Just as Bad, Chicago Style

By Stuart Shea

After two months of play and a carload of flubs,
Could the Sox really be just as bad as the Cubs?

It’s asked in Gage Park and Beverly pubs–
Could the Sox really be just as bad as the Cubs?

The starters are struggling; don’t speak of the subs!
Could the Sox really be just as bad as the Cubs?

It’s a long way to go to rate down with the scrubs,
But the Sox seem to be just as bad as the Cubs.

Both squads ranking under the mark of most clubs,
The Sox may end up just as bad as the Cubs.

It rankles a South Sider more than the nubs–
That the Sox really could be as bad as the Cubs.

 

What Matt Harvey Is and Could Be

By Stu Shea

The possibility of spring,
The pristine arm
Has ’em on a string,
With no elbow damage
And no harm
The Mets’ good luck charm
The golden child,
Good fastball, good poise
And not wild.
Lots of noise
From da NYC,
They’re never mild
When they’ve got a live one
Who hasn’t yet even begun.

 

Fall of 42

 By Stuart Shea

Shrouded in soft gauzy myth
Jackie Robinson
smiles, uncomplicated–
angry when necessary,
beatific when possible,
surrounded by angels and devils,
not people.

Making Jackie a figure,
instead of a person,
means we don’t have to deal with
what he dealt with.
We can celebrate his triumph,
which by our celebrating it becomes OUR triumph.

Oh, how good we are.

 

Limericketts

By Stuart Shea

The Cubs have a tycoon named Ricketts
Who just couldn’t sell enough tickets.
.      He threatened he’d leave,
.      Which no one can believe–
Who’d build a new park in the stick-ets?

 

The Return of Valverde

By Stuart Shea

He’s back! When I saw him, I squinted.
Is that silly beard really half-tinted?
.     ‘Twas a lift that he gave
.      Nailing down his first save,
And potential new doggerel minted!