Dear Diary,

As I'm sure no one noticed, I was not around here for a week.  The reason is this.  I got into a minor motorcycle accident.  Well, it was minor for my bike and for the car.  It was not so minor for my left big toe.  My left foot smacked into the bumper of a car and as soon as it did I knew something was broken.  I thought it was my whole foot but it turns out that it was just my big toe.  Here's the problem, and the reason I stayed nearly a week in the hospital, the big toe has four blood vessels in it and I severed three of them in the crash.  I also got this huge laceration on my foot.  So now my toe is a couple shades of dark purple and there's a big open gash in my foot.  And, of course, totally useless.  It's hindering, actually. 

Now my toe wasn't always useless.  In fact, my toe used to be quite useful.  It was very helpful in my walking and stuff.  Unfortunately, it will never return to its former useful self.  Therefore, even though I am very invested in my left big toe, I feel that it is better if it is removed.  Or, at least, this is how the doctors feel.  I tend to agree. 

I actually have a picture of my toe in all of its useless glory.  Some might not appreciate it, so this couldn't be a visual metaphor.  However, imagine my perfectly good, useful toe in complete health.  This is Rich Aurilia circa 1999-200.....let's say 06.  Then imagine my toe purpled, a little crooked and a big open gash under the toes on the right side.  This would be Rich Aurilia 07-08. 

Now, of course, the right choice is to cut off the toe.  It will never be the same.  Yes, I have a decent investment in it but it is useless now.  Of course, if Brian Sabean was my doctor we would get what my foot looks like right now.  That is, still untouched, still broken, still with an open gash but wrapped with bandages to make it look presentable.  Heck, when my sock was first removed from my foot my toe was sort of hiding behind the other toes and the doctor had to move back to where a big toe belongs.  If Sabes was my doctor he would have immediately proclaimed my big toe as a super-utility toe and left it where it was.

My toe will eventually be amputated (unless a miracle occurs).  However, Rich Aurilia will still use up at bats.  Just like my foot in its current state forces me to hobble around on crutches, so does Aurilia similarly hobble the Giants organization. 

The question is, when will the amputation be?  Not soon enough, certainly.