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Let's be frank: The Nationals, by splitting a four-game series at home with the lowly Brewers and threatening to blow a ninth-inning lead in the finale, retained the Eye On Baseball Heavyweight Championship in the least impressive of ways.
Wait, the "Eye On Baseball Heavyweight Championship"? What's that? That's this:
Since the concept of championship belts is cool in boxing, MMA and sports entertainment (aka pro wrestling), the Eye on Baseball team has decided to create a Heavyweight Championship belt for the 2013 season.
As the defending World Series champions, the Giants entered the season with the strap. From there, here are our rules.
1. A team must win a series from the champion to take the belt. One game isn't going to cut it, considering it's a 162-game season and teams all view the season in terms of series.
2. If the belt-holder splits a series (two- or four-game series), it retains. Much like on a draw in boxing or a count-out situation in pro wrestling, you don't get the belt unless you actually beat the champion. A tie isn't good enough.
3. If, at the end of the regular season, the belt-holder does not make the playoffs -- and due to the dynamics of this thing, that scenario is entirely plausible -- said team will be stripped of the title for not qualifying for the postseason. Then the winner of the playoffs -- the World Series -- takes the belt and the title into the offseason.
So our belt holders from D.C., as mentioned, wrestled to a draw against the Brewers and, in doing so, retained the title. The Brewers seemed to have the strap within reach, though, as they brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth on Thursday. But then they got greedy. Check out these official game highlights ...
Too much punching! Angel Hernandez rules the Brewers are disqualified and then beats a hasty retreat!
And now to our Exalted Roll Call of Champions ...
As you can see, the Nationals have ensured that they'll hold onto both belt and title through at least Friday, when a three-game home set against the Padres begins. At stake? The Eye On Baseball Heavyweight Championship!
