Famous quote from beloved Disney World attraction:
"It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small small world. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all. It's a small small world...."
And it is.
Today, we learned the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Foreign Class of the Japan Pacific League, 2013 season champions, will not release star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to American baseball, eliminating the one free agent that could have lifted the Yankees to relevance in 2014.
In making this decision, the Golden Eagles said they want to win another championship for their fans. Theoretically, if the team had come in last, it would be willing to let Tanaka go.
So who were the hitting mainstays of the Golden Eagles last year? You know the answer. Of course, it was former Yankees Andruw Jones and Casey McGhee.
A few years ago, "The Sixth Degrees of Kevin Bacon" became a cute Hollywood parlor game. But the movie industry has nothing on MLB. I am perpetually amazed at the vast inter-weavings of teams and players, who just change uniforms go about their business.
Fans, on the other hand, never change teams. Look at Redsock fans. Most of them went 80 years, never flinched. We Yankee fans have endured A-Rod. Sports generates some of the powerful loyalties known to humanity. Yet veteran players don't even seem to flinch.
Anyway, there you have it. In another universe, the Yankees kept Andruw Jones and Casey McGhee (even though they both sucked), and today, the last place Golden Eagles are sending us a crack at their best pitcher.
Oh well, here's another way to look at it: How could can Tanaka be, if Andruw Jones and Casey McGhee were the best hitters in a Japanese lineup?
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2 comments:
We just had a little Holiday lunch party in the office. At the end, somebody started a "Let's all express our wishes for the coming year!"
there were all the "good person" wishes for health and world peace, etc. My mom is in the hospital. My kid has cancer. I need a zoning variance for the old building I'm converting into a homeless shelter. blah, blah, blah. So boring.
then it was my turn. I wished for Tanaka and a World Series championship for the Yankees. I must have sprouted another head on my shoulders, given the stares I was getting.
Looks like I get neither wish. I'm looking forward to the world peace, however.
Tanaka should defect to Mexico, like I did.
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