Baseball is just a game!  I have to remind myself of that today. as players that “mean something to me” have let me down.  I can handle it when the errors are made in the field, but it’s those made outside the game that leave the worst taste in my mouth.  I should know by now that the combustible combination of youth, success, status, and wealth often leads to disappointment, and it’s no different in baseball.  These players are human beings not Super Heroes!

I’ve been following the Oregon State Beavers this baseball season, and the success of their pitching staff.  My interest started in their very first game this year when they battled my Indiana Hoosiers to a 1-0 victory.  They went on to win 28 of their first 29 games and continue in the NCAA tournament with a current 20 game win streak.  Fans, including me, in this area were following the team’s success closely, and then the shocking news came out!   Their ace pitcher, Luke Heimlich, is a child molester, and I can’t get the disappointment out of my head.  How does this happen?

The reaction from Oregon State University officials remains non-existent.  How could a college athlete earn a scholarship with this on his record, and how can I even think about watching today’s game?   Is it the train wreck syndrome?  I hope for the sake of his teammates, they are able to overcome this blemish on their success, but the entire season is tainted by one player’s selfishness.  Maybe Vanderbilt will put us all out of our misery, and we won’t have to hear about this for the rest of the College Word Series?  Otherwise, we won’t know if the fans are booing or saying, “Luke?”  Or will it get worse when he’s called in to start in today’s game or a potential elimination game?  What if he even throws one pitch in a critical situation?  I found it ironic that Indiana University just recently led the college nation in adopting a policy banning athletes with a history of sexual or domestic violence, yet the team lost their first game of the season in-part against a pitcher with such a history.

Speaking of domestic violence, the Cubs’ Addison Russell was back in the line-up today after being accused on Social Media of abusing his wife.  Whether it is true or not, it also struck me as disappointing that his name was in the news for anything other than baseball.  I might have even cast-off the ugly accusations as not even possible if it weren’t for the Oregon State situation.  The combination of the two stories took away from my enjoyment of the games today.

It’s hard to understand how great athletes find themselves in troubling situations.  They were given a gift that is too many times taken for granted.  I will give Addison Russell the benefit of the doubt, but I have a much harder time in doing that for Luke Heimlich.  Was he a victim of abuse himself?  His coach, Pat Casey claims that he’ a “good kid.”  Regardless, he needs to distance himself from the team.  Several Major League teams have apparently already drawn the line when it comes to the draft.  If he does get an opportunity to play at the next level, we can only hope that he donates his time and money to supporting women’s, and little girls’ rights!

Baseball, under the grim circumstances, was not a friendly game today.  The underdogs, Sam Houston State and Davidson, fell apart late in their Super Regional games against Florida State and Texas A & M, respectively.  Also, the Cubs are off to a “rocky” start against an ugly Colorado sweep at home, dropping once again below .500 for the year.  They showed some championship-style in the sweep against the Cardinals last week, but their rivals have since proven that they are one of the worst teams in recent franchise history.  To make matters worse, the White Sox can’t get by the Indians in the standings, a team with Cubs’ revenge on their mind.  Off-field problems and poor play take the fun out of the game.  Yes, it’s just a game, but when the game isn’t going your way, it can be a nightmare!