|
Posted 05/10/2007 at 10:47 AM
You know how you can look back at any sporting event, and say, "If they would have made that one play, we would have won." There are several examples of baseball games this season in which someone makes an ESPY-like catch, and it has either saved me, or killed me.
Back on May 1st, I had the Dodgers run-line against the D-Backs in Los Angeles. Rafael Furcal walks with the bases loaded and two outs in the 2nd inning to force in the first run of the game. Juan Pierre comes up next, and slices a ball to left field. The way this ball was hit, if it drops, possible three-run double or triple for the speedy Pierre, but left fielder Eric Byrnes makes a spectacular diving catch, ending the inning at 1-0. Arizona tied the game late before the Dodgers won it 2-1 in the ninth. Loss for me. The flood gates were about to open up, and the momentum died.
Fast forward to Tuesday night in Detroit. I have the Tigers run-line against the Mariners. Back and forth game, but the Tigers take a 9-7 lead headed to the 9th and Todd Jones on the mound. Ichiro gets on with an infield single. Jose Vidro drills a ball into left field, but Craig Monroe saves the day with a brilliant, sprawling catch for the first out. Dodged a bullet, right? Raul Ibanez flies out to center for the second out. After Ichiro easily steals second, Richie Sexson knocks a ball into right field, which is surely going to drive in the speedy Ichiro (and kill my run-line bet), but Magglio Ordonez outdoes Monroe's catch, with a miracle stick-your-glove-on-the-ground snatch of the baseball, sealing the deal and giving the Tigers the 9-7 win. Point is, when they say everything evens out in the end, I believe that, even with something that will make Top 5 Plays on Sportscenter, that will either make you cringe, or exhale as a bettor.
|
