I need to spill my sports guts for a moment…

Tonight, the Minnesota Twins are in Chicago to face the hometown White Sox for the American League’s Central Division title. Personally, I want the pale Sawx to win.

As a New Yorker, this is a sad night since this year, Major League Baseball’s playoffs will not have a New York team in it. The last time this happened, I just finished college.

With baseball season over in New York, both the Yankees and the Mets get ready for the off-season. Both teams need pitching – the Mets need an entire bullpen while the Yankees need just about an entire starting rotation. The Yankees are in the market for a first baseman, maybe an outfielder, and possibly a catcher and second baseman. The Mets, meanwhile, are looking for anyone to play second base, a stronger bench, and maybe a first baseman. Reporters are halucinating over the possibility of high-cost free agents making New York their new home next year, while fans are just getting over the fact that both teams choked.

Last Thursday, I went to see the Mets play the Cubs at Shea. It was a rainy night at the old ballpark in Flushing. Thankfully, our seats were in the Loge section in left field — we were covered. The Mets came from behind to win the game in the bottom of the 9th on a hit by Carlos Beltran. Mets fans were over-thrilled, as was this Yankees fan who cheered for the hometown team.

The first time I went to Shea was to see a football game. Don’t ask me anything about it — I don’t remember going. Yes, it was a Jets game, one of their last ones played in Queens before moving to New Jersey. Family members told me about it. Beyond that, I attended a few Mets games over the years and a blessed concert event this past July — Billy Joel’s "Last Play at Shea," where Paul McCartney showed up to sing farewell to the orange and blue ballpark. Yes, the facility is not the greatest. The new stadium is going to run rings around Shea.

As the new Yankee Stadium will definitely run rings around the current stadium. For all the crying over the old stadium and the "memories" that the ballpark gave, people will easily forget it when they step into the sparkling new place across 161st Street.

Well, the ballgame between the Twins and White Sox is going on. I guess I will make a cup of coffee and sit down and enjoy it.

I’ll enjoy the baseball game, that is.