Man on second; towering fly to right:
runner tags and goes to third; throw
rockets into the dugout; runner is
allowed to score: side effect!
Fielder checks his card and edges to
the left a few hopeful inches: batter
slams the ball into the outfield corner
and it ricochets past the charging
fielder; runner gets an extra base:
side effect!
Old pro reads the infield and knows
what to do: the grass is high and wet
so he prepares to pull a Phil Rizzuto;
his bunt flies between pitcher and
third baseman and drops dead; old
pro stumbles on his way to first and
becomes easy prey: side effect!
A pinch runner takes over at first with
the game tied in the ninth and no outs:
he waits patiently, reading the pitcher’s
motion and speed of delivery – – – and
then takes off for second; the catcher’s
throw sails into center and the runner
bounces up and heads for third but
stumbles and is thrown out by the
center fielder as he scrambles back
toward second: side effect!
Baseball is a game of hits and misses:
The player has a plan and — as they
say — the gods of baseball laugh; the
game is played by humans; imperfection
breathes on good intentions; heroes of
the mind come to face reality: the game
is full of heroic moves and their side effects.