I'm finding it hard to concentrate on baseball tonight. I watched American Idol and was so shocked and dismayed at its outcome that I screamed at the TV. I haven't screamed like that since the 2001 World Series when Arizona totally lucked out on bunts and bloop hits to deny the Yankees of their title. Oh well. It just goes to prove and is another lesson in that what should happen doesn't always. Ken Griffey Jr. should have had a monster year because he deserved it and worked hard to get back. And Derek Jeter should never have been nailed by that minor league catcher Huckaby. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr The Flagrant Fan is NOT in a good mood.

There is some injustice built into the history of baseball. Satchel Paige and so many of his contemporaries shouldn't have been past their brilliant primes to play in MLB. Jermaine Dye shouldn't have broken his leg just when he was reaching superstardom. Mickey Mantle shouldn't have destroyed his knees before there were techniques available to fix them. Ted Williams shouldn't have had to miss six seasons to fight two wars. He finished with 521 homers. He could have had 700. He finished with 2600+ hits and could have had 3800.

Billy Williams and Ernie Banks should have had a World Series win. The Red Sox should have had a better manager in the 86 series. Knuckleball pitchers like Waite Hoyt, the Neikros and others should be respected for the artists they were. Koufax should have had his body last longer than it did. Curt Flood shouldn't have sacrificed his career to get what was wrong righted. The World Champion Florida Marlins shouldn't have been dismantled so effectively. The Montreal Expos shouldn't have had their best year shortened by the strike that ended that season. Ralph Kiner should have had a longer career. Dizzy Dean shouldn't have blown out his arm in an All Star game.

Yes, injustice is a part of life and a part of baseball. The umpires shouldn't have been allowed to get away from the strike zone. Somebody should have cared enough about Willie Mays to quit two years earlier. Roberto Clemente shouldn't have died on that plane trying to help those people. Thurman Munson shouldn't have been allowed to fly and on and on it goes.

Life holds no guarantees and as I have told my son a million times, it isn't fair and it isn't going to be fair. But at least the good happens often enough to temper the bad and though it was way colder today than it should have been, at least there was one of the most beautiful full moons I've ever seen.

Goodnight baseball lovers. It will be better tomorrow...