Generally I'm very much against instant proclamations of "best ever" ? but Wednesday night was unquestionably the most thrilling night of baseball in my lifetime. It doesn't matter who you root for. I've just seen the pinnacle, and I'm going to savor it. I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep for a while.
I'm not going to try to sum up the night at length, you surely had an eye and an ear on the action. You saw Evan Longoria and Dan Johnson playing hero in Tampa Bay. You saw the scrappy Orioles breaking Jonathan Papelbon's heart. You saw the tired and weary Atlanta relievers finally give against Philadelphia.
There were four critical games on the MLB schedule Wednesday and three of them saw a blown save with two outs in the ninth inning. You can't script this type of thing; if you saw this story in a movie theatre, you'd walk out, ticked off and muttering to yourself. Sports are the ultimate reality show, nothing decided ahead of time. You have to watch for yourself, no one gets to know the conclusion ahead of time.
For the most part I was a baseball fan on Wednesday, sharing the crazy swings with my old friends and new friends; connecting on email, Twitter, Facebook, the phone. But I know why I'm given the opportunity to write in this space; Fantasy Baseball is our mistress here. We're trying to help you win a fake title, we're doing all we can to make your seven-month investment seem worth it.
Consider this post an invitation to share your story. What dramatic elements from Wednesday pushed you to a title? Was it a big-name hero, someone like Mark Teixeira or Longoria that pushed you to the top? Did Michael Bourn or Andres Torres run you to a title? Did you gamble on a Wade LeBlanc or Miguel Batista (Instant Wiggy, that shutout out of nowhere was nuts) and come out smelling like a rose?
We'll listen to the bad beat stories, too ? I suppose that's part of today. What broke your heart? What moves will you regret? What small results on the sandlot tonight turned into the tipping point?
As most of you know, I'm originally from the Boston area. The Red Sox are my team, Terry Francona is my manager, Jonathan Papelbon is my closer, the chip is embedded in you at birth. I feel for these guys, but I'm not going to feel sorry for myself for even a second. I consider myself lucky to have watched these games, to share them with so many other people, to be thrilled and captivated for a full night. This is why we love these games, this is why we play, why we watch.
And to think, all along I didn't like the idea for MLB to go to a Wednesday finishing day. I couldn't have been more wrong. I'm greatly appreciative that this amazing show had the stage to itself, with nothing else competing. The timing couldn't have been more crazy, or more perfect.
I didn't win any titles this year, though I had my share of in-the-money finishes. And before I forget, I'd like to congratulate my longtime friend Jeff Erickson of Rotowire, who captured the 2011 Friends & Family title. Well played, amigo. But this post isn't going to be about me and my leagues. It's your podium now. Tell your story, pop your bubbly, congratulate the owner guy who beat you out, or start cutting and editing your Championship DVD. Flags fly forever.
As always, we appreciate you playing on Yahoo!, and sharing this journey with us. Tonight, we got the payoff. This is as good as it gets.
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Image courtesy Associated Press
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