You made it! It’s finally the end of another work week. Sure, the weekend has lost a bit of its luster lately, but no work is still no work, even if it is just sitting at home doing nothing. I mean, unless you have kids or a family or responsibilities and if so, that’s a “you” problem.

Cy Young

In the spirit of baseball awards season, I thought, ‘what can I possibly do this fine Friday that could at least tangentially be associated with real-world sporting events?’ I am a company man through and through, obviously.

* If you want some actual baseball analysis on this year’s winners go here or here, you know that’s not what I do so if you came for it that’s on you.

As my brain puttered forward like a two and a half horsepower push mower, I eventually remembered that time Eric Gagné won a Cy Young in 2003. A closer won the award for best pitcher in a regular season. That feels impossible now but this was not that long ago. Actually, it was 17 years ago, christ I’m old. Doesn’t matter. Carrying on obliviously with a forced smile until my eventual return to the dust.

The Year

This award-winning season, Gagné went 55 for 55 on saves with a 1.20 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. This was big-time steroid era baseball. I’m sure Mr. Gagné was clean though. We all know he managed to do this for years and years to come.

The type of career that gets you mentioned with Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. Just kidding, he sucks and absolutely (allegedly) was juicing up a storm like everyone else that decade. Do I have sour grapes because of that time the Red Sox traded for him midseason and he stunk out loud? Of course not. That would not be responsible, whatever it is I do here is.

Completely unbiased opinion from a scorned lover. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this shit grainy video with dumb music overlay!