It's a strange way to end a strange season. (Which, incidentally, is why I just listened to this while staring at some ceiling tiles...The season is like the girlfriend and the coma is like a metaphorical coma.) 2011 comes to a close with a weekday series - that ends in a day game - played out at Willets Point, Queens, under the surreal shadow the Unisphere at nearby Flushing Meadows Park. But New York is probably not a bad place to end a season as a major league baseball player. And you don't have to leave Queens to have a good time. Yonder Alonso and Bill Bray are probably going to hop over to Arthur Ashe Stadium in their I Heart NY shirts to play a few sets.
We get one last look at Homer Bailey tonight. Pitching in September for "something to build on" is becoming a tired refrain for Bailey, but he does tend to finish strong. His career September/October ERA is 3.13, best of any month. And he's allowed just one earned run while striking out 17 (!) in 12 innings over his last two season-ending starts.
There's some truth to the claim that Homer is simply beating up on inferior competition and/or only working his way into the upper reaches of mediocrity. Over his last two seasons of 100+ IP in the majors, 4 of his 13 September/October starts were made against the Pirates, while his last two in 2011 have been against the Cubs and Astros. But even if his body of work is uneven this year, Homer can also claim collection of solid outings against the Phillies, Braves and Cardinals.
Homer has already clinched his highest season innings total in the majors. The most he can do now is 136 (with a complete game tonight). The best way to get a read on Homer would have been a full, healthy season (which itself would be an improvement). That will have to wait for 2012, but an early start would be a good outing against the team that bucked Hoss in his roughest ride of the year.
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