OF MANY THINGS: FROM McGARITY ON SHORT LIST TO KICKERS CONSISTENT
An unimaginable 60 games under .500, on the verge of setting all kinds of records for futility, the Chicago White Sox easily are the worst team in major league baseball this season … quite possibly any season. So tell us, why in the name of … Bill Veeck, who by now would have done something off the wall to generate interest … why is AARON McGARITY still down on the farm? … The slender 6-3, 185-pound right-hander has the kind of numbers (7-1 won-lost, 2.62 earned run average, opponents’ composite batting average of .169) with the Chisox’ AAA affiliate in Charlotte, N.C., that should be enough for a call up by any MLB franchise, much less one so bad it doesn’t deserve even mention as a laughingstock. Yet there
McGarity is … to date, a career minor leaguer … and, to his
credit, the Richmonder, who attended Mills Godwin High
and Virginia Tech before signing with the Yankees eight
years ago, continues to remain positive. “I’m going to the
big leagues NEXT week,” he said Monday.
OK, so McGarity, who signed with the White Sox this
spring as a free agent, has lost five or six mph off his fast
ball, down to anywhere between 88 and 92, since
undergoing TOMMY JOHN surgery in 2022. To
compensate, instead of overpowering, he’s getting ‘em out
with guile and doing a pretty darn good job of it … since a
terrible start to the season in which he was touched for eight
earned runs in his first two games by the Orioles’ red-hot-
hitting IL affiliate in Norfolk … A middle-to-late relief
pitcher, whose longest outing has been two innings among
44 in 38 appearances overall (for a subpar team), McGarity
hasn’t allowed a run and only two hits in his last 11 games.
He’s got to be disappointed no one in authority in Chicago
has noticed, isn’t he?
Of course, he is … even if he tries not to let on … resorting
instead to some well meaning philosophy … fooling no one
in the process. Listen. “I’ve had a pretty good season so far
… but I wouldn’t say disappointed. I would say …uhh, what
would I say? I’m not throwing quite as hard as some of the
other guys getting called up, so I’m in a position where I
understand that if I don’t succeed when I get put up on the
big league level, the blame is put on the player development
coordinator ...where if a guy who throws hard and doesn’t
succeed, the blame is put on the player … “
Understand, McGarity said previously he’s determined to
pitch until he’s 50 … if that’s what it takes for him to reach
his goal … and that means he has 21 years to go. You don’t
think he was putting us on, do you?
While McGarity hasn’t asked why he’s been overlooked, his
agent has … and? “They said I’m on the shortlist to be
called up … but how long that short list is, I don’t know.”
He laughs then: “Hey, I’m making decent money … that will
provide for a family. That’s the [real] goal. It’s a game I love
playing. I love what I’m doing.” … In other words, he’s
happy. A. McGarity has got life by the tail. And that’s what
it’s really all about, isn’t it?
……. Once again … we were reminded why NBC deserves a
big BOO for Olympics coverage: Friday the U.S., and Japan
had just completed a spirited, highly-competitive men’s
volleyball match but, instead of lingering court side,
allowing viewers to soak up the excitement of an American
victory – including interviews – the network cut away for a
puff piece with tennis commentator MARY CARILLO …
having nothing to do with tennis -- or any sport, for that
matter. (Actually, it was a commercial for a cruise lines
sponsor disguised as a feature on growing grapes to make
wine … complete with such penetrating questions as: “How
old are these trees?”)
……. Frankly … coming in, the only thing that really attracted
yours truly to the Summer Games was SIMONE BILES …
and the gymnast who defies gravity didn’t disappoint. How
anyone can jump that high (with virtually no margin for
error) is, in itself, mind-boggling. But then to turn over and
over and over … three times … before coming in for a
perfect landing is, well, inconceivable … Only seeing is
believing, and Biles, 27, delivered. She is one-of-a-kind. We
may never see anyone like her again … so enjoy while you
can ,,, but don’t ask, “What’s next?” Biles doesn’t like the
question, she said … just let her enjoy her latest success.
And if you dare inquire about her future, well, be prepared
for “Baby-sitting my medals,” which was her snippy
response Sunday in Paris.
……. Truth be told … it would have been oh-so-easy to root
against the U.S., women’s basketball team … without
CAITLIN CLARK and ANGEL REESE, rookies who
should have been on the team … and were omitted for
reasons lacking in sense … but then both – Clark, in
particular – took advantage of the break for some much-
needed R&R … Meanwhile, lack of interest in the
Americans without Clark has been duly noted.
……. At least your Richmond Kickers are consistent. They
lost again Saturday night, 3-1 to home standing Northern
Colorado FC. Lack of offense and defensive breakdowns led
to the Kickers’ fourth straight defeat (all competitions)
during which they have managed a grand total of two goals
… The best Richmond could do in this one was a game-
tying goal by NILS VINYALS in the 36th minute.
Appearing in his 100th game as a Kicker, he beat Hailstor
m keeper 26 year old EDWARD DELGADO from outside
the box, finding the lower right corner for his third goal of
the season, and came about four minutes after BRUNO
RENDON, 24, gave seventh-place Northern Colorado (5-4-
3, 18 points) the early lead … It marked the 14th time this
season (all competitions) the Kickers had allowed the first
goal … and they have gone winless, tying four … ETHAN
HOARD, 23, a 6-5 rookie, provided what proved the
winning goal in the 55th minute from deep in the box … as
the Hailstorm won its third match in a row … The top eight
in the 12-team USL League One qualify for the playoffs …
Richmond (3-8-3, 12 points) fell from ninth to tenth, with
No. 11 Central Valley (11 points) and No. 12 Lexington (10
points) each having two games in hand. In fact, only No. 8
South Georgia (16 points) has played more games (15) or as
many as the Kickers (14) … who return to City Stadium
Saturday night (Aug. 10) against the Tormenta (4-7-4).
Until next time ...
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