We have all paid witness to some of the craziest games in World Series history. After last night’s shenanigans, we are all tied up 2-2. I predicted Wednesday of last week that the series would be going seven games, and was leaning towards the Cardinals winning. The seven games seems a near guarantee, but just about anything else goes. The two ending plays were firsts in the World Series, a walk-off obstruction call and a walk-off pickoff. Both plays would have earned “C’mon man’s” from the Monday Night Football crew.
The final play from Saturday night’s fiasco comes with one out, bottom of the ninth. The game is tied 4-4 with Jon Jay at the dish, Yadier Molina at third and Allen Craig at second. The infield is drawn in and Jay hits a pretty well struck groundball to Dustin Pedroia, he makes the diving stop and fires home to get the not-so-fleet-of-foot Molina. Here would be the replay that your grandchildren will look back on with their 7-D computer screens. Craig had hesitated on the groundball and broke for third on the throw home; Saltalamacchia then throws on his superhero cape and tries to nab him at third. It was an errant throw at best that sailed into left field. Thus leading to an obstruction call on Will Middlebrooks, which most are agreeing was the correct call. If one watches the replay, he at first slightly raises his legs then lowers them when he sees Craig not immediately get up and then throws them up again. The Cardinals are lucky that Jim Joyce was even paying attention, and Jim Joyce is lucky he got a big call correct. I also believe that Craig scores if he was not tripped up, even on the bum ankle. So there’s two “C’mon man’s” on Middlebrooks and Saltalamacchia.
Last night may have been even more difficult to wrap one’s head around. After an Allen Craig pinch-hit single, everyone in the building had to be thinking at least Beltran would get an at-bat. Well, it makes sense to think that way, but they were sadly mistaken, he did not receive an official at-bat in the ninth inning. A speedster Hawaiian named Kolten Wong had come into the game to pinch-run for Craig. This was probably done in an attempt to break up a double play, as Craig’s ankle was still bothering him. After a pop-out for the second out, Beltran was coming to the dish. The Cardinals are down 4-2, so the game could be tied with one swing. It is important to keep in mind that Beltran’s clutch postseason hitting is putting him in the conversation of possible future Hall of Famer. The one and only thing Wong needs to do in this situation is let Beltran hit. Well guess what, he didn’t. For whatever reason Wong felt the need to dance a bit off of first (possibly to “distract” Uehara while pitching?”) and Uehara wisely picked him off ending the game. Needless to say, Beltran did not look all that pleased at the plate. Now you have to feel terrible for the guy, but “C’mon” man.
The world will be watching to see who has the flabbergasting moment within tonight’s game. No one better go to sleep early as apparently it’s bound to happen on the last play.
Sports Sarcasm 