BCB After Dark: Left out in the cold

Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the not-so-exclusive night spot for night owls, early-risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. So glad you could stop by again tonight. We’ll waive the cover charge just for you. The hostess will take you to your table now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

The Cubs lost to the Phillies tonight 6-5 on a passed ball with two out in the ninth, of all things. At least Frank Schwindel’s friends and family all got to see him hit a home run. It’s honestly amazing what Frank the Tank has done in Chicago. It makes you wonder why he never got a chance elsewhere.

Last time I asked you who you thought would be the Cubs closer on May 1 of next season, which was just my proxy question for “Do you think Rowan Wick is for real?” Anyway, 65% of you think that Wick is going to be the guy closing games going forward and will still be closing games on May 1 next year. Another 21% thought that Codi Heuer is the closer of the (near) future and 13% feel that it’s going to be someone not even on the Cubs yet.

Here’s the place where I talk about jazz and movies. You’re free to skip ahead to the question at the end. You won’t hurt my feelings.

Today’s jazz track is one is a live version of a song I’ve featured before, Miles Davis’s “So What” live in Paris in 1960. The choice was inspired by this Tweet that I saw today:

Yes, according to Rolling Stone magazine, “So What” is the 492nd-best song of all time, just two spots behind . . . “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X.

Now I’m not the kind of guy who yells at kids to get off my lawn and how the music “back then” is so much better than the music today. I roll my eyes at the first comment in any YouTube video older than five years old, which is always “Now this is music, not like the crap they play today.” It doesn’t matter how old the song is. I’ve seriously seen that comment about a piece music from 2009.

I like some of today’s music. Most of it I don’t, although I do remember that I don’t like most of the music from the 90’s, 80s, 70s, 60s, etc. Maybe the music of today that I don’t like has some charms that I’m just not getting. It’s possible.

But come on. “Old Town Road” is better than “So What”? The only way I can defend that ranking is that Miles Davis doesn’t have an army of keyboards fans who are willing to insult and harass any critic who doesn’t see their favorite artist in the same light that they do. Miles fans will just do what I did—roll my eyes and dismiss the entire thing.

While I try not to criticize modern music, I’m more than willing to criticize modern fan culture (or “stan culture”) which I find toxic.

So anyway, here’s Miles Davis doing a live version of the 492nd-greatest song of all-time (eye roll), “So What.”

I only have time to do one film essay a week, so on Wednesday night/Thursday morning I try to throw the floor open for talk about movies.

Today’s request is a simple one. Tell us some movies that you think more people should see. I don’t think anyone needs to be told that they need to see Endgame or Avatar or a Fast and Furious movie, although if you really want to share which Fast and Furious movie people should see first, be my guess. But I’m really looking for films that most of us aren’t really familiar with already. They don’t have to be obscure and they don’t have to be old, but I’m not looking for recommendations for the latest Disney film either.

I’ve been recommending films to you all year, so I’m mostly going to sit this one out. I am kicking myself for not mentioning Ballplayer: Pelotero when I was talking about documentary films a few weeks ago. It’s about the way major league teams sign players out of the Dominican Republic and in particular the signing of Miguel Sanó. (Also Jean Batista, a guy who never made it above High-A in the Astros system.) If you don’t know the kind of shenanigans that go on in the Dominican about signing ballplayers, that’s a good place to start. But there are some bright spots and good people in the film as well. I’m also sure that MLB would tell me that they’ve ended the worst issues since 2009. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I’m sure they’d say that.

Welcome back to everyone who skips the jazz and movies. Today’s question is a simple one: Which AL East team is not making the playoffs?

As things stand right now, you could make a strong argument that four of the best six teams in the American League are in the AL East. But there are only two wild cards. Which team is going to be left out.

For the purposes of this question, we’re assuming the Rays win the division. They’ve got an eight game lead with 16 to play. Even if they somehow collapse, they’re going to be a Wild Card team.

Behind the Rays are the Yankees and Blue Jays, who are both tied at 82-64. Just percentage points behind those two are the Red Sox at 83-65. Oakland is 3.5 games back of those three teams and the Mariners are four games back, in case you’re wondering if a team from outside the AL East could sneak into the playoffs.

So who is staying home in October? New York, Toronto or Boston? If you think the A’s or M’s will get hot and grab a spot, vote “Two of them” and then expand on that in the comments.

Thank you again for stopping by. Be sure to tip the waitstaff. We’ll have someone get your hat and coat for you now. I hope you come back again next week for another week of BCB After Dark.