The World Series that America needed; the best/most boring YouTube channel; and one tip for going car-free (or car-light)

Roundup - October 24, 2024

Good Thursday, and welcome to the weekly Out in Left roundup, in which I highlight things about sports, politics, books, movies, shows, and music that paying subscribers should know about. This week’s round-up includes:

• The World Series that America needed because, honestly, no one cares about the Cleveland Guardians or a Subway Series.

• A laugh-out-loud funny novel from 1979 that will one day be forgotten.

• The best/most boring YouTube channel about a guy rebuilding a house in the Italian Alps.

• The song of the week.

And as always, there’s a tip for going car-free (or car-light). 

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The World Series that America needed because, honestly, no one cares about the Cleveland Guardians or a Subway Series

The World Series starts tomorrow, and it is a blessing it features the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. That’s not because these are the best teams in their respective leagues—that has nothing to do with it; the league distinction is pointless anymore—or because MLB gets to market Ohtani vs. Judge (although, that is compelling). It’s the best series we could ask for because it does not involve the Cleveland Guardians or the New York Mets, the other two teams that were in the semifinals.

No one cares about the Guardians outside of the Cleveland metro area,¹ and the Mets were an allegedly fun group who for some reason turned themselves into a McDonald’s promotional toy. There was chatter about how great it would be to revive the Subway Series. No. I love New York. I love trains. But as much as I love those things I hate New Yorkers thinking everyone on the planet is obsessed with them. We are not. Plus, the Subway Series moniker should be retired until New York governor Kathy Hochul revives congestion pricing in Manhattan.