Dear NL Pitchers,
In 2007 I was watching a Dodgers game with my brother-in-law up in Seattle. It was late in the season and Russell Martin had gone from being a surprising breakout in 2006 to a mainstay offensively and defensively in 2007. It was late in a tight game and there was a runner on second and Martin stood in the on-deck circle. The opposing team decided to intentionally walk the batter ahead of him. This is fairly common practice when first base is empty and the team deems the current batter a bigger threat to knock in the runner than the batter in the on-deck circle (since you’re a professional pitcher, you probably know this already.)
This can also often be taken as a slight to the second batter, in this case Russell Martin. He had come through a few times for us already that season, and my confidence was high that he would do it again. So, of course, I started running my mouth. I declared loudly that you don’t ever walk to get to Russell Martin. Ever. Because he will make you pay. Martin promptly doubled to the corner in right field knocking in the runner and backing up my big mouth.
Why, you may ask, am I bringing this up now? Andre Ethier. He has officially reached this level. I’m putting you on notice: it is not a good idea to give Andre even one chance to win the game with a swing of the bat. Two chances is a seriously bad idea. And three chances is like placing the win in the gift bag and handing it to the Dodgers. It may have taken him until the 13th. And there were certainly many other heroes (Juan Pierre and the entire bullpen as Weisman notes), but he did it again.
Consider yourselves warned. And for the rest of you who aren’t NL pitchers but still decided to read this post anyway. Click here and enjoy.
blog home | « Winn Perry Shop | Acting for Film Workshop Revisited »