College basketball's March Madness hasn't come yet, but at this time of year, part of my attention starts to turn to baseball. Not just in Major Leagues, because Ball State plays some pretty good ball here in Muncie. Bryan Bullington and Brad Snyder are the biggest testaments to that.
So here is my forecast for the 2004 season, both for the majors and Cards. Part is truly predicted, part is a bit fantasized, and I'll let you decide how much of each is which.
Feb. 27 to 29: To avoid starting another season without an outdoor practice, Greg Beals puts his team through several drills in the snow the day before leaving for Evansville. The finger-numbing tactic works, and Ball State wins three games and Governor's Cup.
March 10: The Chicago Cubs report that since Greg Maddux signed a two-year, $12 million contract, applications have been pouring in for playoff tickets, as people want to have their names first on the list. Chicago bar owners report that customers are reserving bar stools for October.
March 24: After another successful Spring Break, Ball State thumps Valparaiso to improve to 15-2 on the season. Marc Franz is batting over .450 and Joe Ness has yielded just two earned runs so far.
April 10: The Cards and Detroit Tigers decide to celebrate my 21st with wins. Ball State is 26-5 (6-2 Mid-American Conference) after beating Akron, and the Tigers are 5-3.
May 1: Comerica Park nearly sells out, as the Tigers are actually above .500 after the first month of the season. The Cubs lead the National League Central, and the Reds are in a tight battle -- for last place.
May 14 to 16: Ball State finishes the MAC season 19-5 and win the West after sweeping Marshall at home. In the process, the Cards secure the top seed and will host the MAC Tournament.
May 29: The Cards recover from a series loss to Miami (Fla.) and finally win the MAC Tournament, beating Miami (Ohio) and advance to the NCAA Regionals. Later, third baseman Marc Franz, second baseman Kyle Dygert, Ness and closer John Pettibone are named first-team all-conference.
June: Ball State falls in the Super Regionals to Nebraska, ending the best season in school history. The Cardinals finish 45-18.
July: It is the All-Star break, and Ken Griffey Jr. has not been on the disabled list yet. However, the Reds are still on the bottom rungs of the NL Central while the Cubs fight for first. A-Rod is hitting .230 and drawing the ire of Boss George in New York.
Oct. 3: Despite Rodriguez's mostly dead weight, the Yankees nip the Red Sox for the AL East title, while the Tigers somehow win the Central with an 84-78 record and the Angels, the West. In the National League, Philadelphia, Chicago and Arizona win their divisions with Houston grabbing the Wild Card. Mark Prior wins 23 games on the season and Kerry Wood 19.
October: The Tigers shocking season is ended by the Yankees. The Yanks are defeated in seven games in LCS by the Red Sox, who advance on a Game Seven homer by none other than Pokey Reese. The Cubs' pitching duo of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood does not lose, and the team rolls through the National League playoffs.
In the World Series, the Cubs and Red Sox split the first two games by 1-0 scores, as Prior defeats Pedro Martinez, and Curt Schilling outlasts Wood. The series goes seven games, and since Chicago fans have waited 10 years longer for a title, and with some help from Paul Bako's ninth-inning homer, the Cubs win.
Dusty Baker has to refuse a mayoral nomination amidst all the celebration.
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