06 November 2016

The Biggest Game of All

Here's the situation in the critical game on Tuesday:

Your team is among the league's best, despite lousy pitching that could sink its playoff chances. You need a new arm in the rotation.

You could bring up that guy from Triple-A, the one with the 5.38 ERA, questionable work habits and dubious make-up. Last time he was up, he made a mess of things.

Or you could insert into the rotation a professional carnival barker who has never thrown a pitch in his life. He wants to put the glove on his penis and won't listen to the professionals who tell him how to use it correctly. 

The carny says he's going to make a touchdown against Mike Trout. He insulted the manager's wife. He promises to get on the mound and flip the bird to the fans, maybe punch the kid in the front row.

Some of the front office people want the nutcase-- he'll shake things up. He's bold. Fresh blood. He'll make the team great again.

Sure, you understand their frustration, but the team is already pretty good. Besides, the guy thinks your team's problem is that it doesn't score enough goals. He offers confidence without ability. Everyone in the league hates him, including many of his would-be teammates.

The front office guys who want the clown say your triple-A pitcher stinks -- he's just as bad. You might as well try the other guy.

But the Triple-A guy is not just as bad because at least he's a baseball player. The other guy is a mentally ill circus employee.

Then one of the seamheads in the basement office observes that those aren't your only choices. There's a guy, for example, in Double-A who doesn't bring heat but has nice secondary pitches. Good command. Great make-up. A much better alternative than the bum and the lunatic. Why not bring him up?

They're deadlocked and so they come to you, the owner. It's your choice. 

What will you decide?


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