Editor’s note: Mr. LaRue has joined the Viva El Birdos staff to contribute an analysis piece every Sunday. Check out John’s first piece and give him a warm welcome to the site! -Josey
Ah, 2011-2015- the halcyon days when rally squirrels and happy flights were rampant and Maikel Cleto roamed the earth. If you’re reading this site, you surely remember those years fondly, with each season offering its own successes and memories. We all celebrated good times (come on!) during those years- the impossible run to the playoffs in 2011, David Freese’s mammoth NLCS and World Series, 2012’s KozMagic moment in the NLDS (I live in DC, and even some of my co-workers will not let me forget it), the 2013 run to the World Series on the back of a very green Michael Wacha, Matt Adams’ walkoff blast in the 2014 NLDS, and the sprint to 100 wins in 2015.