Tigers/Twins

I actually watched most, but not all, of the game tonight. It was a tough loss of a dramatic game. But, for a post-season game (in reality, that's what it was), it was not played very well. That, I think, is typical of MLB, not just the Twins and Tigers.

First, let me repeat that it was an entertaining, dramatic game, very much so. That, no doubt, will please most viewers. I'm curious, however, if the "experts" tomorrow call this a "classic," "one for the ages," etc. But the mistakes on both sides, elementary mistakes, were glaring.

In the OF, with a one-run lead in extra innings, the absolute rule is let nothing by. So, what does the LF do? Tries to make a diving catch, allowing the tying run to get to 3B with zero outs. It was a cardinal sin. And the CF, backing up the play, takes just a terrible angle on the ball. Of course, he must have assumed the LF would play the ball the way it was supposed to have been played. What does the other team's LF do, with another absolute rule? He throws to a base where he had no chance of getting the runner, allowing the back-up runner to move up--eliminating any chance of a double play, tying the manager's hands, forcing a walk to a player who didn't deserve a walk. How about the runner on third who didn't tag up early enough and was nipped at the plate on a throw from the OF? (Was he really out or did the hand sneak in to the plate before the high tag on his back???) The rule, from at least high school on, is to return to the bag, with fewer than two outs, if the ball comes off the top of the bat. Apparently this rule wasn't learned and nearly cost the runner's team the game, the playoffs. And the other team? Well, with a man on 3B, bases loaded actually, a very high hopper goes to 2B. It was so high the 2B knows he can't get the DP, so he throws home--where he nails the runner from 3B on the force. How did he get thrown out so easily? The replay showed. First, he had a lousy lead. Second, and most important, he had a lousier break on the ball. The bases were loaded--he didn't need to hold up for anything, with the ball off the bottom of the bat. Again, the runner cost his team a run and a chance to play farther into the night. And there was more....

And what's with all these replacements--pinch runners, defensive replacements (well, he may have had a point there--last week, in very limited viewing, I saw three Tigers just butcher easy fly balls from outs into run-scoring hits; each was a very catchable ball), etc. So, when the pitchers couldn't hold the lead, there were .220 and .230 hitters trying to win the game. I guess the mgr can't be blamed; the guys replaced can't catch.

That said, again, it was an entertaining game. Perhaps it speaks to what our idea of excellence is. Mediocrity has become the standard. Note music and movies (inc. TV), inductions to the halls of fame, etc. Note how we pay millions of dollars to, well, OFs who can't catch the ball or run bases. Note how many schools you pass that have signs proclaiming them "School of Excellence," "Blue Ribbon School," etc. I think part of the problem is far too many people have never been exposed to excellence. I wonder how many noted the poor play tonight (for his part, the color guy on the broadcast was pretty good at picking up things, very good actually). How many teachers can demand rigor or quality when they don't know what rigorous, quality education is; they've never experienced it.

It's too bad the Tigers lost, but I'm a "bandwagon" fan anyway. I don't watch very often and have only been down to the new Tiger Stadium twice or three times, I think. I guess former Neb Senator Roman Hruska was right, when someone labeled him, "mediocre." He replied, "Yes, but mediocre people deserve representation, too."

Go Lions!!!!