The Cubs Carlos Zambrano throws a no hitter against the Houston Astros tonight. The first game the Astros played since the hurricane hit. A game that was a "home game" for Houston, but played in Milwaukee, a "neutral site" 90 miles from Chicago, with a stadium filled with 23,000 Cubs fans.
Now, I am a Cubs fan, and very excited for Zambrano. It is his first win in nearly a month, and first start after being skipped for shoulder tendinitis. He is a true ace, and one of the best pitchers in the majors. It was a tremendous accomplishment!
Yet, the Astros have been facing a ton of adversity. Their city is facing the biggest of adversities, a devastating natural disaster. I am sure their players thoughts were elsewhere. Plus. they had to get out of Houston to play this game, which wasn't an easy task.
So I am torn. I cannot believe, regardless of the mitigating circumstances, that the no hitter should be diminished because of the Astros struggles. Yet, it is hard to ignore the fact that the circumstances provided the Cubs a big advantage either.
