The Nats Just Won The NL Wild Card Game And I’m Totally Calm

It’s one hour after the Nationals rallied from two runs down to beat the Brewers in the NL wild card game and I am the picture of calm. If you don’t believe me just look at the photo above: who has a Chelada, when they aren’t calm? For roughly the first three hours of tonight’s game, next to nothing went right. Max Scherzer, amped-up to teeth-grinding, trucker speed levels of adrenaline, was touched for two early home runs which seemed to launch from the stadium by dint of some advanced missile technology. The Nats looked confused by the Brewers parade of hard throwers and soft tossers. They stranded runners and had poor, antsy at bats. I, however, remained calm. When the Brewers’ stringy haired man-beast of a closer Josh Hader entered to pitch the 8th, my notoriously calm demeanor was especially evident. I opened another Chelada and said, under my breath: “No man is a God and no fortress is impregnable.” This was my message to the Nats, which I believe and the evidence reflects was crucially received. When Juan Soto drove in three runs with two outs to provide the Nationals a sudden lead, the assembled company turned to observe me, expecting fireworks. Instead they witnessed smooth psychological sailing. Not a crack in the armor. When Nats closer Daniel Hudson recorded the third out with Lorenza Cain on first I was excited – but calm. I sipped from my Chelada and said: “Ah! The worm turns!” Just like that – no antic crowing or rivers of tears or plans to repay plural deities for anything I might have promised them. It is in my nature in moments of stress to be measured and philosophical. Then I opened another Chelada and began this non-hysterical account of the events of the previous hour. A special night for DC and for this franchise. DC is a strange sports town – so many people are from other places – but when a team captures the imagination of this city it can be a really good one. Nats fans have seen a quality organization emerge over the past decade and a half, and the team has had their chances in their five recent post-season appearances. But their really hasn’t been a true, galvanizing, signature playoff moment that will be discussed in town for decades. This is one. With the professional football franchise moving ever farther from respectability, it’s gratifying to be calm about such a special team. They started out a disastrous 19-31 and were dead in the water. They were dead in the water tonight until they finally weren’t. The Dodgers are a menace and any reasonable person would have to have managed expectations against that accomplished group in a five game series. I’m calm about that however and now I am going to have one, or maybe two, more Cheladas. Success!!!