The Single Best Night of Baseball Ever?
Three minutes. That’s how long it was between the dramatic moment that clutch Baltimore Oriole hitter Robert Andino drove in Nolan Reimold from second base, bringing about the victory of the Baltimore Orioles over the hapless Boston Red Sox, and the dramatic moment just seconds later that Evan Longorio hit a home run to push the Tampa Bay Rays to victory over the New York Yankees. In that small interval, the Red Sox were knocked out of the playoffs and Tampa Bay secured their spot in the post season.
Let’s recap. On September 3, the Rays were down nine games in the wild card chase to the Red Sox. The Red Sox then proceeded to plumb previously unexplored depths of futility during the month of September. And Tampa Bay found ways to win, to bring their wild card chase with the Red Sox to an absolute dead heat going into last night’s games.
As if that were not enough, the Rays were down by seven runs in the eighth inning last night in their last game of the regular season, in a must-win game against the Yankees. The Rays scored six runs in the eighth inning, to bring the game to 7-6. But in the bottom of the ninth, when the Rays were down to their absolute last strike, pinch hitter Dan Johnson smacked a game-tying home run, sending the games into extra innings. And then in the bottom of the 12h inning, Evan Longoria (who had hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning) pulled a fastball over the short porch in left field to win the game for the Rays.
The Red Sox, at least theoretically, should have been in position to force an extra playoff game, despite the Rays’ victory. After all, the Red Sox were winning their game against the Orioles last night by a score of 3-2 with two outs in the bottom of the Ninth Inning. Even if Tampa Bay won their game against the Yanks, Boston should have been in a position to live to see another day, as long as they held on to their 3-2 lead. Alas, it was not meant to be. Moments before Longoria’s dramatic walk-off home run, and when the Baltimore Orioles were down to their last out in the bottom of the Ninth inning and were trailing 3-2 and facing Boston closer extraordinaire Jonathan Papelbon, the Orioles came back to tie and then to win the game.
With all due apologies to my friends in the Red Sox Nation, if you are a baseball fan with a pulse, this was one of the most exciting baseball evenings of all times. The ESPN Sportscenter guys were at a loss for words, and that is saying something. I should have gone to bed hours ago, and here I am blogging about absolutely astonishing post-Midnight baseball that I absolutely should not have been awake to see. After all, I have a blog, I have a job, I have responsibilities – why in the world did I keep watching? Because It was great, it was great, it was awesome, that’s why, and I suspect squadrons of (baseball fan) readers did too. Wasn’t it awesome? Well, yes, it was awesome.
I mean no disrespect to anyone, but for those of us who root for small market teams, this is about as good as it possibly can get. A massive payroll team goes down in flames, while a small market team overcomes adversity (and beats the Yankees! How great is that!) to knock an arrogant, smug big market team (again, all due apologies to Boston fans) out of the post-season. (Just as an aside, how did Boston, of all teams, with all of the Curse of the Bambino stuff, become so arrogant? I don’t know, but they managed to do it.) Hooray for the Rays, Hooray for the Orioles.
The vast majority of baseball fans, owing to the fact that there are so freaking many of them living in big cities on the Eastern Seaboard, thought last year’s World Series was an abomination. Too bad for all of the East Coast elitists—if what you care about is baseball it was a GREAT World Series. I love baseball, and I loved every game of last year’s World Series. And I have a feeling I am going to love this year’s World Series too.
So with all due respect to all of those people that think it isn’t real baseball unless one of the Big Market East Coast teams makes it into the World Series, I just want to go on record by saying that a Detroit Tigers/ Milwaukee Brewers series would be an awesome contest between two very well matched teams. Small market teams rule, Big Market teams drool (and Big Market teams are so obnoxiously arrogant that every right- thinking person everywhere is rooting strenuously against them.)
And by the way, the single greatest artistic creation of the Twentieth Century was the musical, “Damn Yankees,” based as it was on the premise that the Washington Senators should win the World Series – and the Yankees should not.
Great post, Kevin. I too am bleary-eyed this morning awaiting the final wild card determination in the AL. Although this certainly was the main event, two others contributed to making baseball the great game that it is.
There was some classic controversy in Jose Reyes of the Mets bunting for a first inning single and then coming out of the game to preserve his NL batting crown. Would Ted Williams have done that in '41 in pursuit of reaching .400?
Also, I was disappointed to see one of my favorite players, Albert Pujols, finish the season at .299 and with 99 RBIs. First time in his major league career that he failed to bat at least .300 and drive in 100 runs. Too bad for a great player and great human being.
My two cents = The Yankees let Tampa Bay win so that they would not have to face the Red Sox in the playoffs. That's why the extra innings were needed in that game - to see if the Orioles could pull it out. It was all part of the plan. Haha. Great post Kevin but don't count the Yankees out just yet.
Kevin,
With regard to your comment,
"...an arrogant, smug big market team (again, all due apologies to Boston fans)..."
Please don't be disingenuous, it is beneath you. Can you really call Boston arrogant and smug and then apologize for it? As a Boston fan, I am more offended that you tried to apologize. Fine, you don't like Boston, we get it! [NB: and I would argue that no one in Boston wants this but when you play 18 games against the Evil Empire every year with a possibility of playing them in the ALCS, you better damn well get some attitude]
Personally, the 4th and 7th games of the 2004 ALCS were far more exciting nights in baseball than last night. And I agree, I loved every game of last year's WS (and I am fan of that arrogant franchise!)
Great baseball? No doubt, but as far as the big guy v little guy thing ... uhm, bite me. David did not slay Goliath last night in Tampa, but they might have a chance if they get past the Rangers and the Yankees get past Detriot, not an easy thing to do I might add.
Here is my point...dude, don't be such a hater. It's just baseball. In 2004, I had to eat crow for busting on my friends that were Red Sox fans. Boy did I eat my words that year, but it was all in fun and I was happy to see them win it that year. Of course, now I will remind them as I have the past few years that they have won their two championships for the century. But, as always, it will be in fun and let the games go on.
If you want to debate something, how about Reyes? No Ted Williams there that's for sure.
Finally, a topoc I could contribute on:-)
Thank you Red Sox "Team" of 2011. Perhaps now, Bill Buckner can finally walk the earth freed from a life of derision and scorn.
Kevin, not a word on how the National League (you know, the real league without a DH, etc.) wild card was decided in extra innings last night as well? While I may not like what Reyes did, bunting is part of his game and regardless of his actions I don't think any fan anywhere would ever compare him or his play to that of Ted Williams. Braun should still get MVP but they may give it to Kemp for his valiant triple crown run.
A Milwaukee vs. Detroit? That's as painful as it sounds. Would be the lowest rated series of all time. I don't mind one of them getting in, but please, not both of them. I would rather watch a spanish soap opera than that!
I owuld prefer the Yankess vs St. Louis. That would be an enjoyable game as I would love to see Albert Pujols play in the big game than Prince Fielder!
Incredible. Not even a mention of the NL catastrophe. What rock do you live under?
As a Yankees fan, I will tell you that I have never been so happy to see them lose! Apparently a new curse has befallen the Red Sox . . . they went 6-18 after Bill Buckner's redemption on Curb Your Enthusiasm . . . coutesy of Larry David, Social Assasin. Lastly, I am happy to see small market teams do well, right up until they meet the Yanks in the Series.
In the words of the immortal Warren Zevon, "I don't want to talk about it...".