I wouldn't take being California's "ace" as being that impressive, though. Yeah, Juan's leading the Angels in wins, ERA, and strikeouts…but they're still last on merit. July Pitcher of the Month Jon Matlack (he said with a certain pride) is looking elsewhere for his Cy Young competition, methinks.
For example, Britt Burns is leading the loop in ERA, and is a key reason the White Sox are battling us for the division. Along with LaRussa getting good results from that Dom Fucci/Rod Allen/Hosken Powell outfield (Baines has been hurt since April) and some just weird things. I mean, how does Fran Mullins, of all people, have 10 HRs? Is "Needles" Weinberg in mid-career form, or something?
Meanwhile, on the near North side, the Cubs' skid has reached 15 straight, even Tony Gwynn is down to .298, and Karl Pagel broke an ankle and is done for the season. This means that CF is now being patrolled by…Mark Gillaspie, father of…of…of…
FLAMES!! FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE!!! ARRRGGH!!!
…er, excuse me. Of Conor. (May he rot in Hell.)
I mean, 2015 was really special. The Mets are playing the Padres today, and the crowd booed Eric Hosmer every chance they got, which was sweet. (Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez are still inexplicably pretending Hosmer's mad dash was a good play, instead of utter stupidity rewarded by dumb luck. I mean, if Duda doesn't throw the ball halfway towards Brooklyn, Hos is out by 10 feet. I still say d'Arnaud could have taken a few steps away from the plate, caught the throw, and gotten back in time to tag him…)
But 2016 had real potential, too. "In Las Vegas, there's a whole clubhouse filled of guys who want to sit in this room, and I'll find 'em!" Gsellman and Lugo stepping in to save the rotation, the Granderson switch-hit HRs in extra innings game (I was there, which was pretty good, as I lived in LA then), the Asdrubal bat-flip walkoff. Even some of the losses in the 27-13 run were cool, like the one where Inciarte goes above the wall to turn Cespi's walk-off into the final out, or when we spotted the Phils a 10-0 lead and still nearly caught them. A great closing rush.
And then some idiot turned out the lights. Sigh.
(I don't mind getting beat by MadBum, because he's a talent. But Conor-f'ing-Gillaspie??? Gah.)
Truth be told, I think Mark was better. He tore up the minors for most of the '80s (Texas League Player of the Year in 1983) but never got a shot.
In game, rather than being drafted by the Padres and blocked by the likes of John Kruk (his rookie roomie) and Tony Gwynn, he was the Cubs' #3 pick and is now in the Wrigley outfield…right next to Tony Gwynn. Huh.
