As I type this, Grant Balfour is pitching for the Rays against the Royals. Given the way he has blown opportunities to hold or save games for the Rays, it would be easy for a watches-every-game-they-play-Rays-fan (like me) to hate him. I confess I feel trepidation when he takes the mound, but hatred? There are worse things in life than losing a ball game--but you don't learn that lesson until you learn that there are far better things in eternity than winning a ball game.
P.S. Balfour just got out of the inning, leaving runners at the corners.
The mound is a dangerous place. Anyone who goes there without proper qualifications deserves what he gets.