One Strike Away

Yeah, this was a gut-wrenching moment for Rangers fans.There's something about being a sports fan that appeals to so many people, yet most can never quite put their finger on it. Being a fan unites us with certain people, separates us from others, and most notably, has the ability to mess with our emotions like almost no other force can.

With that said, I guess it should come as no surprise that the title of this site, One Strike Away, is both narrow-focused and wide-encompassing at the same time. It's focus is obviously one game - Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. Baseball fans around the country were tuned in. The Rangers were a strike away... twice. The defining moment that will always be remembered is an image of Nelson Cruz hopelessly flailing for the ball he had misjudged on what should have been the final out to seal the franchise's first championship. But it was not to be.

So what's my point, you ask? Simple. Whether the Texas Rangers go on to win ten championships or none, many of us will remember that singular moment. We'll most likely remember where we were. I was in a local sports bar with some friends, and I specifically remember a group of Ranger fans chanting"Fuck you, Pujols" while clapping. My response was, "No, it's not over yet. Stop... just stop, this can't end well with that chant happening." Obviously, I know our presence in a sports bar had no bearing on the game, but we all like to throw as much good "karma" in the direction of our team as possible. What happened next was that Pujols laced a double into left-center to begin the rally that would end with Cardinals tying the game in the bottom of that very same ninth inning.

No one really remembers that Josh Hamilton was almost the hero in extra innings. Just the image of Cruz missing his chance to clinch a World Series ring for the Rangers.

Yeah, this is going to be fun.