METZ, FRANCE - Thanks to the ubiquity of the weekend series coupled with the lingering presence of scheduled doubleheaders and multi-game tournaments, on sheer number, there are probably more of these games than any other sport on the Flats. That breeds familiarity, though not contempt. The year was, for all of its inconsistencies, surprisingly consistent. The Jackets won some great games, yet also lost some head-scratchers and had spells with disappearing bats. So, a mixed bag. What does it mean?
Had this series existed a year ago at this time, this article would, for all intents and purposes, be entirely conjecture.