YADI, YADI, YADI
What a night! And what an unsung hero!
When I was a kid, I always thought I might occupy that catching mask for the St. Louis Cardinals. Of course, it wasn't quite as advanced back then as the one pictured. My minor and little league ones weren't either. They weren't much more than two razor thin bars that separated ball and bat from my young face. And I didn't even know how cool I was back then getting to wear my cap backwards.
I know Mr. Molina has not received the credit he deserves this season. As a catcher, he gets to call the game, basically, and he possesses a great throwing arm. He has long been respected for the game he calls, and his pitchers enjoy working with him. Yet not many talk about his hitting. A fan I sat in back of at the first round playoff game in San Diego told me, "He's hitting a hard .216. He's got 49 rbi's." I laughed to myself. Hey, I've been overly critical of his stance and his movement before he swings. I've suggested, no, stated in blog entries, that he needs to stay behind the plate instead of trying to formulate a strategy with his pitcher. You see, I'm guilty of underestimation, too.
I used to love to throw to second base before the pitcher got the ball back to start an inning. I loved to"peg it" as I called it where the shortstop would merely lay his glove on the bag and the ball would hit it. I never recall bouncing it to second though I know more than a few sailed into centerfield on overthrows. Like Yadi, I batted 7th a time or two, but mostly 2-4. But I never hit a home run to win a game. Any game. And not the 7th game. And not in the 9th inning. And not in one of the best games I ever saw.
"Swing..get up baby, get up," the voice of Mike Shannon begged. This time it did. Into the rainy, late New York night, Yadier Molina became a legend. Cardinal Nation will adore him forever now. He doesn't have to do anything else. I know they moved, but Yadi, Yadi, Yadi became a giant killer in New York. On to the World Series. Thanks to Yadi. Along with Soup, Waino, and Randy Flores. Three more unsungs.
As for me, I was home in Arizona watching someone else fill that catcher's mask. I've seen Simmons, Porter, Matheny, and others wear it instead of me. But it doesn't fit any of them better than it does Yadi.
What a night! And what an unsung hero!
When I was a kid, I always thought I might occupy that catching mask for the St. Louis Cardinals. Of course, it wasn't quite as advanced back then as the one pictured. My minor and little league ones weren't either. They weren't much more than two razor thin bars that separated ball and bat from my young face. And I didn't even know how cool I was back then getting to wear my cap backwards.
I know Mr. Molina has not received the credit he deserves this season. As a catcher, he gets to call the game, basically, and he possesses a great throwing arm. He has long been respected for the game he calls, and his pitchers enjoy working with him. Yet not many talk about his hitting. A fan I sat in back of at the first round playoff game in San Diego told me, "He's hitting a hard .216. He's got 49 rbi's." I laughed to myself. Hey, I've been overly critical of his stance and his movement before he swings. I've suggested, no, stated in blog entries, that he needs to stay behind the plate instead of trying to formulate a strategy with his pitcher. You see, I'm guilty of underestimation, too.
I used to love to throw to second base before the pitcher got the ball back to start an inning. I loved to"peg it" as I called it where the shortstop would merely lay his glove on the bag and the ball would hit it. I never recall bouncing it to second though I know more than a few sailed into centerfield on overthrows. Like Yadi, I batted 7th a time or two, but mostly 2-4. But I never hit a home run to win a game. Any game. And not the 7th game. And not in the 9th inning. And not in one of the best games I ever saw.
"Swing..get up baby, get up," the voice of Mike Shannon begged. This time it did. Into the rainy, late New York night, Yadier Molina became a legend. Cardinal Nation will adore him forever now. He doesn't have to do anything else. I know they moved, but Yadi, Yadi, Yadi became a giant killer in New York. On to the World Series. Thanks to Yadi. Along with Soup, Waino, and Randy Flores. Three more unsungs.
As for me, I was home in Arizona watching someone else fill that catcher's mask. I've seen Simmons, Porter, Matheny, and others wear it instead of me. But it doesn't fit any of them better than it does Yadi.
posted by TQ @ 12:41 PM
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