April 15th @ The Twins

You have a meeting in Montclair, N.J., at 9:00 am. You live 45 miles south of Montclair. With zero traffic, you can get there in 55 minutes. But, you know, on average, it takes you around 80 minutes (with traffic) - so, you leave at 7:30 am.

You get on the Garden State Parkway at Exit 114 and it’s just about stopped dead. Nothing but bright red tail-lights. It takes you 35 minutes just to go 10 miles - and, as far as you can see, there’s nothing by traffic in front of you.

Screw it. You throw in the towel and realize that you’re going to lose this one. There’s no way that you can go 35 more miles, in this traffic, in 55 minutes. At the pace so far, you’ll be just lucky to get to Montclair some time today.

But, then, when you least expect it, around Exit 135, the Parkway opens up. For some reason, there’s no traffic. And, you start flying up the northbound side, doing 85 MPH. Before you know it, you’re at Exit 153 and it’s 8:45 am. You start to think “I just need to jump on Route 3 for around a mile, and then Route 46 for a second, and I’m there. I’m going to win this thing after it looked like I had no hope at all when I started out!”

Then you get off the Parkway to enter Route 3 - and, it’s a parking lot. You’re so close to Montclair that you could probably hit it with a rock, but, you’re sitting on Route 3 with your car in park. You’re stopped, dead, and there’s no way off or out. It’s 8:50 am, then it’s 8:55 am, then it’s 8:58 am, then it’s 8:59 am……..and you still haven’t moved since you got on to Route 3.

It’s over, you’re totally screwed, you miss the meeting, and the middle miles from 135 to 153 was just a great big f’ing tease.

You know, this has happened to me countless times over the last six years or so. It used to make me want to rip the steering wheel right off of my dashboard when it would happen. But, through the years, I’ve learned to deal with it. It’s traffic. What can you do? It happens.

You would think this would help me with a game like tonight. It’s the same No Hope/Great Hope/Turns Out It Was A Tease scenario. Yet, I still want to rip my cable connection out of the wall now. Why is that?

When will I learn that….It’s the Yankees. What can you do? It happens…….?

April 15, 2006 | Filed Under Game Commentary 04/06

Comments

7 Responses to “April 15th @ The Twins”

JeremyM on April 16th, 2006 12:08 am

That about sums it up. This loss was one that really makes me question why I follow this shit so closely.

On the bright side, looks like Proctor was good, they need to let him start and ditch Wright.
hopbitters on April 16th, 2006 1:01 am

Proctor was good. And Wright does belong in a ditch. That whole thing with Mo was my fault, btw. I have him on two of my fantasy teams, aka purgatory for closers. It only goes downhill from here.
Raf on April 16th, 2006 8:35 am

Rivera blew a save, it happens… Crazy game all around.

I wasn’t expecting such a short leash with Farnsworth. Guess I shouldn’t be suprised, tho.

It’s a shame that Proctor’s work was wasted.
Don on April 16th, 2006 2:03 pm

In the end it really does not mean all that much. I watched the ninth inning at home while my mother was very critically ill in Greenwich Hospital. We put too much into sports. I’m as guilty of that as anyone.

My brother and I had a visit with mom earlier in the day, I don’t know if she knew we were there or not, but it was good to hold her hand and talk to her for a few hours.

She passed away 7:20 AM Easter morning. She reached the good age of 90.
Raf on April 16th, 2006 3:05 pm

Sorry to hear about your loss. My condolences, Don
Steve Lombardi on April 16th, 2006 7:51 pm

Ditto that Don. I’m sorry to hear about your loss.
hopbitters on April 17th, 2006 9:56 am

Our condolences to your and your family, Don.