Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Thrill of Victory, and What Was That Other Thing? Ah, Yes.

Nationals-Cardinals Game Five is the most excruciating, agonizing, deflating sporting event I have ever witnessed, and I write this as a Buffalo Bills fan. I think it was even more so coming off the previous evening's amazing, wonderful lead-off walk-off win.

That being said, I watched with a growing sense of dread through the middle of the game as our pitchers continued to not throw strikes and the Cardinals bullpen absolutely shut us down, and the run here, run there erosion of our lead continued. Hell, it could have been blown wide open with those bases-loaded situations, but we did just enough to maintain our lead and finally, finally added another run. I will not speak of the ninth inning, for as noted sportswriter Legolas put it in the late edition of the Greenwood Gazette, "For me the grief is still too near."

Hats off to the Cardinals but hats off especially to the Nationals, who beat expectations this year to win the NL East and get the best record in baseball, all while getting concern-trolled by ignorami squealing about shutting down Strasburg. That was and remains the right thing to do and had no impact on the rest of the season; it may have even improved it based on his last couple of starts.

See you in the spring, gentlemen.

3 comments:

J. said...

We secretly replaced your Washington Nationals with the New York Mets. (Blame Davey.)

My sincere condolences. When we turned off the TV the Nats were ahead 6-0 and figured the game was over, the Nats had won.

The good news: the Nats should be a contender for years to come.

EMM said...

I was at all three games, roller coaster of emotions to say the least. My baseball posts will be forthcoming, talk amongst yourselves in the meantime.

I believe in the church of baseball! GoNats13.

KLE said...

I'm very glad I passed out on the couch in the middle of the 6th inning (that is, when they still looked good). I don't think I could have handled the grief. Super bummer.