Something, Sometime

"Easter in October" is not a thing. (Well, maybe for some.) Likewise, "Christmas in August" is not anything either.

Image credit: The Colbert Report

"Christmas in July," however, dates back at least as far as 1933. And (the weather notwithstanding) Melvin and I delighted in our first Christmas in July ballpark promotion in 2010, at Progressive Field.

My niece, her boyfriend and I went to the Brooklyn Cyclones' "Christmas in August" promotion last night. The team's inability to stick to a meme was not its only failure.

The Cyclones were charged with only one error in the 5-1 loss to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers but the fielding was far less adroit than that stat might indicate. Starting pitcher Erik Manoah gave up four earned runs in 3.2 innings, with pitch selection a problem according to manager Tom Gamboa. Infielder Franklin Correa closed the game, his second relief appearance this year. With 11 days left to the season, the Cyclones are just trying to finish with a winning record.

On the other hand, I got an "ugly sweater" jersey, suitable for future Baseball in July games and maybe even Christmas itself. We all got free caps and hot-dogs, even the folks who couldn't leave work early. My niece and I got caught up on each other's lives. And—like Melvin and Watson's yearly trek to Geneva, Illinois (i.e.: 2010)—I made my annual pilgrimage to Coney Island.