We live in an era of impunity. The failure to hold people, particularly the most powerful, accountable for their actions breeds a sense of invincibility and promotes further bad behavior. The exceptions make big news, but scandal after scandal—across so many dimensions of American society—continues to unfold right out in the open. I hope, but do not expect, that today’s Mariners-Angels game will be one of the exceptions.
Today’s drama actually began last night and with an unlikely source: Erik Swanson. Swanny’s been dynamite this year. Coming into last night, he’d struck out 27 across 18.1 innings, while allowing just a single walk and hitting no batters.