Some news of the personal variety... A short tale from me about life, sports and family memories (and everyone please welcome Charlie Meisel to the active roster): theathletic.com/3319624/2022…

A 78-year championship drought and the burden of a team and its fan base: nytimes.com/athletic/7703367…

There's always next year — as long as the league and union agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Guardians lineup, ALCS Game 6 1. LF Steven Kwan 2. 3B José Ramírez 3. RF Chase DeLauter 4. DH Jo Adell 5. 1B Nathaniel Lowe 6. 2B Travis Bazzana 7. C Patrick Bailey 8. CF Petey Halpin 9. SS Brayan Rocchio SP Shawn Armstrong

Shawn Armstrong will start/open for the Guardians in Game 6 tonight.

The Guardians need to win twice at Tropicana Field to get to the World Series. Otherwise, this was the final game at Progressive Field in 2026.

Guardians lineup, ALCS Game 5 Bailey will catch Messick for the first time. 1. LF Steven Kwan 2. 3B José Ramírez 3. RF Chase DeLauter 4. DH Jo Adell 5. 1B Nathaniel Lowe 6. 2B Travis Bazzana 7. C Patrick Bailey 8. CF Petey Halpin 9. SS Brayan Rocchio SP Parker Messick

Parker Messick will start for the Guardians in Game 5 on Sunday.

Same stuff, different day

This will remain the case for Saturday.

Game 4 between the Guardians and Rays has been postponed because of rain. New schedule for the series: Game 4: Saturday at 8 p.m. Game 5: Sunday at 5 p.m. Game 6*: Monday at 8 p.m. Game 7*: Tuesday at 8 p.m. *if necessary

Game 4 between the Guardians and Rays will begin in a delay.

Guardians lineup, ALCS Game 4 1. LF Steven Kwan 2. 3B José Ramírez 3. RF Chase DeLauter 4. DH Jo Adell 5. 1B Nathaniel Lowe 6. 2B Travis Bazzana 7. C Patrick Bailey 8. CF Petey Halpin 9. SS Brayan Rocchio SP Shawn Armstrong

Shawn Armstrong will start (open) for the Guardians in Game 4 tonight.

In October, unlikely heroes and storylines can emerge without warning. Behold the tale of a guy named Petey, who slapped a coach, flipped a bat and became a postseason legend: "Literally anyone can do anything on any given day. Baseball is crazy.” nytimes.com/athletic/7691104…

The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the ALCS. The team that has won Game 3 after the teams split the first two of a best-of-seven has proceeded to win the series 69.6% of the time.

The vaunted Rays top three of Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero against Daniel Espino in this series: 0-for-6, four strikeouts Espino just got Caminero on three straight heaters: 100.6 mph, 100.6 mph, 100.3 mph

Peter Lyndon Halpin, Jr.