The human condition shows up in most everything. We might miss it, but we can’t beat it. We wave to people we think we know, then, realizing he or she is not that person, we pretend to be just scratching our heads.
Michael Kay, Yankees announcer, and Keith Hernandez, Mets announcer, had every reason to make a larger issue of the failings they quickly saw and spoke in the other team last week, when they played each other. But they trod softly, perhaps aware — too aware — that criticizing the other team’s guys would be perceived as impolitic.
Wednesday, top of the second, two out, Yangervis Solarte on first. Brian Roberts hit a fly to short left-center. Chris Young tried make a shoe-tops catch. The ball got past him. A run scored. Roberts was gifted a triple.
Kay immediately noted the folly: Why would Young risk such a catch with two out and, with the game in a NL park, pitcher Masahiro Tanaka next up?
It was an excellent point, one worthy of further examination with David Cone as it related to thought and preparation at baseball’s highest level. But I sensed that Kay sensed that such talk would have been construed as biased, thus what might’ve been a good chat ended at its beginning.
Next night, top of the ninth, 1-0, Yanks, one out, Alfonso Soriano on first, Mark Teixeira on second. The game, as sportscasters and tightrope walkers say, was in the balance.
Solarte grounded to short, Mets turn a double play — by an inch — to end the half-inning. Hernandez briefly noted Soriano didn’t slide into second. Though he implied such a fundamental failing made the double play that much easier, he left it at that.
A replay showed more: Soriano not only didn’t slide, he jogged clear of the bag, toward center. He provided no resistance, thus maximum aid to the opposition. It was a revolting view of a big leaguer not giving a rat’s rectum. Even by Soriano’s minimalist standards, he didn’t do the least he could do.
Such is the human condition. On the other hand, the condition of baseball as now played at its highest level, escapes logic.
Lot of pink but little charity coin in 8 years
Sunday, Mothers Day, during Yankees-Brewers on YES, players again were wrapped in pink — bats, shoes, wristbands, undershirt sleeves. A graphic appeared:
Top line: “MLB Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer Initiative.”
Second line: “Over $1 million has been raised for MLB charities since 2006.”
More than $1 million in the last eight years? Doesn’t seem like much. Wonder how much was spent to “raise breast cancer awareness” in that time on pink gear, $10 million?
Again, handing everyone a conspicuous, inexpensive pink item to display, while donating to breast cancer research the money spent on loads of pink this and that, would make a lot more practical sense — and carry the same awareness/public relations punch.
But these days, anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
That’s why LeBron James, clearly pooped on Monday, just after scoring 49 points and playing strong defense in nearly 44 minutes, was attacked by one of his teammates, who seized the moment and stage to attack James with one of those now worn out flying chest-bumps. Shaving cream pie stuff.
James, at that point, needed one of those like a third armpit. And he looked annoyed. Sensibly, a handshake, high five or pat on the back was more in order. But that’s not how it’s done, anymore. You go over-the-top; you put on a show.
Bowl costs not so Super for NJ
A few readers have asked about all the hugging Roger Goodell performed with just-drafted players Thursday. Had nothing to do with the draft. Ever since last year, when he was paid $44.2 million for a year’s work, he’s hugging everybody!
But they fell for a con job from the same league whose top guy claimed PSLs are “good investments.” They didn’t know the state would have to pay — and pay — for the Super Bowl privilege. The only guaranteed profit would be the nonprofit NFL’s.
Now to pay the bills. Transportation costs, alone, will cost taxpayers $5.6 million. Between the Super Bowl and money-hemorrhaging Rutgers football — this season an assistant coach will be paid $500,000 — Jersey could be renamed the Pig-Skinned State.
♦ While naïve folks with runaway imaginations (and dirty minds) continue to consider how Michael Sam “will cause problems in the locker room,” it’s no secret women’s pro sports — LPGA, WNBA, tennis — have long included lesbians. Doesn’t seem to cause locker room issues, does it?
♦ Phil Jackson’s considering Scottie Pippen for a Knicks’ gig? The last memory I have of Pippen as a veteran NBA star was his refusal to enter a playoff game, late in a tight one, because the play wasn’t designed for him.
♦ Can we be any more maudlin than to suggest that the death of Martin St. Louis’ mother had an impact on the Penguins-Rangers series? Her passing caused the Pens’ to shoot at Henrik Lundqvist rather than past him?
♦ Against the Mets on Sunday, Phillies’ reliever Antonio Bastardo — hey, my name’s no picnic — recorded just one out while allowing two doubles, a home run and three earned runs. He was credited with his fifth “hold.” No stat is so stupid that it won’t be accumulated and, as a matter of “insight,” reported.
♦ Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater was selected 32nd, by the Vikings. Mike “Let’s Be Honest” Francesa last year touted him as the best QB last year’s draft. When he learned Bridgewater wasn’t eligible for last year’s draft, Honest Mike explained he “decided” to stay in school.
♦ Anyway, ESPN’s NFL Draft ratings were huge. Partial credit goes to Mike Mayock, who dominated — saturated, wrecked, destroyed, disemboweled — the NFL Network’s simultaneous coverage.