Being a UK-based baseball fan I have tried for the last five years to build my life around the twice-weekly live EPSN broadcasts via Channel 5 [UK terrestrial channel]. We have TeleWest digital TV at home and I was thrilled to find NASN earlier this month—they have a live baseball game on every day [and another retransmitted the next day]. Also Baseball Tonight every day. I’m in heaven!
So my baseball week:
Sunday Atlanta @ St Louis [2–3] on Channel 5 [ie: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball] including Rafael Furcal’s unassisted triple play.
Monday St Louis @ Pitsburgh [6–4] on NASN.
Tuesday San Francisco @ New York. Which brings me to Barry [Bonds for the non-baseball minded].
I’ve watched sport all my life—football, cricket, rugby league and anything on Grandstand, World of Sport and Trans-World Sport. I’ve been seriously into baseball since 1995. In all my sport watching I have never seen [with possible exception of Michael Jordan] anyone who is as gob-smackingly good at what they do.
After being intentionally walked in the first, Barry just came up none on and hit a screamer [2003: #36, career: #649] into the right-centre seating… and you just knew it was coming.
—
Barry PA update
5th inning, runner on second. RBI single down right-field line. Run scored.
7th inning. Leading off inning. Strikeout swinging on 2–2 pitch [only strikeout 49 against 111 walks this season].
9th inning. None on. Second screamer to right-centre field [2003: #37, career: #650].
final
San Francisco Giants 4 New York Mets 5
Just seen Rafael Furcal turn an unassisted triple play for the Braves in the bottom of the fifth [against the Cardinals]. Horacio Ramirez pitching, runners on first and second. Woody Williams lines to short on a hit and run play, Furcal steps on second for second out [Mike Matheny trying to get back], and then tags Orlando Palmiero who was returning to first.
First one I’ve ever seen. Wow.