On Behalf of Joakim Soria

Joakim Soria
Goose Joak Tribute to 1991 Topps

For those who may have missed it, my favorite player of all time (pictured) has asked out of the closer's role.

I have no idea whether he'll get it back. 

The fan in me says it's just 22 innings.  This stuff happens! 

Sometimes you eat the bar.  And...sometimes the bar, well, he eats you.  -Sam Elliott

Whatever it is, I hope he gets back to having fun.  Even if he never is the closer again.

I have always liked this nugget from Joe Posnanski, circa 2010:

Royals starter Brian Bannister has one of my favorite Soria stories — he went up to Soria and asked him how he threw that curveball. Soria just shrugged and said something to the effect of: “I just throw it.” Bannister wanted to know how he gripped it, where the pressure points where, what the arm action was — that’s how Brian is, a technical thinker. Soria tried to show him but had no success. Bannister walked away shaking his head. Soria really did just throw it.

Does make you wonder, doesn't it?  I hope as instantly as he lost it, he finds it again. 

Finally...this marks the third known tribute card of Joakim Soria in the style of 1991 Topps!