And That's That

After 162 games, the 2011 Major League Baseball season of the Atlanta Braves came to a lengthy and bitter end yesterday, as they fell to the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 in 13 innings.

Their loss cost them the wild card slot in the National League championship series, a playoff chance that now belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Braves had an eight-and-a-half game lead in the wildcard on September 6 and it looked surely as though they had a lock on a playoff spot. They weren't in a good position to catch the Phillies, who ended their season with 102 wins, a Phillies club record. But the wild card looked like a sure thing.

Well, as "they" say, the only sure things are death and taxes. Atlanta lost 13 of their last 18 games, including the last five in a row, going 7-20 in September. Surely, it must rank as one of the biggest "el foldos" in baseball history.

Back in February, I walked up to the counter in the Orleans Hotel & Casino sports book and plunked down $100, betting $50 on the Braves to win the National League championship, and $50 to win the World Series.

If they survived yesterday's game and what would have been today's playoff game against the Cardinals, I would have won $250 (and gotten my $50 bet back). Then, if they won the World Series, I would have won an additional $500 (and gotten my $50 bet back) for a total of $750 plus the $100 refund.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Oh well, it made for an exciting season. Disappointing at the end, but exciting nonetheless.

Maybe next year ...