Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Play at First

Left handed pitchers fall away to the left side of the diamond, just like a right handed pitcher falls away to the right side of the in field. Natural pitching mechanics. If you are trying to bunt for a base hit off a left handed pitcher you want the ball far enough away from the catcher and close enough to the first base man that you are either in a foot race between the pitcher who feel toward third base trying to retrieve the ball and feed to the first baseman or you are trying to beat the pitcher to first base to receive the through from the charging first baseman. If the hitter rolls one down the first base line and digs hard, there usually isn’t a play at first.

In game three of the World series there was a play where Carl Crawford, a speedy runner, executed a perfect bunt down the right field line, hard enough to get away from the catcher, Ryan Howard the first baseman immediately recognized that he wouldn’t have time to get the ball and beat the runner or flip to the pitcher Moyer. He went to the bag because it was the only shot they had at getting the runner. It set up one of the most incredible defensive plays I have ever seen by a pitcher. Jamie Moyer displayed all the heart and athleticism you would expect of a 22 year veteran of the Major Leagues. In a race against a younger faster man, he some how got the ball, no way he can transfer it from his glove and make a throw with his bare hand, so flying through the air like Charlie Hustle (Pete Rose) he flips the ball toward first with his glove. Ryan Howard snatches the beautiful awkward toss with his bare hand just an instant before the runner’s foot hit first base. Leave you breathless kind of play. The runner is… safe. On the replay you can see the umpire is behind Ryan and watching the ball not go to his glove, there is no way he can see Ryan’s hand seize the ball, it looks like the runner is safe. That’s baseball.

The Play at First

I couldn’t help but draw the analogy. First of all they are playing in Pennsylvania. Young athletic guy who lays down a textbook bunt and is sprinting toward the inevitable base hit, Barack Obama. Old Guy dogging his steps toward the goal, John McCain. John McCain wasn’t my choice for President in this election cycle but you can not deny the determination and skill with which he has run against the younger, smoother Barack Obama. Odds are against him, he shouldn’t even have the ball in his glove right now, events have conspired against him, he doesn’t have time to retool and refocus, he needs to get his message to voters right now. He flips to the voters as Barack stretches for victory. And the call is… You make the call.

You can never deny that you have seen one of the greatest feats in politics, an old warrior and statesman following an unpopular president shouldn’t even be in the race, and yet there is a tenacity about him that refuses to be retired. He’s pushing hard and I think it will be a close play Nov. 4th. Forget the glove, keep your eyes on the ball and make the right call this time.