R.I.P. Vin Scully

The sports world lost another one yesterday. Vin Scully passed away at 95. That is a good, long and fulfilling life. Scully did a whole lot in the world of announcing.

It's interesting because I had very little idea who Scully was until I started to watch shows like "The Simpsons". Every time "The Simpsons" would do something involving baseball and an announcer, the announcer always had this very distinct and unique voice. It made me laugh. I liked how they had the voice actor stretch their words and say stuff like "who nellie". It always worked on me. One day, I have to assume it was either RD or my dad, was watching a Dodgers game on TV and the voice sounded so familiar to me. I heard it from the other room and entered thinking they were watching "The Simpsons". When I walked in the room I asked what ep they were watching. I was informed it was a baseball game. That it was real. I was stunned. I couldn't believe that there was actually an announcer who sounded like the guy on "The Simpsons". This was when my mind was blown. Whoever was watching the game told me that "The Simpsons" were doing an impression of this announcer named Vin Scully. From there on out I was hooked.

I am not a Dodgers fan by any means, but hearing Scully call games was dope. I grew up in Saint Louis, so I had Jack and Joe Buck, which was cool. And being close to Chicago, I got to hear Harry Carey call games too. He was always fun. But none of them compared to Scully. There was just something about his voice. It was like a blanket on a cold day. He had this soothing way of talking about the game. The way he described what was happening was second to none. He stretched his words. He said things like "whoa nellie". He would get excited, but then immediately calm it all down. He was a true professional. It is a real bummer that he is gone.

In the past year we have lost Vin Scully and John Madden. Keith Jackson passed a while back. Stuart Scott was taken far too soon. Craig Sager died too fast after his diagnosis. It seems like all the great announcers are dying off, and that makes me sad. The good ones are leaving us with some retreads and also rans. It stinks. I'd much rather have Scully calling baseball games than Chris Bermann. I'd prefer to hear only Keith Jackson call college football games. Craig Sager was the perfect foil to the "Inside the NBA" crew. Stuart Scott was one of a kind, and maybe one of the GOATS on ESPN.

As said before, Scully lived a very long life, left a great legacy and will be remembered forever for his contribution to the game of baseball. But he will be missed and Dodgers games will never sound the same. RIP Vin Scully. Maybe you are calling games wherever you are right now. At least, that is what I hope.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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The SeedSing 2016 MLB Playoff Preview

The briskness of October is upon us, time for some Major League Baseball playoffs.

Full disclosure here. We were way wrong about the Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Red Sox were solid all year and pulled away in September from Baltimore and Toronto to win the AL East. We did not think Boston had the offense to compete, and boy were we wrong. Led by retiring David Ortiz, the Red Sox were an offensive juggernaut and a scary force entering the playoffs. The Diamondbacks and Pirates were both big underachievers this year, especially Arizona. Both teams could never get going and both were sellers at the trade deadline. Arizona and Pittsburgh are too talented to be sub .500 teams and should be competitive next year. 

Now onto the actual playoffs. In the AL "Play in Game" the Toronto Blue Jays will host the Baltimore Orioles. Both of these teams have the talent to win this game and make it all the way to the World Series. Each team is a good balance of pitching and offense. Toronto seemed to underachieve a bit this year, but Orioles Manager Buck Showalter does what he always does, he got the most out of his players. In a go anyway game, Toronto will use their better talent, and home field advantage, to win the one game playoff.

The NL game will have every other year champion the San Francisco Giants visiting last year's NL pennant winner the New York Mets. The Giants have great pitching, and in one game that is all you need. The Mets are hot, and did add some much needed offense at the trade deadline, but San Francisco has the advantage with their pitchers. Plus, it is an even numbered year and that works for the Giants.

With the one game playoff out of the way, the Division series will kick off with the Red Sox visiting the Cleveland Indians. As stated before, the Red Sox have an incredible offense led by MVP candidate David Ortiz. The Indians have been one of the most consistent teams in the MLB, and they have the best manager in all of baseball with Terry Francona. Boston will steal a game, but Cleveland will advance to the League Championship series in four.

The other American League series will feature the Blue Jays facing off against the loaded Texas Rangers. Texas made some big acquisitions at the trade deadline this year, and they are in World Series or bust mode. The Blue Jays will have their one game playoff win, but Texas may very well sweep them in the division series.

The National League division series will kick off with LA Dodgers going across country to meet up with the Washington Nationals. The Nationals were great during the season, even with reigning MVP Bryce Harper having a sub par (for him) season. The issue once again is manager Dusty Baker. He is incredible during the regular season, but tends to get out managed in the playoffs. The Dodgers have their stars healthy. Clayton Kershaw will exorcise some playoff demons, and the retired Vin Scully will be able to enjoy a few more games when LA beats Washington in a great five game series.

The Cubs will continue their magically season when the Giants come to town. Chicago has been as good as everyone thought they would be. The Cubs have it all, and added more at the trade deadline. It may be an even year, but the Cubs are way to good to not beat the Giants in four games.

The American League Championship Series will pit the Ranger's talent against the genius of Terry Francona. The Indians are another long suffering franchise, but Cleveland is on the up when it comes to sports championships. When things get tight, LeBron James will come into the Indians locker room and remind the players that Cleveland is a city of champions. It may be irrational, but it seems destiny to put the Cleveland Indians down as American League Pennant winners. It will take seven glorious games, but the tribe will return to the series for the first time in over twenty years.

Scully's Dodgers will roll into the northside of Chicago to take on the Cubs in the National League Championship. Kershaw, off of a great Division series, will steal a game at Wrigley. Unfortunately that will be the last Dodger win of the 2016 season. The Cubs are just way to good. It will only take five games for the 2016 Cubs to rightfully claim the  NL Pennant.

The 2016 World Series will pit the long suffering Cleveland Indians against the longer suffering Chicago Cubs. One fan base will be able to erase generations worth of heartbreak. It will be the Redemption World Series. The two best managers in all of baseball will challenge each other in a one for the ages seven game clash. Joe Maddon and Terry Francona will have their respective teams tasting the title. Late in game seven, lets say top of the 13th inning, LeBron James will appear in the center field bleachers, and Cleveland will remember that they are the city of champions. Home run, and three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the inning. The Cleveland Indians will be the 2016 Major League Baseball World Series Champions.

Better luck next year Cubbies.

RD 

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He just cannot put the Cubs down as champions, not now, not ever. Tell RD why he is so misguided by writing for SeedSing.

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