Favorite Plays
December 16, 2007 by Geoff Young
Filed under Odds and Ends
While perusing my colleague Blake’s poker blog All Poker Addicts, I came across a post about “favorite hands” and it got me thinking (put away the fire extinguisher, my head always does that when I think): what are your favorite plays in baseball? Here are some of mine:
- Straight steal of home. Without question the most exciting play in baseball. The last one I saw came in May 1999, when San Diego’s Eric Owens did it against the Reds’ Brett Tomko.
- Inside the park home run. This isn’t at the top of my list because a lot of times someone bangs into a wall and can’t get up, which doesn’t really reflect any great skill on the hitter’s part other than the sense to keep running.
- Suicide squeeze. I know that generally speaking, this isn’t a good percentage play, but I can’t help myself. When executed properly, a suicide squeeze is just plain fun to watch.
I’m sensing a pattern here. Everything I like involves the potential of a bang-bang play at home plate. How about you — what are some of your favorite types of plays to see when you’re out at the ballpark?
I would go with the straight steal of home. I saw one (on site!) at the Rogers Centre two years ago when Grady Sizemore hit a single, got to second base on a groundout, went to third on a wild pitch and then stole home during Guillermo Quiroz’s eighteenth game in the majors, but first of the season.
McGowan never saw the guy and was SO late throwing the ball home…..
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200508260.shtml
Bases loaded, full count and two outs. Everyone’s moving, and it is crazy to see all that motion combined with the anticipation of the big pitch. My favorite play by far.
Dave: Sweet. I’ve only seen a steal of home on TV.
Eric: Yeah, that’s a fun one for sure. Something has to happen there…
How about a 5-4-3 triple play? The Louisville Bats turned one about two years ago and what beautiful combination of physical effort, efficiency of movement, and elegant coordination when performed by good infielders.
Good call, Doug. Another I’ve only seen on TV (and even then, I think only a replay).