The San Francisco Giants traded Ray Durham to the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. It shouldn't bother me.
The Giants are in the middle of a transition year. They are slowly getting rid of the grey foxes on the team to make room for younger players. Durham is 36. Does that mean vet Rich Aurilia is next? And why, for the love of Pete, do I even care?
Those grey foxes are my last ties to the Giants from my pre- no-television days. I know them. They're familiar and comfortable like my worn yet reliable college sweatshirts. Why? Because I watched them play. All the time.
When my all-time favorite SF Giant player JT Snow retired a few years ago, I nearly cried. To me, he epitomized all things good in baseball: he was a total gamer, charming, smart, clean-cut and absolutely adorable. He played on the same team as Durham and Aurilia. I mean, I can at least listen to JT on the radio when he's broadcasting a game. But if Aurilia gets traded, who's left for me to follow on the team? Forget youngin' Barry Zito. He may be good looking, but he's having issues (Atlee Hammaker anyone?) It's all about the newbies. Fresh faces that I only read about or hear about on the radio. SF Giant rookies.
It's obviously a good thing. The Giants need to invest in their younger players if they ever want to make it beyond September ball. But sometimes a girl can't let go of the memories.
We took the boys to a local burger joint last week to watch the All-Star Game. As I asked my husband who players were, I felt a little pang. For the first time in five years, I had the desire to own a television. Just so I could watch baseball again. So we could see a game and then watch the recaps and highlights on Baseball Tonight. So I could explain to my boys who so-and-so is and why he's the best base stealer/outfielder/pitcher in the game.
Mama needs to get to the ballpark. Pronto.
