Bengie Molina: Giant Killer to Giant Savior

Much like someone still hung up on an ex-significant other, I try to insulate myself from certain reminders that trigger painful memories. If Starbucks, prosciutto pizza and Usher songs bring back visions of that special someone, then it would be wise to abstain from such things.

I follow this thinking religiously when it comes to all things Angels. You see, I am a die-hard Giants fan and that 2002 World Series (the one in which the G-Men were five outs away from triumph) left the kind of gaping hole that LaDanian’s linemen leave for him, only in my heart.

I certainly change the channel whenever the Angels are on TV, root against Eckstein whenever he hits and smile whenever I see Erstad riding pine. I cannot stomach the thought of being the Angels in a video game. Scott Spiezio may one day cure a deadly disease, but I would still loathe him and his ridiculous red goatee.

Why am I bringing this up now, six years after the fact? I happened upon a small article that detailed the pitchers the Cubs were interested in acquiring for the stretch run.

Of course, there were the usual suspects like AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia, but Jarrod Washburn’s name was also included. And just like someone with a broken heart who stumbled across an old picture, all the feelings of anguish and pain came rushing back as if Percival had recorded the final out all over again.

Washburn was a good pitcher for the Angels and a guy the Giants defeated twice during the Series. I do not know why, but his name triggered a flood of depressing memories of when the Giants blew the World Series.

It also does not help seeing the Angels dominate the AL West and watching the Giants fade into also-ran status since that matchup.

Watching the Angels in the postseason year after year is salt in an open wound much like running into that ex-girlfriend sometime later only to see her fifteen pounds lighter, tanned, riding shotgun in some weenie’s Viper and worst of all, smiling.

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