Each Saturday during the ongoing apocalypse, I’ll revisit an older column that ran on this site, accompanied by a handful of current observations about it at the bottom.
This one ran Sept. 14, 2014:
The instant the ball made impact with Matt Szczur's bat and seared toward third base, with fellow Cubs already at first and second, the entirety of the Pirates' infield experienced individual flashes. You know, the kind only baseball players can fully appreciate. These guys wait, they weigh the whole scene and most everything that can happen, they wait some more, and, just like that, they're expected to be nothing less than perfect.
Well, this one played out in in perfect harmony, as it turned out.
Let's start with Russell Martin's view behind the plate, if only because it's a grounded foundation: "All I'm thinking, honestly, is let's get out of this inning."
OK, nothing too sophisticated there, but then, that's by far the most pragmatic view and so very Martin. To that point in the top of the fourth, Chicago's severely depleted lineup had stacked up a three-run lead and was set for more. And hey, there are losses that sting, there are losses that devastate, and then there are losses to an opponent with five starters batting .214 or lower. In a pennant race. With one of your best, Edinson Volquez, on the mound.
So yeah, pragmatic would have worked fine in the moment.
It's just that the moment would morph into magic.
Rather than hearing me ruminate on all the ramifications of the Pirates' 7-3 overtaking of the Cubs on this spectacular Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, and how they held ground on the Brewers with a 1 1/2-game lead for the final National League wild card, I'll ask that you listen to the clubhouse on how that moment, that magic might symbolize so much of what's taken place this summer.
Back to the ball off the bat ...
Neil Walker at second: "Let's get two."
Andrew Lambo at first: "Let's get two."
Volquez: "Let's get two."
Nothing wrong with any of that, of course. Every one of those men would attest that they'd never previously participated in a triple play. It isn't something that gets practice. There's no way to prepare. Thus, no reason to have it cross the mind.
But just about everything that there is to love about the 2014 Pirates has begun with Josh Harrison, so why would this be any different?
The ball came his way and, so conveniently, on his way to third.
"What I'm thinking right away is that there's one fast guy in this whole equation," Harrison said. "And that's the guy at the plate."
True. Chris Valaika, the man on second, and Mike Olt, on first, are both below-average runners. But Szczur was a two-sport star at Villanova and made it to the majors because of his defense and outfield speed.
Just in case anyone thought the Pirates weren't taking this group of Cubs seriously.
"You've got to do your homework," Harrison continued. "I know that guy can fly."
Which also means, of course, that Harrison wasn't thinking about getting two.
"We had a chance, man. I thought we had a chance."
As a direct result, Harrison didn't just step on the bag and turn and throw. He desperately whirled in the air, as if he were still a second baseman performing a flying pivot.
The throw was a strike to Walker.
"You just want everything to be clean now," Walker said.
Then on to Lambo.
"Oh, man, all I'm thinking there is 'Catch the ball. Just catch the ball.' " Lambo said.
Here's the whole thing:
Neil Walker reacts after his relay completes the triple play. - GETTY____________________
