Here's a link to the full game, • Video
Is this not just the best?
Granted, the nerd community may not be on-board with the whole base stealing tactic that used to be more prevelant in the game than it is today. But with respect to "fun" typically associated with sport, where athletic talent routinely on display was an important part of the entertainment that attracted asses to stadium and ballpark seats, this kind of duel was, well, just plain fun.
Primetime may have gotten tagged out eventually, and that out recorded may have deprived the Reds from a baserunner and a statistical shot at a run scored with only one out in the inning. But, damn, was that cat and mouse game between quick-twitch athlete, pitcher, catcher with daring and a big arm, and Rene Lachemann, the Marlins' boss in the dugout, not a good time? That's the adventure-factor that baseball has lost with the stolen base relegated to memories of Whitey Herzog's Cards and Dave Roberts' miracle Fenway dash in 2004. For all the moaning about 3 1/2 hour games, seconds wasted between pitches, and walk-up music delays, I'm just not buying it.
Baseball's place in North American sport hasn't declined because of a time commitment asked of its fans and those they hope to indoctrinate to their pacing. Nah, it's because freak athletes, like Deion, either aren't in the game to the same degree they were in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, or because the current freaks aren't allowed to do freaky-good athletic things because of risk-averse nerds influencing play from the front office. Bring fun back, MLB. Let's see 90 feet of infield dirt turned up with a crowd roaring at the excitement of it all.
Let.
Them.
Run.
#DeionSanders #BenitoSantiago #basestealing #Reds #Marlins #Cincinnati #Florida #MLB #fun