Hoorah for last night's 13-inning Rockies/Padres one-game playoff.
Besides the fact that it featured the first triple in major league history by a guy named Seth, it reminded me one of the reasons why I love baseball best of all.
Because it's so simple.
On that final play, every fan in the park knew exactly what was happening. Once Carroll didn't square around to bunt, you knew he was trying to hit the ball in the air somewhere. Once Giles caught the ball, you knew he was trying to throw Holliday out. And once you saw Holliday come down the line, you knew he was hell bent on scoring.
Simple.
Contrast this to football (which I also love). On, say, a 4th and goal from the seven with one second left, you don't really know what's happening. You don't know what defense is being run, you don't know what play has been called. Once it starts, it all happens too fast to see who blitzed (if anyone), what routes the receivers ran, who made their blocks and who didn't. Even football coaches can't tell you after the game what happened on a certain play, they always say "I won't be able to tell you until I look at the film."
This is also true, to a lesser degree, in basketball. On a last-second play, unless you are an advance scout you aren't going to know what play is being run, or what defensive strategy has been mapped out.
The only exception is when there's, say, a clear out for LeBron James. He and the defender, one-on-one. Which is very exciting. Because it's so simple, because you can revel in the knowledge that no coach or player knows any more about the play than you do--you're enjoying it on the same level that they are.
So it was last night, on that last play.
Incidentally, here's my take on the play--I think McClelland didn't see it clearly, and was waiting to see if Holliday tried to reach back and touch the base before he made his call. But of course Holliday was so out of it after face planting, he didn't try. By knocking himself out, he made himself safe. And, it the long view, the Rockies had lost that homer earlier on a blown call so it all evened out.
Please, for God's sake, no instant replay in baseball.
Here are the highlights:
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Ah, Baseball Is Wonderful
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2 comments:
You're right, a guy scoring from third on a routine fly ball is way better to watch than a wide receiver to tight end pass on fourth down followed by a statue of liberty on the point after attempt. The end of the fiesta bowl was too confusing to enjoy.
Based on the elegance of simplicity, wouldn't that mean you'd love soccer for its penalty kick shootouts? That's pretty much the simplest (and stupidest) possible ending for a game.
Actually, I think the Statue-of-Liberty play is a perfect example. It was so simple--so stupid even, a play that you'd mock in a playground game, that to see it work brought immense joy.
As for soccer shootouts, they may be stupid, but you can't deny they are exciting. Did you turn the TV off after the 2nd France/Italy overtime?
I do love soccer for it's simplicity, especially because there aren't really any stats. A nice respite from the stat-attack you endure as a baseball fan.
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