Friday, April 10, 2009

Goodbye Nick Adenhart

I remember reading a Bill Simmons article that discussed the quirkiness of the conversations held by announcers during baseball games.

His thesis, as best I remember, was basically to point out that the conversation is always oddly interrupted by the flow of the game. Balls and strikes, batted balls, etc.

It creates an odd flow — an anti-flow really — that is unique to baseball. I thought of that when I read this transcription from former deadspin editor Will Leitch.

It's the Dodger's Vin Scully on Adenhardt.

And if there is one thing I’ve learned in all my years — and I haven’t learned much — but the one thing I’ve learned: Don’t even waste your time trying to figure out life.

Ground ball through for Andre Ethier, and life continues for those who still have it. And with a leadoff single, Russell Martin will be coming up.

But I would say, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a moment and say a prayer in memory for Nick, especially for his parents. What a shock to lose a twenty-two-year-old.

Andre Ethier at first base, Russell Martin the batter, James Loney on deck, and the Dodgers try to strike in the second inning against Kevin Correia.

Leitch calls it simple baseball poetry. But it seems inappropriate to me. 

Or maybe the line, "Groundball through for Andre Ethier, and life continues for those who still have it," just seems a little callous.

What do you guys think?

3 comments:

  1. It seems strange. Without that one sentence--and I'm sure that Scully picked his words very carefully here--the rest of it is great.

    But yeah, I've got that same problem you do with that sentence. Seems inappropriate. While it is absolutely true, it seems like this thought is misplaced. Maybe even putting this at the end could make it seem like it ties together the piece.

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  2. Agreed. Obviously it's appropriate to pay tribue to Adenhart.

    The quote just reads sort of absurdly with the baseball plot interjected. That was my main point.

    Like you said, obviously Scully meant no disrespect.

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  3. I don't think that line is inappropriate at all. He's basically just saying appreciate the life you have.

    Vin Scully, in his unique one-man booth, is a master of weaving conversation into his play-by-play. It's great to hear him do games.

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