a Sporting Life

How To Atone For Back-To-Back Errors In the Ninth?

Put together a game ending unassisted triple play.

Well it wasn’t exactly back-to-back errors. But Eric Bruntlett committed one which allowed a run then bobbled a hard hit grounder in what most likely would’ve been an out at second, thereby allowing the tying run on base at first.

However, with one crack of Jeff Francouer’s bat, it was over suddenly. Bruntlett snared the line drive, stepped on second, and tagged out Daniel Murphy after a short chase.

Triple plays are always surprising when compared with the pace of the game. Unassisted ones even more so. The Mets fans thought they were witnessing a rare rally after errors by Ryan Howard and Bruntlett put the game back within reach.

As quickly as the Mets were back in it, they were stunningly out of it with one remarkable play.

Hey Brett, Fuck You Very Much

I have already written three (3!) eulogies for Brett Favre’s career. No more. I don’t care if he retires midseason or four years from now (and retires and unretires three more times in the meantime).

It doesn’t matter because, basically, it’s unnecessary. His career is essentially already over.

Signing with the Minnesota Vikings, as he did today, is a reunion tour, a nostalgia trip, the state-fair circuit. On his non-decision, the decision to stay retired, I wrote:

In the end, however, Favre leaves Vikings fans with a familiar sense of dreams deferred and frustrated loathing. Maybe some feel relief. For those who don’t, let me clear something up: you got off easy.

Both Namath and Unitas played three years too many. Doubtless legends will forever clumsily clutch an invincibility slipping through their grasp. Perhaps plenty of football remains in Favre’s 6’2” frame… but on the second time around (at the eleventh hour, but still) Favre takes the rare opportunity afforded him, to walk away from the game upright.

Nothing changes. Except now we get to be witnesses to the accelerating ravages of time on a particular human’s body. Fun.

Will he win a few games? Sure. Will he fire a couple improbable touchdown passes? Yeah, probably.

But he’s not getting them anywhere in January, assuming he gets them to January. As the Counselor said, and I’m paraphrasing, in the NFC championship game the Giants dared Favre to beat them and he couldn’t.

It’s nice that Favre shines a light on a very talented team, but the defense while quite good isn’t built to suffocate the life out opponents like the Steelers or the Ravens and certainly can’t match those two squads for depth.

I fully expect Adrian Peterson to have a trancendent year. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings beat the Packers twice this year (though by the time Minnesota visits Lambeau in November the defense should be ready to maul Favre). Jared Allen and the Williams wall should make life difficult for the entire NFC North.

A Vikings Super Bowl though? I didn’t see it before they signed Favre… and I don’t see it now.