he can get on base and may develop power.  In Pittsburgh, he will be able to play across the infield from his brother Adam who is the Bucs’ first baseman, currently on the DL. 

Bryan Morris is a 21-year old right-hander who has only played in the minors but is doing well in A-ball after missing last season due to Tommy John Surgery.  He was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in the 2006 draft and is considered a good prospect. 

Although trading Ramirez was a pressing need, it is hard to say that the Red Sox are better, mostly because they are not.  It is possible that the trade will inject some much-needed energy into an underperforming team but with a roster of veterans and professionals such as Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek, it is doubtful Manny’s antics were responsible for its woes.  The trade failed to address the bullpen and catching situation which are both pressing needs this year and next.  Still, a waiver deal or call-up can rectify the pitching situation.  Justin Masterson is already in the pen and the team may call up Michael Bowden.  If Bartolo Colon comes back, Clay Buchholz may be moved to relief duty where he might even be more effective.  While the Red Sox are paying the rest of Manny’s salary this year, it is only money. 

The Pirates have traded away their best players the past few weeks and have gotten even younger.  While the moves signify rebuilding, it must be stated that the Pirates have been “rebuilding” for years.  Maybe they will be buyers at the deadline.  One would think that if they had this much talent to trade away, they would have enough to use and augment with a trade for a veteran in their own stretch run.

Beer Chicken

Ingredients:

• One whole frying chicken
• 12 oz. can of beer
• Garlic powder, chili powder, pepper, white pepper

Mix the peppers and garlic and chili powders in a bowl. Rub seasoning mixture into the entire outside of the chicken.

Now the third best part: crack open a can of beer, any kind really, although I do encourage you to try all different types. Do something with half of the beer in the can. If using a pan, you can pour it in bottom-or just drink it.

Now the second best part: stick the half-full can (we’re optimistic because this is a proven good recipe) up the chicken. There are two possible orifices in the chicken-stick the can where you think it belongs.

Oven: stand the chicken upright on the can in a pan (possibly with leftover beer in it) and place in an oven. Roast at 425 for 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the size of the chicken). Lower the temperature to 350 to cook the rest of the way (again, depending on the size of the chicken). When the juices run clear, it is finished. Consult the package of your chicken for proper cooking times.

Finally the best part: carve and eat the chicken and remove the can if you wish. The evaporated beer will make the chicken extra-moist and delicious. Salt and pepper to taste.

Beer Hot Dogs

Already a match, the powers of these two favorites can be combined into this super dish.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. can or bottle of beer (again, feel free to experiment)
• 1/2 bottle of ketchup
• 3-6 tablespoons of brown sugar
• White onion
• One (12-16 oz.) package of hot dogs
• Worcestershire sauce

Pour beer into a pot (don’t drink any this time) and bring to a boil. Cut hot dogs into small, bite-size pieces. Cut up the onion. Add three tablespoons brown sugar and onion to beer-dogs. Pour in a cup of ketchup and mix. Reduce heat to low and cover. Periodically stir. After 20 minutes, assess the beer-dog situation. The sauce should be thick and pasty; adjust ketchup and brown sugar content accordingly and also for taste. Simmer for 20 more minutes. Take off the heat and let sit, covered, for 10 more minutes. Serve in grinder rolls or any other way.

The Pogues “Fairytale of New York”
Christmas Eve in a New York City drunk tank, a down on their luck dueting Irish couple (Pogues singer Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl) trade insults and heartbreak before the holiday magic sets in. My all-time favorite.

The Kinks “Father Christmas”
Blending economic reality with dreams of beating up a department store Santa, the Kinks rock their way to second on the list.

KC101 “Christmas in East Haven”
DJ’s from radio station KC101 (WKCI 101.3) sing about a place very near and dear to me: East Haven, CT. This song became a local favorite when it came out years ago and is still pretty accurate. For those of you who have not been to East Haven—visit. The town was also the setting for the opening of Oceans’s 12.

“Oi to the World”
Written and originally performed by the Vandals, I prefer No Doubt’s version of this song about a gang war on Christmas. “If God came down on Christmas Day, I know exactly what he’d say / He’d say Oi to the punks! Oi to the skins! Check out this awesome song and everybody wins!”

The Darkness “Christmas Time”
This song rocks so much you’d wish it was Christmas every day just so you can play it.

Run-DMC “Christmas in Hollis”
Like DMC with the mic in his hands, with this song you’ll be chillin’ and coolin’ like a snow man.

The Ramones “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”
This song was actually recorded by some of the lesser-known members of the Queens punk band: Rudolph Ramone, Donner Ramone, Dixon Ramone and Dancer Ramone. The original title was the “Blitzen Bop.”

Adam Sandler’s Chanukah Songs
There are a lot of famous Jews; more than enough for a fourth installment. Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David haven’t been honored yet.

Blink 182 “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas”
Who hasn’t lashed out on a bunch of Christmas carolers? I haven’t because I’ve never seen or heard of Christmas carolers going door to door singing outside of movies and TV. I feel that’s another Hollywood myth like families passing down wedding rings.

Billy Mack “Christmas is All Around”
This is the song in Love Actually. I saw it and thought it was very good. Even better when you think of all the washed-up real-life rock stars who should resurrect their careers with a Christmas record that is really a remake of an earlier hit. I don’t know about you, but I’d be ecstatic for a “Winter of ‘69.”

Mr. Garrison “Merry Fucking Christmas”
The title says it all.

Dr. Elmo “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”
A classic. I agree: they should never give a license to a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves. Seriously, have you ever been stuck behind a sleigh on the road? Not cool.

John Lennon “So This is Christmas”
Someone answer me this: how many John Lennon songs involve children singing in the background? It has to be a greater proportion than any other musician, greater than the ratio of jokes about kids to songs by Michael Jackson and R. Kelly.

“Blue Christmas”
I actually might have to go with Bright Eyes’ remake of this Elvis tune. Blasphemous I know, but who’s more believable in having a blue Christmas.

“Jingle Bell Rock”
Originally done by Bobby Helms in 1957, this song has been covered by everyone, including Hall and Oates, Billy Idol, Hilary Duff, Randy Travis, Brian Setzer and Arcade Fire. I can only hope Andrew W.K. takes up the cause.

“Christmas Wrapping”
The Waitresses did the original but Save Ferris remade it with Monique singing about being a Jew on Christmas in LA and even asking why Adam Sandler didn’t give her a shout-out.

Eazy-E “Merry Muthafuckin’ Christmas”
Yes, this is a real song. Christmas in Compton.

Anything by Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio
From “I Am Santa Claus” (”Iron Man”) to “Police Stop My Car” (”Feliz Navidad”), Bob Rivers is the king of Christmas parody. Here’s an idea: “Santa’s Little Helper” to the Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper.”

Artists that Should Record Christmas Songs

Buckcherry
It might actually be a good thing Buckcherry doesn’t have a Christmas song yet. If they did, its inevitable awesomeness would generate so much holiday spirit that the entire Pacific Northwest would be leveled to fill the need for Christmas trees it would produce.

Mandy Moore
This is mainly so Mandy could make a video in which she dresses in a Santa hat and suit. I think it should also include a hot tub. Baby, it’s cold outside.

Rage Against the Machine
With all the commercialism and injustice on Christmas, how has Rage not written a song about it?

Afroman
I’m sure he’d be able to write something about hos, Christmas “trees” and unwrapping some Colt .45. He probably even started, but then got high.

Bruce Springsteen
Bruce’s Christmas song would give the entire history of Christmas and before performing it at a sold-out arena, he would tell the entire story behind the song and what he was doing while he wrote it. Scrooge would be a character that really represents the government and the record would sell 20 million copies.

I Didn’t Forget These Songs, They Just Suck

Paul McCartney “Wonderful Christmas Time”
Sucks might be too strong a word. Annoying is too weak.

Dave Matthews “Christmas Song”
Too boring.

Late addition: “The Night Santa Went Crazy” by Weird Al

It’s by Weird Al and based on “Black Gold” by Soul Asylum. Far from Miracle on 34th Street, this ballad about a “yuletide Rambo” is not only holiday gold, but possibly one of Weird Al’s best songs and that’s saying a lot. Come on, it includes ‘reindeer sausage.’ Speaking of Rambo, has anyone else seen previews for a new Rambo movie? Please tell me I’m not imagining things.

Why baseball? Because the sport is based on one-on-one match-ups and values both individual skill and team strategy. For our purposes, the men are batting and women are in the field, with the emphasis on the pitcher and batter. Women can hit too of course, but like softball, the base paths are shorter and the ball is bigger and easier to hit.

Next time you and your friends are recounting stories or prepping for the big game, use this lingo to get the point across.

The Pitches

Fastball: Nothing fancy or tricky here, just a straight shot through the strike zone. While a slow or average fastball is easy to hit, a hard one with some movement is a challenge. If you can spot it, get the bat around and hit it squarely, it will go.

Curve: Catches you off-balance. Looks good on the way but breaks at the last minute. Biggest curveball is “I have a boyfriend.” If you don’t pick it up early, you’ll swing at one in the dirt. Keep an eye out for a hanger, such as one that just broke up with her boyfriend and discovered he’s hitting.

Changeup: Playing hard to get. Just be patient. It might be best to take a few to get a read before taking a crack.

Splitter: Attractive from far away. Looks like a hard fastball coming out but quickly drops out of the strike zone. If you swing and miss, it’ll be that much more embarrassing.

Cut fastball: The real bitch of the bunch: the mother hen. Like Mariano Rivera’s pitch in his prime, the cutter is downright nasty, especially when looking sharp. It’s the only thing standing between your team and a late-inning rally. If you’re not careful, you can be left at the plate with a broken bat in your hands. If you manage to get around on one, chances are you’ll only hit a blooper, but it might be just enough for your team to score the winning run. Like Bill Mueller and Luis Gonzalez, you’ll forever be regarded as a hero.

Knuckle ball: You have no idea what to make of this. Can look soft and hittable, but also very confusing. Sometimes it just dances around crazily and other times it doesn’t do anything.

Slider: Hot and moves very quickly. Hard to hit but very rewarding.

Gyro ball: The supermodel, the actress, the fantasy. She’s exotic, amazing and so far only myth. You’ve heard about her but haven’t seen her. You might doubt her existence but hold out hope.

Getting On

The “bases” are the most known and most disputed terms. The only definite is crossing the plate. The other three bases are up in the air and they should be in order to encourage imaginations. Seriously, do you really want a set definition for second and third or would you rather think about it? There are many ways to reach.

Base hit: A hit’s a hit, whether it’s an infield single or a hard shot up the middle.

Ground Rule Double: The pitcher is “waiting.” While a hit that one hops the fence could have been legged out for another base or two, ballplayers must respect the rules of the game. A double is still a hit and far better than striking out, and can also net an RBI on the play.

Homerun: Inside-the-park vs. over-the-fence—it’s still scored a homer. Scoring on a ball that didn’t leave the park will take hustle, luck and possibly a defensive misplay, but can be done and is a lot more memorable. Keep in mind that a standing triple is better than being cut down at the plate.

Walk: Abbreviate BB for base on balls or DD for drunk and/or desperate. The pitches don’t look that great so you don’t swing. You wind up on base but it wasn’t because of anything you did and you won’t get much respect from either team for keeping the bat on your shoulder. Seriously, ladies, who would you rather face, Bobby Abreu or Big Papi?

Hit By Pitch: The Fat Friend. You try to get out of the way but it’s coming right at you. You take one for the team and reach base, but it hurts. You hope you get lifted for a pinch runner.

Dropped Third Strike: You should be out but took a last chance and hustled down the line. The inning is still alive and a rally is possible.

There are many different strategies and swings but the objective is the same. Not all matchups are favorable however, and it might even be wise to wait a few innings to get into the bullpen.

Just remember: Big boys don’t steal or sacrifice—they play for the big inning. You just can’t always swing for the fences. If home runs were easy to hit, then there wouldn’t be much honor to them. Single, double, triple, suicide squeeze (think about it), even a warning track fly or a fielder’s choice; it’s all about having a good time and helping out your team. Everyone hits and everyone wins. Great teams are made of great team players and are rewarded with championship rings…just like the ’86 Celtics. Yes, a basketball article is on its way. Until then, put on your uniforms and spikes, get out your gloves and pine tar if you use it, and play ball!

The main character is you.

The story is your choice.

You are reading a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book and love it–not just the book itself, but the style. You can’t stop turning the pages and trying different endings and storylines and cannot wait to start another book.

If you want to continue reading this article, then do not turn to another page.

If you are hit with a feeling of nostalgia and would rather Choose Your Own Adventure, read the rest of this article anyway.

Since it began in 1979, the Choose Your Own Adventure wave has resulted in over 180 titles in 36 languages to the tune of more than 250 million copies in print. After a brief hiatus from the presses, the venerable series is back and moving into the 21st century.

Founder R.A. Montgomery started the CYOA series with “The Abominable Snowman.” Each book is written in the second-person and you play the role of the main character. Readers are given choices and decide on a course by turning to different pages Each book has many possible endings and side stories, some with over 100 variations. Furthermore, you can continue reading until you attain a favorable ending if you, as this author did in his first read, die in your first attempt.

Interactive storytelling is not new. Montgomery believes that is dates back to the oral tradition when listeners would frequently participate in directing the narrative. In 1964, Argentine writer Julio Cortàzar published the famous interactive novel “Hopscotch,” where readers could go through the chapters in different sequences for different stories and outcomes. Penguin also published the British “Tracker” adventure series. Montgomery received further inspiration from behavior simulation games and economics game theory.

In the 1960s, Montgomery worked for Apt Associates. Based in Cambridge, MA, Clark Apt’s company designed behavior games, including a model for the Pentagon that developed role profiles for Soviet politicians , scientists and military personnel and was used to determine predictability in defense strategy. Montgomery left Apt to design role-playing behavior simulations for middle school students.

One of Montgomery’s first endeavors was the Energy-Environment game that gave the children roles in environmental and corporate policy conflicts. The game included optional primary source reading material which the young participants began to read as they became more engrossed in the game.

“That’s the power of the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ paradigm,” Montgomery said. “It really puts the reader in the center of the action and decision-making.”

In addition to Energy-Environment, Montgomery took his games to the Peace Corps where he developed and executed simulations to solve members’ disputes and mediate problems rooted in the Vietnam War.

Montgomery was also a teacher and amateur writer who penned short stories and poems while a student at Williams College. He took the interactive approach to children’s books in the 1970s when he wrote “Journey
Under the Sea” in the “Adventures of You” series. The line evolved into Choose Your Own Adventure, which was picked up by Bantam Books. Bantom published it until the series faded out of print in the late 1990s. By that time CYOA had soon become cemented as a legend in children’s literature, enjoying tremendous success due to its popularity and presence in libraries.

Montgomery decided it was time to bring the series back.

He and wife, Shannon, resurrected Montgomery’s creation by starting their own publishing company, Chooseco, in 2004. The company re-published the books which Montgomery still held the rights to. Chooseco is based in a six-person office in Waitsfield, Vermont and has re-published the first eighteen CYOA books. The company and books have adapted to modern technology. The re-published books have been updated to incorporate computers and modern technology and the company is using its website to push and supplement the print editions. Chooseco started with the first six titles republished in 2006 and has posted additional endings on its website, which readers can access by solving puzzles. In addition to the online endings, Chooseco does its business on the web and has already sold 900,000 copies in the past six months.

“Everyone remembers ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ from their childhood,” said Chooseco Marketing Director Amy Jurisich. “They really developed my love of reading and now they’re doing that for a new generation. Part of it is how they make reading fun. You try different things and before you know it, you’ve read the entire book.”

CYOA is continuously adding new books to its line of classics and has used close to twenty different writers. R.A. himself has written 65 in both of his series. Chooseco is launching a new series of suspense books–aptly titled “Choose Your Own Nightmare.”

“The books to mix 90% adventure and 10% substantive information,” said Montgomery. “Our goal is to is to instill a lifelong love of reading and also to encourage decision-making and problem-solving skills, to let the kids know they have the right to fail and not be afraid to try different things.”

With 250 million volumes in print and a notoriety that landed the series a sacred Family Guy allusion, Choose Your Own Adventure has not failed its mission.