But he knows the tough road he traveled to reach his dreams, remembering the pitfalls of elbow injuries and Tommy John surgery that cost him two seasons, and the trials of being pushed aside in the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers organizations.
"There is a Latin saying," said Galarraga, a native of Caracas, Venezuela. "It is: 'The same person who goes up, is the same person who goes down.' That means you are the same person through the ups and downs, and that you should stay with your goals."
I've started to develop a bit of an affinity for Armando Galarraga. Good story, great pitching, seemingly wonderful person and this:
An Armando Galarraga autograph of my very own, pulled from a blaster of 2008 Topps Chrome that I bought at Target. It was, and still remains, the only Detroit Tiger autograph or relic that I have ever pulled from a pack and understandably holds a special place in my heart.
Armando Galarraga and his 0.68 ERA face the Angels tonight as the Tigers try to continue a relatively successful west coast swing.
