Baseball '09, Volume VI: Noah's Ark Edition
They say there are lessons to be learned from the rain.
Well, maybe they don't say that, but it sounds like something that should be said, possibly in some modern novel set in a jazz cafe in the Financial District of San Francisco, full of angst and fog and music.
But in my case, I'm saying it to segue into the doubleheader against the Washington Nationals that the Giants played on Thursday, June 4th, a doubleheader that ensued because the previous day's game was rained out.
There was enough rain in D.C. to wash away something metaphorical, something that would be very difficult to wash away.
The Giants won the first game, which I did not see any of, but I am noting here because Randy Johnson won his 300th game.
The second game, as the base paths continued to get muddy, featured the hardworking Matt Cain. Last year, he was pitied around the baseball world for pitching well and getting minuscule run support. This year, though, he has finally received some offensive help, and going into the evening game, had a record of 6-1.
When I tuned in during the bottom of the 4th inning, the Giants had just tied the game, 1-1, when Cain allowed a leadoff triple. Ugh. I've been used to seeing--too frequently--the Giants do something to gain some momentum, only to give the momentum right back. This is part of the psychological narrative that is a nine-inning baseball game. It is part of what makes baseball such a good model for life, I think.
With a runner on third, all the Nationals needed to take the lead was a deep fly ball to the outfield, and there were no outs yet, so they had at least three chances to get it done.
The first batter, Josh Bard, popped the ball out over second base into center field. Aaron Rowand started sprinting in. Then kept sprinting. Then kept sprinting some more until he suddenly snatched the ball out of the air. One down.
The next batter lifted the ball to left field, where Andres Torres charged in and pegged a quick throw back to the catcher, who immediately zinged the ball back to Renteria, covering third, who nearly doubled off the lead runner, who had barely got back to third base.
And then Cain struck out the last batter of the inning. Just like that, the threat was denied.
In the top of the 5th, Emmanuel Burriss doubled to right field. Matt Cain didn't help his cause, by popping a bunt attempt up in the air for an easy out. But then Rowand stroked a single into the outfield, and Burriss, running hard all the way, scored. Edgar Renteria singled to right, and Rowand advanced gingerly to third, making his way through the swampy basepaths. After Torres struck out, Pablo Sandoval doubled, scoring Rowand, advancing Renteria to third. Rich Aurilia followed up with a hit; Renteria scored, Pablo, that big friendly smile of a first baseman, fell down rounding third with a great big splat.
The inning ended, and the Nationals went quietly in the bottom of the fifth, and then, as with most events in life, the rain came pouring down, the tarps came out, and two hours later, everyone decided to quit and go home.
Baseball really is a good model for life.
Well, maybe they don't say that, but it sounds like something that should be said, possibly in some modern novel set in a jazz cafe in the Financial District of San Francisco, full of angst and fog and music.
But in my case, I'm saying it to segue into the doubleheader against the Washington Nationals that the Giants played on Thursday, June 4th, a doubleheader that ensued because the previous day's game was rained out.
There was enough rain in D.C. to wash away something metaphorical, something that would be very difficult to wash away.
The Giants won the first game, which I did not see any of, but I am noting here because Randy Johnson won his 300th game.
The second game, as the base paths continued to get muddy, featured the hardworking Matt Cain. Last year, he was pitied around the baseball world for pitching well and getting minuscule run support. This year, though, he has finally received some offensive help, and going into the evening game, had a record of 6-1.
When I tuned in during the bottom of the 4th inning, the Giants had just tied the game, 1-1, when Cain allowed a leadoff triple. Ugh. I've been used to seeing--too frequently--the Giants do something to gain some momentum, only to give the momentum right back. This is part of the psychological narrative that is a nine-inning baseball game. It is part of what makes baseball such a good model for life, I think.
With a runner on third, all the Nationals needed to take the lead was a deep fly ball to the outfield, and there were no outs yet, so they had at least three chances to get it done.
The first batter, Josh Bard, popped the ball out over second base into center field. Aaron Rowand started sprinting in. Then kept sprinting. Then kept sprinting some more until he suddenly snatched the ball out of the air. One down.
The next batter lifted the ball to left field, where Andres Torres charged in and pegged a quick throw back to the catcher, who immediately zinged the ball back to Renteria, covering third, who nearly doubled off the lead runner, who had barely got back to third base.
And then Cain struck out the last batter of the inning. Just like that, the threat was denied.
In the top of the 5th, Emmanuel Burriss doubled to right field. Matt Cain didn't help his cause, by popping a bunt attempt up in the air for an easy out. But then Rowand stroked a single into the outfield, and Burriss, running hard all the way, scored. Edgar Renteria singled to right, and Rowand advanced gingerly to third, making his way through the swampy basepaths. After Torres struck out, Pablo Sandoval doubled, scoring Rowand, advancing Renteria to third. Rich Aurilia followed up with a hit; Renteria scored, Pablo, that big friendly smile of a first baseman, fell down rounding third with a great big splat.
The inning ended, and the Nationals went quietly in the bottom of the fifth, and then, as with most events in life, the rain came pouring down, the tarps came out, and two hours later, everyone decided to quit and go home.
Baseball really is a good model for life.
posted by Devin at 11:23 PM
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