Freddy Garcia came within 4 outs of a perfect game in this afternoon's White Sox game. Adam Kennedy hit a single into center field with two outs in the eighth to break up Freddy's bid, and the Angels crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and boos.
Perfect games (and their more common sibling, the no-hitter) are rare feats, one of those extraordinarily special events in the sport of baseball. There have been only 17 in the 100+ year history of the sport. In other words, it'd be a hell of a thing to see happen in person. Every time I pass the gate into a baseball stadium, I wonder if maybe today is the day I witness a no-hitter or perfect game. I got into the habit of bringing my camera to games, just in case one of these special events happened.
Obviously, you'd prefer to be on winning side of any of these games. But what if your team is the one being no-hit or perfect gamed? Are you cheering the opposition in hopes of witnessing history? Or are you eager to play spoiler, hoping your team gets a hit, avoids entering the record books, and maybe even pulls out a victory. Tonight's game was out of reach...the Sox were ahead 8-0 at that point, and the Angels had little hope of winning. That late in the game, and with such a large deficit, it's probably not a difficult choice. I'd certainly cheer for history over my own team. But what if the game had been closer?
One of the games I attended earlier in the year presented such a dilemma. Coincidentally, Freddy Garcia was pitching in that one too. But on June 22nd it was Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes who was dominating. The game was scoreless, and at some point around the 5th or 6th inning I realized that Reyes hadn't allowed a hit. With one out in the 7th, Jim Thome hit a home run, breaking up the no-hitter and giving the Sox the lead. I know I was happy...but I also recall being disappointed that I wasn't going to be part of a US Cellular crowd seeing a special event. Reyes finished the game for the Cardinals without giving up another hit.
Anyway, back to today. Following games via online updates is nerve-wracking enough under normal circumstances. But factor in a possible perfect game, and I was nervous as hell as I waited for the text and graphics of CBS Sportsline to update. Could he really do it? A perfect game? There were 9 outs left...then 6. Wow, this could actually be happening...'how fucking awesome would this be?', I thought to myself while putting up away messages of don't say nuthin' (old baseball superstition that no hitters and perfect games are not to be discussed by anyone- players, fans, announcers- while they are occurring) and following along with my fellow fans on South Side Sox. I contemplate closing the game tracker down and walking away to just let things happen on their own, but ultimately can't bring myself to do so. Bottom of the 8th....down goes the first batter...and the second. My mind wanders to Freddy Garcia joining a very exclusive list of pitchers and then snaps back to reality as Kennedy gets to a full count.
And just like that, it was over. I silently screamed FUCK! and typed the same sentiment to a few friends online. Instead of entering baseball immortality, Freddy Garcia just becomes another pitcher who came fairly close. Instead of being written and talked about endlessly by the media in upcoming years, the game just becomes one that only die-hard Sox fans will recall fondly.