For about half of Game 7 -- from the start of the fifth through the middle of the ninth -- I limited my intake to glances at Gameday between songs at a The Beths concert.
I learned I could've been more invested, because the guy standing directly in front of me had the game on his phone for the entire show. He did so discreetly, keeping the phone inside or against the pouch of his hoodie. Had the guy next to me not leaned in and asked for an update, I might have never realized he was streaming the whole time.
But because I was aware he was watching Game 7, I knew something big happened when his knees suddenly buckled, then spent the next five seconds with his hand on the top of his head staring at the ceiling. That's all I needed to check my phone, which told me that Miguel Rojas just went deep with one out in the top of the ninth, tying the game at 4.
Soon after, The Beths launched into "Expert in a Dying Field," which had all the markings of a set closer, so I made my way to the back of the room. When they started taking off their instruments, I hustled my way out of Brooklyn Bowl and for the nearest bar.
Von Elrod's wasn't showing Game 7 before the concert because Tennessee football was on every screen, but when I returned after the show, just about all the TVs had turned to the Series. I got there in time for Addison Barger to walk with one out, which prompted Blake Snell's removal from the game, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's entrance. That's where I spent the rest of the game, with about 30 strangers, just about all of whom were invested in the game, sitting, standing or pacing.
On one hand, I wish I could've taken in the entire game start to finish, because it was that kind of instant classic future generations will ask about. On the other hand, there are few greater joys than being a room where peak baseball gets everybody in its grip. It's a life-affirming experiencing, especially if you're regularly subjected to the kind of baseball that makes you wonder if you should be doing something else with your time on Earth.
Also, The Beths were great. If they're coming to a town near you, you should see them. It's not like they're going to be getting in the way of postseason immortality, because the offseason is officially here, and so is the following list of important dates.
Today: MLB announces Gold Glove winners. The White Sox have no finalists, but it's worth coming in afterward to see the final SABR Defensive Index numbers. Also, players become free agents, and for those who have options for 2026, or those who are under consideration for a qualifying offer, those decisions must be made by ...
Thursday: ... as players can sign with new teams beginning at 4 p.m. CT. Also, National League Silver Slugger Awards are announced, with the American League honors unveiled on Friday.
Nov. 10-13: It's the GM meetings in Las Vegas. James will be there, so subscribe to Sox Machine to support such coverage.
Nov. 10: The Rookie of the Year winners are announced. Nick Kurtz is the presumptive favorite, but we'll see if any White Sox received any down-ballot support.
Nov. 11: Manager of the Year voting will tell us if Will Venable's 19-win improvement received any recognition.
Nov. 12: The Cy Young Award winners are announced, and James' ballot will be revealed.
Nov. 13: The Most Valuable Players for each league are announced, along with the MLB Awards show for a bunch of lesser honors.
Nov. 18: Players who were extended a qualifying offer must decide whether to accept or reject it by 2 p.m. CT. Two hours later, teams must make all additions to the 40-man roster, after which all unprotected players will be exposed to the Rule 5 draft.
Nov. 21: The non-tender deadline arrives, which means the White Sox must decide whether to offer contracts to Mike Tauchman, Steven Wilson and Derek Hill, if they haven't already done so.
Dec. 8-10: Winter Meetings in Orlando. We will be there, so subscribe to Sox Machine to support such coverage.
Dec. 9: MLB draft lottery, which will be more exciting than last year, when the White Sox could draft no higher than 10th.
Dec. 10: The Rule 5 draft, which takes on heightened interest for the White Sox since their last Rule 5 pick became their All-Star.
Dec. 15: The international signing period ends, before a new one opens on Jan. 15.
