On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS May 9, 2016 #592 Up next…Tinker-Evers-Chance
After further review…Highlights of spectacular plays are frequent features on TV sports reports, e.g. the shot from “downtown,” the walk-off home run, or the one-handed catch for a touchdown. These special plays are repeated ad nauseam—sports fans can’t seem to get enough of them. One of those roar-of-the-crowd plays happened last week, and the TunneySide thought you’d like to know a little more about it.
The Miami Marlins were playing at Milwaukee Brewers Stadium. With men on first and second and no outs, the Marlins batter hit a sharp ground ball (note: sharp is the key) to third baseman Aaron Hill, who quickly scooped it up, stepped on the bag, then fired it to second baseman Yadier Rivera, who shot it just as rapidly to first baseman Chris Carter for a—get this—triple play! This was the first triple play this 2016 MLB season. In recorded MLB history there have been only 704 of these events. Rare indeed!
This brings to mind the double (not triple) play combo that I learned as a kid: The famous Chicago Cub trio of (Joe) Tinker, (Johnny) Evers, and (Frank) Chance. Those three were made famous in a poem written by Franklin Adams, a New York Evening Mail columnist who was born in Chicago and remained an avid Cubs fan. They were the undisputed best in the MLB at turning the play during that era, as the Cubs won the National League pennant in the years ’06-‘10, and the World Series in ’07 and ’08! Oops, did I fail to mention that was in the 20th century—the 1900s? Adams wrote:
“These are the saddest of possible words:
‘Tinker to Evers to Chance.’
Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,
Tinker to Evers to Chance.
Ruthless pricking our gonfalon bubble,
Making a Giant hit into a double—
Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:
‘Tinker to Evers to Chance.’”
But back to that Marlins vs. Brewers game. What most impressed the TunneySide was that Brewers third baseman Hill, who started that exquisitely timed, inning-over triple play, just trotted into his dugout. He didn’t throw his glove in the air; didn’t pound his chest with his fist; did not indulge in dancing around or shooting an imaginary gun. He just did his job (rare as it was) and took his place in the Brewers’ dugout! I know Aaron Hill personally and know that’s who he is: the consummate professional. I applaud you Mr. Hill, for showing all of us how a true professional behaves on the field!
Will you strive to match Aaron Hill’s example of professional poise?
To contact Jim go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
Be sure to get “Another Best of TunneySide of Sports” now at only $20. includes tax and shipping. These articles, also written in the Monterey Herald, take issues from the world of sports and transforms them into positive messages for productive living. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Ub8mJo-r0
