Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:00 a.m. in "The City."

I did more yesterday than I had planned, but it was my choice to do so. I did a little cleaning, I made it to the man-cave, did some additional cleaning there and a glue-up there, and I did a bit more reading of a book that I am abandoning due to it becoming formulaic and boring. Like I've said many times, I am too old to waste my time slogging through a book that makes me work. I also discovered that the books I have in my queue are one's I've already read or one's that I simply don't want to carry around with me. 

That leads me to the fact that Mary traveled to the library yesterday to return some books and to pick up others. I should have sent all of the those I have on hand along for the ride. Maybe today, if we go out. 

Meanwhile, the current temperature is 61º under clear skies and it feels like 61º with a 5 mph wind. Today, the sun will rise @ 7:36 a.m. and set exactly 12 hours later @ 7:36 p.m. 

My description and accounts of the Cub's game should not be reproduced, rebroadcast or otherwise used without the express written consent of the Chicago National League Ball Club. If I were the team, I wouldn't want anybody to see what happened either. The 32 - 25 Cubs website states that they are "In a race for the NL Central Division crown." It looks to me like it is more of a slow-walk, as they lost to the 18 - 39 Pirates yesterday afternoon, 0 - 7. 

If I sound curmudgeonly, remember that I am a long-standing member of the Die Hard Cubs' Fan club, who has watched too many seasons be frittered away by under-achieving players with bloated egos and equally bloated salaries. Therefore, I am not going to waste my energy on a team that cannot produce at least one run against an inferior team like the Pirates.

The "highlights" of the game were a pick-off at 2nd by the combo of catcher Victor Caratini and SS Javier Baez, an Anthony Rizzo double against the centerfield wall to spoil a no-hitter, and a throw from left field to "save" a run by Kyle Schwarber. Said Cubs IF Jason Kipnis, the hitters have room for improvement." Ya think?

At any rate, the Cubs play again tonight in the first of a three-game season-ending series against that other 34 - 23 team from Chicago, when RHP Yu Darvish, 7 - 3, makes his next start @ 8:10 p.m. EDT.

My beloved 22 - 35 Red Sox lost badly to the 24 - 33 Orioles yesterday, 1 - 13 as LHP Martin Perez was charged with the loss, his 5th against 3 wins. Will a pitcher forced to be a number two starter, when he should be a number five starter, be worth a club option $6.25 million next year? What are the other options? Tommy John recipient, LHP Chris Sale may be back by mid year. Eduardo Rodriguez may or may not be back from myocarditis. The Sox really are really between that proverbial rock and a hard place pitching-wise. Rookie 24 YO RHP Tanner Houck, 2 - 0, may be one part of a huge puzzle. But...

The Sox close out this dismal and short season with a game beginning tonight @ 7:10 p.m. in Atlanta against the Braves, as journeyman 30 YO RHP Chris Mazza, 1 - 2, tries to even up his record. That's what I mean about the Sox pitching future, they have no-one in the pipeline. Could 37 YO LHP Jon Lester return to the Sox in 2021 if he doesn't resign with the Cubs?

The 22 - 33 Tigers will be watching the post-season from their couches again this year. The Tigers fell to the 24 - 33 Royals yesterday, 7 - 8, in spite of the resurgence of Miguel "Miggy" Cabrera, who has hit tape-measure home runs in back to back games against the Royals. Cabrera has options for three more seasons with a total payout of $292 million. Is a DH worth the kind of money that a player who will turn 40 by the end of the contract will be owed? Miggy will be a Hall of Famer as soon as he is eligible, but...

Tonight's game against the Royals starts @ 8:05 p.m. when RHP Spencer Turnbull, 4 - 3 tosses his forst pitch.

Today, we have no specific plans and that's fine with me. More music, more puzzle solving, more of whatever feels right in retirement. Same for Mary, more or less. Ciao.