There are very few times I can recall in my life when I’ve rooted against the Red Sox. As the season wound down in 2005 I recall I was pulling for whatever other team was in the Wild Card hunt against the Sox to overtake them. The team had fizzled in August and was built for collapse in the post season. I didn’t want the team embarrassed on a national stage. Sure enough that’s exactly what happened when they were swept out of the playoffs by the White Sox.
Well, I find myself in a similar feeling tonight. Not for the same reasons. This team is built to win another championship. No, this is how I felt after Dale Earnhardt died. Sure he was a veteran and had years in the sport but his career was cut down too early. Very similar is what happened to Angels rookie Nick Adenhart. He was a 22 year old rookie that won a starting spot out of spring training and was one of the highly touted pitching prospects in the Angels organization. Sadly his and two other lives were cut short by a drunk driver early Thursday morning.
The Angels and Athletics did the proper thing in postponing the game on Thursday, but the Angels season must go on and they’re hosting the Sox this evening. For a team that’s grieving and a baseball community that’s grieving a win is a very small thing, token even. But tonight I’m pulling for the Angels. Start the healing process knowing that they won’t forget Nick Adenhart.
