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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Joe Posnanski Blog: Fenway and No Hitters

Poz takes in a no-hitter (No, no…Dennis Paepke hasn’t become homeless and Poz provided a ratty pull-out couch for him).

“It’s a shame he wasted that catch in a game like this,” my friend and writing partner Bob Dutton said. At the time, the Royals were down 5-0, thanks in large part to three consecutive walks by Luke Hochevar followed by a dropped infield pop-up by Mark Grudzielanek. He was right — Ellsbury’s catch was one that you would love to see in the late innings of a 3-3 game — but something about it struck me wrong.

“Yeah,” I said. “That catch will be shown on SportsCenter over and over again after Lester throws the no-hitter.”

I was joking. Only I wasn’t joking. There was something about that catch, something about the night, something about being a sports fan, something about a lineup that had Esteban German and Tony Pena, something illogical happening in my mind … I could already see the headlines, and I could already hear the announcers, and I could already feel something. That catch was the moment. Lester really was going to throw a no-hitter.

Of course, crazy thoughts like that happen all the time at a baseball game. Anytime a pitcher throws three innings of no-hit ball, you might start thinking about the no-no. Anytime a guy hits a triple in his first at-bat, you might start thinking about him getting the cycle. I want to say this is different, that I had a deeper conviction, but I don’t know. That’s probably selective memory. In any case, Lester came out dealing in the fifth. He struck out Billy Butler. he struck out Miguel Olivo. He compelled Mark Teahen to hit a ground ball to second base. He was looking stronger.

Repoz Posted: May 20, 2008 at 05:36 PM | 5 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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   1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: May 20, 2008 at 05:48 PM (#2787868)
Anytime a pitcher throws three innings of no-hit ball, you might start thinking about the no-no.

You'd think after watching all those Royals games this year, Pos would be pretty used to three innings of no-hit ball by the opposing pitcher. I know I was, I was completely oblivious to the fact Lester had a no-no going when I turned it off in the 6th.
   2. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 20, 2008 at 06:45 PM (#2788029)
I don't have much to add, other than Posnanski is awesome.
   3. A triple short of the cycle Posted: May 20, 2008 at 10:46 PM (#2788370)
I grew up in CT and went to Fenway a bunch of times in the early-mid 80s with my Dad. I would be thrilled with the first sight of the light towers as we approached on the freeway. After parking somewhere, there was the building anticipation as we walked to the stadium with throngs of other fans. It even smelled exciting, with all of the food vendors all around. Going into that big brick building... walking out of the tunnel and into the inside of the stadium where everything was so GREEN, like an oasis. And truth be told, I always rooted against the Red Sox.
   4. Rough Carrigan Posted: May 21, 2008 at 03:25 AM (#2789184)
And all us Sox fans rooted against you, you little vichy french new england yankee fan.
   5. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: May 21, 2008 at 03:44 AM (#2789203)
Right there,” Banny said, and he pointed to a spot just to the right of the light pole where the Green Monster ends and to the left of where the American Flag waves in left center-field. That’s the precise spot where a baseball hit by MannyBeingManny crashed — later that night Bill James would say it was the hardest hit ball he had ever seen. The pitcher, of course, was Brian Bannister. He stared at the spot with this big smile on his face and he said, “That was awesome,” and I understood exactly what he meant. It seems to me that when you’re successful — when you go four-for-four, throw a three-hit shutout, bang two homers in a game, strike out the side to get a save — you can celebrate and feel very much alive. But when you give up a massive, legendary home run to a future Hall of Famer at Fenway Park, you know you’re in the big leagues.


As ellsbury above noted, Brian Bannister's remarks about Manny's homer are equally applicable to Joe Pos. This was a tremendously enjoyable read.
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