The Futility Infielder

ThunderStruck

If he'd lived to see it, Gene Autry would have declared himself Back in the Saddle Again. After 41 years and from beyond the grave, the Cowboy got the Monkey off his back on Sunday night. Mike Scioscia's Lackeys did their bidding quite well (even his Molinas didn't do too badly), and the Angels are World Champions, beating the the Giants 4-1 in Game Seven.

While not a classic on the order of 1991 or even last year, this was a memorable World Series, filled with some strange and often surreal moments. Sunday night's most bizarre image was that of a blonde female Angels fan reaching down to "whack" Giants outfielder Reggie Sanders with her ThunderStix as Sanders retrieved Garret Anderson's bases-clearing double. While hailing this as the probable death (and with good cause) of the Big Inflatable Dildo era in sports souvenirs, let's give thanks for those other slices of weirdness which will forever earmark this series:

• J.T. Snow falling on his can in pursuit of a foul ball and then rising to retrieve it in Game One
• J.T. Snow scooping up young Darren Baker as he crossed home plate in Game Five
• J.T. Snow batting .407 in a World Series on Earth, played by Humans
• Bengie Molina getting on base five straight times in one game -- twice via intentional walk -- in Game Three
• Shawon Dunston hitting a home run in Game Six that for a few innings looked as if it might stand up as the Series-winner
• Jay Witasick reliving last year's i-can't-get-anybody-out-and-I-haven't-even-registered-for-this-class-which-I'm-failing-and-the-test-is-today nightmare all over again
• Barry Bonds dribbing two consecutive hits like basketballs out in left field during the fateful Game Six

Of course, plenty of conventional memories, both spectacular and prosaic, will endure as well:
• Bonds hitting a towering home run seemingly every time the Angels dared pitch to him
• Bonds un-Velcro-ing his ridiculous body armor after taking yet another walk
• Benito Santiago corkscrewing himself into the ground on every swing
• Dusty Baker chewing a toothpick nervously
• Pint-sized David Eckstein sprinting to first after a walk
• Baby-faced Francisco Rodriguez dropping a succession of nasty sliders on Giants hitters
• Troy Percival and the other near-sighted, self-described dirtbags of the Angels bullpen squinting in for the sign from the catcher
• Darin Erstad laying out for a spectacular grab in centerfield
• Tim Salmon's pair of homers in Game Two, the second capping a wild and woolly 11-10 win
• Scott Spiezio's just-over-the-wall 3-run homer in Game Six, keying one of the most dramatic comebacks in Series history

In the end, I'm certainly happy that the Angels won. Their brand of baseball has made for consistently engaging viewing over the past few weeks, a bare minimum of hair-loss, and some food for thought in the world of sabermetrics. I may never find myself rooting for them again, but I've enjoyed this ride with Ecks and Erstad, Kennedy and K-Rod, Troy and Troy, Donnelly and Weber, the Salmon and the Sandfrog, Soc and Hatch. On the other hand, if I never again have to pull for Kevin Appier while poring over his pock-marked neck or hearing about his camels, it will be too soon.

On the other side, while I'm gleeful that the Giants lost (roll over Durocher, and tell Dusty Baker the news: "The Giants Lose The Series! The Giants Lose the Series!" ), I don't envy their fans. The second-guessing of Baker which will inevitably ensue may pale in comparison to the second-guessing of Baker and owner Peter Magowan if they part ways this offseason. In the meantime, the concerned parties can ponder Baker's use of the bullpen in Game Six, staying too long with Livan in Game Seven, pinch-hitting Goodwin for Sanders -- hell, the entire bench for the entire postseason, period. Better your problem than mine, pal.

Game Seven was a fitting conclusion to a fine season of baseball, Bud Selig's best efforts to destroy the sport notwithstanding. Congratulations to the Angels, their organization, and their fans. And by my watch, there's only about 110 days until Pitchers and Catchers. Are we there yet?