Rangers reaction says goodbye to Yaz, a triple crown winning cat

 

TORONTO - I've had pets all my life so I've dealt with the heartbreak of their death. It's never easy, especially for those pets with a great disposition, the ones who really seemed loyal and loving. Those kinds of pets are why we have them in the first place.

That describes our cat, Yaz, who passed away Friday afternoon. He had been sick for a couple of months and his death does not come as a total shock, but that no lessens the blow because he was such a wonderful companion.

I've had many cats in my life. My parents always had a cat, sometimes two, along with dogs. I've loved having both as pets. I understand why many people dislike cats, especially compared with dogs. Cats aren't as needy as dogs and don't show their affection as readily as dogs will. I'm fine with that.

But Yaz wasn't like that. Yaz was more like a dog. He would fetch toy mice. He'd drop a toy at your feet and expect you to throw it for him. He'd do it over and over until he got tired. He also wanted your affection, whether you were sitting at your desk, on the couch or in bed. He wanted to sit on your lap, curl up and sleep contently. He loved a good scratch session on his neck and under his chin. I could get him so relaxed that his legs would eventually start stretching out in different directions.

Yaz was named after Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski. Yaz's brother is named Fenway. My wife Laura is a Red Sox fan, if that wasn't obvious. (She also likes the Rangers, so back off.)

Yaz had to have a cancerous leg amputated in November 2015 and it was awfully expensive. If he could live pain-free, however, it was a no-brainer decision. He healed up and eventually was back to his old self, fetching mice and happy to be alive. We don't regret the expense at all.

Life goes on, of course. We'll move on and remember him fondly. The videos and pictures of him will probably bring sadness for a while but hopefully we'll be able to eventually remember him for who he was, a one-of-a-kind cat.

One more thing: Thanks so much to all of you who sent your well-wishes on Twitter. If I did not reply with a thank you know that I saw your message and it was much appreciated. I was running out of time before the game started and also I did not want to start annoying people with a bunch more tweets about my cat. Thank you for your thoughts!

Here's the Rangers reaction from a loss at Rogers Centre:

1. More than a loss — A.J. Griffin's intercostal strain, which will send him to the disabled list Saturday, may not seem like a massive problem with Tyson Ross waiting in the wings but consider this: Ross hasn't pitched in a major league game since Opening Day 2016 and he's unlikely to go deep in his starts the rest of the year. Dillon Gee will join the team from Triple A Round Rock and be used out of the bullpen, according to manager Jeff Banister. Depending on how long Griffin is down, the Rangers' rotation, which had been the rock of the club through most of the first two months, is now dealing with its second injured starter (also Cole Hamels).

2. Rougned's return — Rougned Odor downplayed the rivalry and history with the Blue Jays before the game and he sounded and looked genuine. Odor is trying to distance himself from the infamous punch thrown at Jose Bautista, refusing to sign memorabilia relating to it and generally has tried to downplay any lingering animosity. That's all understandable and respectable. Plus, you can understand why the same tired topic would get annoying for Odor.

3. Rougned's revenge — Having said all that, there was no doubt some massive satisfaction for Odor when he quieted Blue Jay fan boos with a three-run homer in the ninth inning that pulled the Rangers to within 7-6. The Rogers Centre crowd booed every time Odor came to the plate. They booed him before the game when the starting lineups were announced. Odor was 0 for 3 with a strikeout before his homer.

4. Stop, or not — Elvis Andrus appeared to run through a stop sign by third base coach Tony Beasley in the third inning and was thrown out at home plate. In Andrus' defense, the stop sign may have come late, and in the moment perhaps Andrus thought he could beat the throw. He wasn't and instead of having runners at second and third with one out, the Rangers had a runner at second with two outs. Odor lined out to left to end the inning, a fly out that would have scored Andrus from third on a sac fly.

5. Big bulllpen lift — Reliever Austin Bibens-Dirkx was forced to replace Griffin in the second inning and did an honorable job of saving the bullpen with four innings of relief. He allowed three runs (including two solo homers) but if he's unable to get the Rangers deep in the game before Jeremy Jeffress came on in the sixth, the already staggering bullpen would have been decimated for the rest of the series. Jeffress, allowed the third run against Bibens-Dirkx to score on a wild pitch but otherwise turned in his best outing in nearly two weeks. The Rangers needed that. He needed that.

How To Care For Your Pet Cat

Cats might be known for having 9 lives and being able to deal with falls, fights and things that no other animal could possibly handle, however they do still need to be cared for like any other treasured pet – so much like caring for a pampered pooch, you will need to make sure that you have one fussed up feline that is eating, sleeping and looking healthy whether it is frantically chasing a ball of cotton around the house or is curled up in a ball beside the fire for the true definition of a 'cat nap'.

But how do you go about caring for your pet cat? With each cat being different, you could have more of a fussy feline than a fussed-up one, but there are always some good rules and practices to stand by throughout the lengthy 9 lives of your cat. What are they you ask? Read on and get your claws into each tip!

You might be reading this before even owning a cat, and if you are about to embark on becoming a first-time cat owner it is worth knowing that even though cats might not be in such definable breeds as dogs are, they definitely aren't simple 'shop-bought' items which all act the same, licking their paws, chasing a cotton ball and meowing over and over like in the adverts.

There are many different things to consider and before making your final choice, it is worth ensuring that all of their specific characteristics match up with what you want and your own personal lifestyle. For example, long-haired cats might look graceful, unique, cuddly, soft and all the other superlatives you could conjure up when scrolling through photos of them, however it is up to you to put in the time and the grooming to ensure they stay this way and that this fur doesn't become matted.

Other such considerations include choosing whether you want to take on the high-maintenance of a kitten or possibly go for an adult rescue cat, which may have its own characteristics and traits – then of course it's sex, breed, whether you would like an orange tabby cat to become your very own Garfield, a solid color black cat to be your Salem or instead something completely unique? There is so much to consider, so get researching before making the choice and moving into the years of love and care.

The first point of care should always be food and drink – just like it is with humans. You could be showered, your hair curled and sprayed, make-up on and wearing the most beautiful dress you've ever seen, however without food and water you will be nothing. It all starts with food and paying attention to your cat in this area is the best possible way to achieving a healthy, cared for cat. But what should you feed it?

The cat food industry is huge, seeing supermarket shelves lined with different brands and different choices which range between dry cat food, wet cat food and various treats or snacks, and while you might be blinded by the lights of the cute adverts with claims of an 'ultimate cat health solution' you need to be weary because at the end of the day, these are just promotional tools to make a profit. No matter what the adverts say, your cat will need meat to stay healthy and to avoid problems such as heart issues and even blindness – meaning that a diet of completely dry cat food is a definite no-no.

Always remember to regularly keep your cat eating meat and to provide it with an even mix between dry and wet food – and then just like with our eating habits, only save the treats for the special occasions!

Healthy eating will have a knock on effect as to how well your cat actually looks, however you will still need to groom it to ensure that people aren't mistaking it for a lion, like some people recently did with a rather large and fluffy Maine Coon in Essex. This level of grooming will of course depend on the type of cat you have chosen, with long haired cats requiring a regular brush, while short haired cats will still need a good going over.

Spend out a little and invest in a specialised metal brush, cat nail clippers and a flea comb, then from an early age make the process of grooming something that isn’t a chore but instead enjoyable and relaxing for the cat. Practice caution, brush gently along with constant fuss and know when enough is enough – then you will have one gorgeously groomed cat.