It’s just a ballgame

October 18, 2005

Sure it is. I was reminded last night why I love baseball in spite of its steroids and obscene paychecks. It was the 5th game of a 7-game series to determine who will represent the National League in the World Series. The Houston Astros had the St. Louis Cardinals on the mat, 3 games to 1, and the Houston fans were making life miserable for the Cards as the game went into the ninth inning, the Cardinals down 4-2. Near the end of an exciting, back-and-forth ballgame, the scrappy Astros are an out away from a league championship and the World Series.

After two quick outs in the top of the ninth, Eckstein and Edmonds scratched out hits to put two men on base. With two strikes on Albert Pujols, the game was all but over, and the raucous Houston fans were mentally taking the league championship to the bank. Houston ace closer Brad Lidge sent one of his unhittable sliders whistling toward the plate; Pujols took a mighty swing, and it was suddenly 5-4 Cardinals. There was no joy in Astroville. It was one of those magic moments of Baseball.

Since the 1940s, listening to the ballgame on the radio has been an essential part of my summers. The mental image of the action on the field, painted for me by the play-by-play guys, is far more satisfying than watching the game on TV and almost as good as being at the ball park. It also is more efficient, because I can be doing other things as I listen, mentally tuning in or out as the game drones on.

I don’t get very emotional over the ups and downs of the Cardinals, remembering that just about anything can happen over the 160-plus games of the long baseball season. A single game just doesn’t deserve much in the way of cheers or tears.

But when one of those magic moments comes along, I find my heart pounding, which probably proves that I care more than I should about a game between overpaid kids. After all, it’s just a ballgame.

Dave, sheepishly feeling rather pleased.

Posted by Dave | Filed Under Today