Well, boys and girls, it’s my favorite time of year: Baseball Postseason. It’s that magical time of year when my heart follows the teams and the onion dip.

While the government is officially shut down, baseball charges on, and I’ve got the best seat in the house: front row at home. The competition is fierce, the talent exceptional: the steals, the home runs, the near impossible catches. But what strikes me most is this: every team, every player, follows the rules.

That may sound obvious, but in these times, it’s worth pointing out. In baseball, the rules don’t change depending on who’s at bat. Teams can’t move the bases a few feet closer or ask for four strikes instead of three. They might argue a call, but when the umpire makes the decision—and they do allow video challenges—the game goes on. Everyone understands one thing: without the rules, there’s no game.

That’s the difference between order and chaos; between baseball and Washington.

In its simplest form, baseball is a mirror of democracy at its best. Both rely on trust. Trust that the process is fair. Trust that everyone plays by the same standards. And trust that when a decision goes against you, you don’t rewrite the rule book, you step up, adjust, and try again.

The rules don’t restrict the players; they define the game. They set the limits that make excellence possible.

And yet, in government—and, sadly, in public life—that’s exactly what’s happening today. Too many are trying to change the rules, bend the truth, or ignore the very framework that makes self-government possible. When that happens, we don’t just lose trust—we lose the meaning of self-government itself.

In baseball, when someone cheats, they’re called out. Integrity matters because everyone’s effort depends on it. The fans might argue the calls, but they respect the process. Without that shared trust, the scoreboard wouldn’t mean a thing.

It’s the same with democracy. Once we stop respecting the rules, the laws, the norms, the ethical standards, everything else falls apart.

What keeps baseball honest isn’t perfection; it’s accountability. Players make mistakes, umpires miss calls—though we now have video challenges that can correct an error. But no one…no one walks off the field claiming the rules don’t apply to them. That shared respect is what keeps the system working. It’s what keeps fans believing—and coming back for more.

It’s a reminder that greatness isn’t built on shortcuts or excuses—it’s built on character: Preparation. Humility. Respect. You play hard. You play fair. You accept the outcome. Then you show up the next day and do it again.

There’s no democracy without rules. No justice without fairness. And no real victory when one side decides the rules don’t apply.

So, as the 2025 Postseason begins, I can’t help but think how much better off we’d be if Washington took a few lessons from the ballpark. Hell, I’d settle for them just finding their way into the ballpark of fair play.