Boundless Groundless Optimism
Friday evening. The beginning of a new weekend, the end of a long week. The beginning of a new series for a Twins team that desperately needs a fresh start. Ah, can't you just smell the optimism!
So Mr. Third Base Line and I settled in with a couple of Fuji Apple Chicken Salads from Panera (they're fabulous, try one) and turned on the game. We were promptly treated to four and a half innings of a pitcher's duel. The Twins were holding their own, excellent! (Except that Torii Hunter got injured in the first inning, but it doesn't look season-ending or anything.)
And then we saw something we've never seen before.
Three errors on one play. Try to conceive of that, if you will. Having trouble? Here's a play by play:
Runners on first and second, two away. (Errors with two outs just add insult to injury, don't you think?)
--Johnny Damon singles on a line drive to right fielder Jacque Jones. Bill Mueller scores.
--Jacque Jones (RF) throws to Joe Mauer (C), who lets the ball skip between his legs and bounce toward the dugout. Catching error on Mauer. Tony Graffanino scores.
--Carlos Silva (P) fields the ball in foul territory and throws to Joe Mauer (C). Throw goes wild. Throwing error on Silva.
--Justin Morneau (1B) fields the ball in foul territory and throws to Luis Rodriguez (3B) in a pickoff attempt (Damon caught between 3rd and home). Rodriguez throws to Joe Mauer (C) and hits the runner with the ball. Throwing error on Rodriguez.
I think I just felt my soul shrivel.
Postscript:
The official scorer did not record an error against Silva, but I stand by the account above--that throw was atrocious.
1 rejoinders:
You know, I haven't tallied that since May or so, and it is a subject which deserves its own post. I shall dig through the numbers and post today!
(And yes, Young Master Crain does need to learn how to get out of his own tight spots...or be bailed out by Young Master Rincón, who can actually, you know, pitch, as opposed to throw.)
Go On, Spit It Out