AL Central 2023 Spring Training Forecast Haiku

By Stuart Shea

Chicago White Sox
Best to seek new park
Before taking the field with
A terrible team.

Cleveland Guardians
An empty cave, just
Like the Guardians’ lineup,
Hasn’t any bats.

Detroit Tigers
Actual prospects,
Bringing April to those who
Want to hope again.

Kansas City Royals
Tethered by contract,
Regardless of performance—
To Witt: 11 years.

Minnesota Twins
By the river live
Siblings united by love
For their baseballists.

The Known Unknowns

by James Finn Garner

I don’t know why I bought the lie
The White Sox would be decent.
I don’t know how hamstrings go pow!
Bats and skills chill, like recent.

I don’t know why Reinsdorf tries
To hire within to change Fate.
I don’t know where Andrew Vaughn stares
While whiffing at the plate.

I don’t know how Robert feels now
And what Keynan and Lance had to say,
But I know one thing: the White Sox would bring
A bigger playoff crowd than Tampa Bay.

Classic Falls

by Rajesh C. Oza

The Cubs of 1969:
A season with Hall of Famers,
But an ending not at all divine.

The Indians of 2005:
Chicago’s Pale Hose swept them
Like a beekeeper a beehive.

The Red Sox of 1978:
Bucky Bleepin’ Dent
Kept them from playoff’s gate.

The Blue Jays of 1987:
Many Canadians still mourn
Missing out on baseball’s heaven.

The Phillies of 1964:
“The Phold” phirmly closed
Access to the Fall Classic’s door.

Dr. Oza is a management consultant and facilitates the interpersonal dynamics of MBAs at Stanford University. His novel, Double Play, will be published in 2024 by Chicago’s Third World Press.