The ghost of the past came out in full force for the Cleveland Guardians as the season came to a close on Oct. 19 during game six of the American League Championship Series. Maybe it was the haunting from the other side of the plaza, where the Guards’ neighbors landed in the same position. The Cavs fell one series short of the final series earlier this year when they were swept by the eventual NBA champions in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Perhaps the weather goblins were reminding us of how the franchise was in 2016, when a rain delay stopped the game just short of a then-Cleveland Indians’ uprising that tripped up a potential World Series against the Cubs. Those same weather demons then sparked a panic in Major League Baseball, and launched the ALCS into unnecessary chaos.

In my opinion, there was no reason to move Game 3 up from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. MLB brass also failed to communicate with fans when they knew the field was underwater on Oct. 16. It’s pretty simple: They should have postponed the game when they moved the game time on

Oct. 15.

Thousands waited around Progressive Field on Oct. 16. MLB leadership held a 6 p.m. meeting that day, with zero information for fans until a little after 9 p.m., when they announced Game 4 fans could return on Oct. 18. Major League Baseball’s communication with ticket holders was brutal. MLB earned an “F” for how they ran the series, but the blame is not on the Guardians.

Still, the real haunting was watching three players who could have been in the Guardians’ dugout end the season on Oct. 19.

Richie Palacios, drafted by the franchise in 2018, delivered a clutch two-run double early in Game 6 to ignite the Rays’ offense. Junior Caminero was originally signed as an international free agent by Cleveland before being famously traded to the Rays as a 17-year-old. In the Game 6 clincher, he crushed a mammoth two-run home run off Guardians’ pitching to help Tampa Bay take full command, sending them to the World Series.

Most of us will never forget Yandy Diaz, who was traded to Tampa Bay in 2018. He had 11 hits in the series, including a nightmare night for the Guardians in Game 6. He played for Cleveland from 2017 to 2018 before a three-team deal sent him to Tampa Bay. He put the final nail in the coffin with a larger-than-life two-run homer in the eighth inning to bolt down a 7-3 pennant-winning celebration.

But, I have to say it: I do appreciate the season the Guardians gave us this year. Everybody thought the team was in the grave when it fell behind by two games in the best-of-five divisional series against the Chicago White Sox. Most thought the season was over when Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez were all hurt in the same game on June 13. They all battled back. Then, the front office picked up Jo Adell, Nathanal Lowe, Foster Griffin and Patrick Bailey near or on the trade deadline, and the second half of the season became a chase to win a third straight AL Central title.

Despite falling short, they put on a great show until the eighth inning of Game 6. History won’t remember the effort this team put in during the final months of the season, but the players deserve applause. The hard part about losing this series is that questions will abound about moves made and not made. Who made the moves and why?

MLB will also miss out on a great year’s momentum when it intends to lock out players at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 1. Owners are pushing for a hard salary cap. The reported proposal calls for a $245.3 million cap and a $171.2 million floor. MLB is the only major North American sports league without a salary cap. The MLB Players Association strongly opposes a cap.

Many experts think baseball may not be back for a while. If the labor strife knocks out next season, the Guardians could have a new owner on the other side. David Blitzer – and his group, including Matt Kaulig – could run the show if they decide to exercise the option from the Dolan family to become majority owners. They can do that at the end of next season. I can tell you the Blitzer family is very passionate about this baseball team. I’ve seen it firsthand from opening day to the final series of this year alone.

But owning a pro sports team is still a business. Nobody is in to lose money. If you look at Blitzer’s body of work, it’s easy to see that in his basketball team and what they have done in the offseason. Along with Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris, Blitzer is a co-managing partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, the fourth team LeBron James suited up for when the season - now his 24th - started on Oct. 20.

So the Guardians’ unexpected season has come to a close. We shall see what is next. What might be more frightening is that while the Guardians have held the city’s attention for the past few weeks, the Browns are in first place in the AFC North. Yes, it is a three-way tie, and the Cincinnati Bengals had last week off. But wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have earned the team that distinction.

Hopefully, they can figure out how to dress up like an offense before the fourth quarter. It’s hard to watch all the tricks for three quarters. But, I’ll take four fourth-quarter treats, anytime.

It all ties in nicely with Halloween. The Guardians have walked away from the front door, the Browns are knocking and the Cavs just got dressed up and are ready to head out as their season tips off.

The real kids, The Ohio State University fans, may have a very spooky primetime matchup against USC without quarterback Julian Sayin.

Sayin injured his throwing arm in the Indiana victory on Oct. 17 and will miss the game against USC on Oct. 31 – and more. Coach Ryan Day announced on Oct. 20 that he is out “indefinitely” with the possibility of missing the rest of the season.

Boo, enjoy your candy on Oct. 31.

Andy Baskin writes about Sports for the Cleveland Jewish News. To read more from him, visit cjn.org/baskin.