I just read an article by Dave Sheinin in yesterday's Washington Post about the 7th game of the Astros/Yankees series. I found the first three paragraphs to echo the feeling that I've had every time one of my favored teams is nursing a lead in the second half of a game. Is it just me (and Dave) or does everyone have these thoughts?

 

"HOUSTON — Once a precious lead is gained in Game 7 of a postseason series, everything else melts away, and all that is left, all that matters in the world, is the slow, steady, arduous counting down of outs. When the Houston Astros handed the ball to Lance McCullers Jr. in the final game of the American League Championship Series on Saturday, it was the start of the sixth inning. They held a four-run lead over the New York Yankees. They needed 12 outs to reach the World Series.

 

"Twelve, 11, 10. Each out seemed to take an eternity to secure — 9, 8, 7 — each base runner a dire threat, every pitch a life-or-death proposition. And still McCullers stood and fired — 6, 5, 4 — until it was the ninth inning now, the Minute Maid Park crowd on its feet and building up to a hellacious roar. And finally, 3, 2, 1, the final out fell from the sky and into George Springer’s glove in center field, and the Astros had a 4-0 victory, the American League pennant and the franchise’s first trip to the World Series in 12 years.

 

"The collective exhale felt like the building might come down."

 

Here's a link to the full article.

Excellent writing. Thanks for sharing.

I'm definitely a left-brainer. I don't do a lot of reading, but when I do read what I enjoy most is non-fiction, especially science. That applies to my outlook on baseball too. If I could re-live my life I'd have learned to work computers and been a baseball statistician. I'd have out-nerded Bill James. That said, this evocative prose captures the moment perfectly. This is exactly how I was sitting in the center field stands during game 7 of the 1987 Series. I kept counting it down, yelling out loud: 9 more outs! 8 more outs! etc.

Edited October 22, 20179 yr by spinowner