So many threads to post this in, figured I'd go here...
Though I rarely post, I "live" here during the season, every single day...and I doubt anyone but you guys would understand my thoughts and feelings...
I am both pained and proud...sports are so cruel sometimes...164 games of joy followed by 3 tough, bitter pills in a row...and like that, it's over...so like the players, I will "pack up" my baseball jones and put it away for 6 months (I'm one of those done with baseball for the year guys)...
But as crushing as Cueto's injury, Votto's inability to drive the ball, the weight of 2 errors that we never see, and a touch of youth and inexperience showing with Latos I am finding myself feeling an incredible euphoria over not only the season but yesterday's game in particular...and that's weird...
I left work early and watched the game with my daughters at a local sports bar...we hung on every pitch...and the top of the 5th was hard to watch...but then I got to watch why I REALLY enjoyed this team and this season...they simply play the game the right way until the very last strike...
Every inning we competed, from the incredible relief pitching to getting big hit after big hit even in the shadows...the crowd willing the team with a passion and intensity that I've never seen before...and I just knew, just knew that Bruce's AB would be the one...be the one to send us all into a frenzy that we've experienced so rarely...
I'm old enough to remember almost all of it...starting with Rudi's catch in '72, all the way thru now...and for me, a virtual native Floridian, watching from afar, on tv, radio or the internet...
Foul ball, foul ball, foul ball...with each suceeding pitch my girls and I edged closer to the screen...we reminded ourselves of his walkoff in '10, Dunn's GS walkoff and the win over the Diamondbacks earlier this year...it was going to happen...it had to happen...
And of course, it didn't happen...and I kindof knew that Rolen was star-crossed somehow, that it would end there with him...another painful type of trajedy...
My youngest left with tears in her eyes...and it was easily the most intense 2 hours (from 5th inning on) of sports TV I've witnessed in while (Lakers-Celtics Game 7 2 years ago is the only thing I can think of for me in a LONG while)...
And maybe the way we lost was cathartic for me...I'm old enough to know I can't sulk and pout, but it still hurts...but wow, I got such incredible pleasure watching this team (and yes, this manager) all year...
We lost with the dignity and effort and character reserved for champions...and although I have 6 months of waiting for this yearly exodus to resume, I will dwell on the last 4.5 innings of our season with tremendous pride and happiness that I have the priviledge of being a Red's fan...
Thanks also to this site and to you for being my BFF's each year
