Gun Slinging in the West

The American League West, to be precise. And no, there are no actual guns being slung around. (Thank the Lord!) This post focuses on a very eyebrow-raising development this past weekend as the Houston Astros took on the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park.

What development is that, you may ask? Well, take a look for yourself in the following video:


http://m.mlb.com/video/v268180883/texhou-odor-conger-exchange-words-as-benches-clear/?query=houston+astros


That's right folks, the rivalry within the Lone Star State is alive and well. Most cheered, some like me gasped in fear, and ALL eyes were widened when this brawl broke out and cleared the benches. Since this transpired, however, the Texas Rangers have lost the last two games, including the final game of the series with the Astros, where they were shutout 10-0 and were fanned by Dallas Keuchel for his career high 13 strikeouts in a single game.

Thankfully, no suspensions were handed out, much to everyone's surprise, including my own. But the big hope here is that this brawl may have just given the Astros the passionate boost they need to go on another hot streak to hopefully retake the division out of the firm gripping clutches of Trout, Pujols, and company that are the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Some are probably reading that last sentence as wishful thinking, but all teams go on a skid at some point. Let's just hope the Angels will have one soon. Hopefully, when they come to Minute Maid Park at the end of the month. Straight from this page to God's eyes, right?!

I'd like to point out something from this brawl that did make me feel somewhat warm inside. Get ready for it, folks! You know where I'm about to go with this....

While a few of the players on both teams were talking smack, pushing, shoving and otherwise being obnoxious, one particular player was not. Yep, your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis. As you'll see in the video, he screamed "Hey!" a number of times to try to break things up. This intensified once Prince Fielder decided to put his hands on A.J. Hinch. Evan even put an arm over him to protect his coach and keep some of his teammates from doing anything regretful.

Some haters would be quick to label Evan things like "wimp," "wuss," and other things that I care to not mention since there may be children reading this. But to me, this is the biggest of all numerous examples as to what makes Evan Gattis so special to this team, and to the sport in general. His fortitude, hard work, and humility are a refreshing counter to the narcissistic, egotistical, and otherwise detestable attitudes that other athletes in major sports have, even in MLB.

This, and so many other reasons, are why I will defend this man until my last breath. While others would try to scold him, lessen or "shrink" his significance, I will work tirelessly to show exactly why he is larger than life. This is the Big White Bear. This is the real People's champion. This is....EVAN GATTIS!

P.S. Astros fans, he's doing a signing at a local Houston area Whataburger today:

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Make sure you get yourself out there and see El Oso Blanco for yourself. Get autographs, pics (share those with me on my Facebook and Twitter @tvwizard85 FYI), and meet one of the humblest and caring ball players in the entire sport. As part of his true impact to this game, you will remember it for the rest of your life. I know I do, and always will!

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