Rehydration is overrated
How exactly one can determine what the Greatest Game Ever Played (GGEP) is, I don't exactly know. The Greatest Game Ever Played is the title of two different books that I know of: The 1988 book by Jerry Izenberg chronicles the longest postseason baseball game ever--Game 6 of the 1986 National League Championship Series, in which the New York Mets defeated the Houston Astros 7-6 in 16 innings. The 2002 book by Mark Frost disagrees, claiming that 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet winning the 1913 US Open Golf Championship, and this is the source material for the movie of the same name currently in theaters.
Now, I haven't read either book and haven't seen the movie. Before just a few moments ago, all I knew about the 1986 NLCS was simply that the Mets defeated the Astros in Game 6 in 16 innings, and I had never even heard of Ouimet (nor indeed do I know how to pronounce it). Thus, I can't really speak to any claim that either of these is the true GGEP.
But I heard the phrase "Greatest Game Ever Played" tossed around a few times during yesterday's Game 4 of the NL Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros.
I turned over to the game in the bottom of the 10th inning to find Astros manager Phil Garner arguing with the umpire about whether this ball was a foul ball or a game-ending home run. It was foul, and so I kept on watching the game. And it went on. And on. And on.
This was getting very annoying since I wanted to see the end of the game, but I also wanted to go running and get back before sundown. So I left to run after the end of the top of the 16th. When I got back, I turned on the TV to see the Astros mobbing home plate jumping up and down celebratory as a player, I couldn't tell whom, rounded third base headed home with the Astros' 7th and winning run. If I hadn't stopped at the refrigerator to rehydrate after the run, I would have see rookie Chris Burke hit his home run.
But was this the GGEP? First, the winning pitcher was 42-year-old certain Hall of Famer Roger Clemens. He entered the game in the 13th after the Astros had exhausted their bullpen. The last (and only other) time that Clemens had pitched in relief was in his rookie season in 1984. And to make things a little more interesting, since the Astros had also exhausted all their bench players, Clemens actually entered the game by pinch-hitting for the previous pitcher.
Still not convinced? The Braves were winning 6-5 with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but Brad Ausmus, the Astros catcher who had hit a mere three homers all season, hit it out just barely over the yellow line in left-center to tie the game.
But wait! To make it 6-5, the Astros needed a grand slam from Lance Berkman in the bottom of the 8th when the Braves had a 6-1 lead.
All this is incredibly exciting. But I have to say, can a game in which a pitcher blows a 5 run lead really be the GGEP? I'm guessing my grandparents who all root for the Braves would certainly say no. I say no, but I am not speaking from my heart. It was certainly a great game, but I don't think the GGEP can have something like this. As a Cubs fan, it comes as no surprise that Kyle Farnsworth would blow it, but this is not great baseball. Maybe if the Astros had rallied against Mariano Rivera or Dennis Eckersly, I would disagree, but shouldn't a great game be close at all times with several lead changes?
On the other hand, it undoubtly has to be the GGEP if you ask Astros fan Shaun Dean. From his seat in the leftfield stands, he caught Burke's game winning home run, and he *also* caught Berkman's 8th inning grand slam! Crazy.
Now, I haven't read either book and haven't seen the movie. Before just a few moments ago, all I knew about the 1986 NLCS was simply that the Mets defeated the Astros in Game 6 in 16 innings, and I had never even heard of Ouimet (nor indeed do I know how to pronounce it). Thus, I can't really speak to any claim that either of these is the true GGEP.
But I heard the phrase "Greatest Game Ever Played" tossed around a few times during yesterday's Game 4 of the NL Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros.
I turned over to the game in the bottom of the 10th inning to find Astros manager Phil Garner arguing with the umpire about whether this ball was a foul ball or a game-ending home run. It was foul, and so I kept on watching the game. And it went on. And on. And on.
This was getting very annoying since I wanted to see the end of the game, but I also wanted to go running and get back before sundown. So I left to run after the end of the top of the 16th. When I got back, I turned on the TV to see the Astros mobbing home plate jumping up and down celebratory as a player, I couldn't tell whom, rounded third base headed home with the Astros' 7th and winning run. If I hadn't stopped at the refrigerator to rehydrate after the run, I would have see rookie Chris Burke hit his home run.
But was this the GGEP? First, the winning pitcher was 42-year-old certain Hall of Famer Roger Clemens. He entered the game in the 13th after the Astros had exhausted their bullpen. The last (and only other) time that Clemens had pitched in relief was in his rookie season in 1984. And to make things a little more interesting, since the Astros had also exhausted all their bench players, Clemens actually entered the game by pinch-hitting for the previous pitcher.
Still not convinced? The Braves were winning 6-5 with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but Brad Ausmus, the Astros catcher who had hit a mere three homers all season, hit it out just barely over the yellow line in left-center to tie the game.
But wait! To make it 6-5, the Astros needed a grand slam from Lance Berkman in the bottom of the 8th when the Braves had a 6-1 lead.
All this is incredibly exciting. But I have to say, can a game in which a pitcher blows a 5 run lead really be the GGEP? I'm guessing my grandparents who all root for the Braves would certainly say no. I say no, but I am not speaking from my heart. It was certainly a great game, but I don't think the GGEP can have something like this. As a Cubs fan, it comes as no surprise that Kyle Farnsworth would blow it, but this is not great baseball. Maybe if the Astros had rallied against Mariano Rivera or Dennis Eckersly, I would disagree, but shouldn't a great game be close at all times with several lead changes?
On the other hand, it undoubtly has to be the GGEP if you ask Astros fan Shaun Dean. From his seat in the leftfield stands, he caught Burke's game winning home run, and he *also* caught Berkman's 8th inning grand slam! Crazy.
1 Comments:
The GGEP has got to be 1992 NCAA East Regional finals, Kentucky v. Duke.
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