Thank You, Oscar Gonzalez
It's crazy how much can change in a year. One minute, you are singing the SpongeBob theme song at the top of your lungs during a postseason game. The next minute, you see the man who created core memories for you put on waivers. In stunning yet not surprising news, Oscar Gonzalez was put on waivers by the Guardians and picked up, ironically, by the New York Yankees, who he haunted in the 2022 postseason. A move that happened just as the winter meetings were about to be kicked off this weekend might portend more action, or could also be space-making for the Rule 5 draft. In the grand scheme of the offseason, there was always a possibility he could be let go; his standing with the team had eroded to the point where he was on the bubble to be carried on the 40-man roster this winter. The fall from grace from a postseason legend to be unceremoniously let go is bittersweet, but not for the reasons you'd think.The fact he fell back down to earth if you were truly paying attention is not surprising; his chase rate and undisciplined approach at the plate were obvious vulnerabilities in his profile even when he was lighting the world on fire back in the 2022 season. The league soon adjusted in 2023, and he went down swinging (literally) in the process. Unfortunately, the ultimate downfall of his Guardians tenure was a predictable outcome. The cold reality is he is a player with obvious flaws in his game and needs to correct them even to be a serviceable outfielder in the big leagues. Even with all that said, That doesn't take away the sadness I have now that he is gone.OG is solely responsible for creating two of the greatest sports moments of my life. These two moments that I appreciate even more because I got to experience it with my father. A man who had been a former season ticket holder and had experienced the '90s playoff runs but had to give up his season tickets while raising me. So, spending time with my dad while suffering through the bitter cold of October, sitting in the nosebleeds on two separate days as SpongeBob delivered two walk-off hits against the Rays and Yankees on that magical run, will always be something I cherish. Through the good and bad of any father and son relationship, that is something that nobody can take away from us. Even as Oscar Gonzalez finds himself in pinstripes and playing for the team that he walked off just a year ago, I will always thank him for the two moments he created at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario with my dad.The news may bring many different emotions to Guardians fans but this will be how I remember Oscar Gonzalez. In the two walk-off hits that magical October, created lasting memories that my dad and I will always share. No matter how the team does and how many years pass by, I will never forget Oscar Gonzalez being a folk hero as long as I live.