R.I.P. Geremi Gonzalez

Just a few minutes ago, SNY played that commercial where you saw David Wright hit one over Johnny Damon's head and leap around in joy.

Geremi Gonzalez started that game for the Mets. And now he's gone.

A government official in Venezuela says former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez is dead after being hit by lightning in the South American country.

Emergency management official Herman Bracho says the 33-year-old pitcher was at the beach in western Venezuela and was on a pier when lightning struck him on Sunday night.

Gonzalez started in the major leagues for the Chicago Cubs in 1997 and later played with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers.

He last played in the major leagues in 2006 with the Toronto Blue Jays and also pitched last year for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan."

What sad and unexpected news.