It was one of those Padres-Dodgers slugfests — where 43,588 people in a wave of blue collectively sent out ear splitting displays of offensive chants throughout that evening at Dodgers Stadium.
Frustrated at carrying out three straight losses into a game and not getting any further, the team struggles. For years we’ve watched them play, regardless if they are winning or losing. They go up there, grind it out, locked in every good pitch, or fighting off the good pitches of hitting it or driving it. It was always fun watching them and knowing their good offenses, they can explode in any inning and put up a great spot.
There stood Yasmani Grandal, the catcher that hit three home runs (a 66-year record) who lined a two run, home runs to right field in the first inning, then hit a towering three run shot to the center in the third. A punishing eight runs, eight hits, four homers, in 2 1/2 innings, by the seventh, amid rapturous chants, Grandal hit his third home run of the game and 12th of the season, at bases empty shot right. It has been a source of many “oohs” and “aahs” from teammates and opponents.
It is on nights like these, where you start wondering, where are their careers going? We see great fast hands, working extremely hard, aware about the strike zone real well, that the minute they get out of it can get them in trouble. Do they stick with the plan, especially among the young players? What of monstrous, meaningless home runs?
Baseball is about grateful chances, the pressure not to mess up filling gaps, and injuries without timetables. They pitch capably, if not spectacularly. They are more than sluggers homers with hitting stretched streaks who hit for power, potent offensive and their skids, they foul off in deep frustrations and aggravation, but play their best baseball all the time.
Even as their outlook remained as unsettled as ever, injuries are blows they live on — because somebody is always ready to step in. Some players are better, while others are wilder, knocking balls that zoom into the stands. This does not strike fear, as these baseball watchers are thrilled to have a ball thrown their way. Players now and then pass a ball to children at the dugout and field seats.
That night, Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5’s first quartet trumpeted a home run for the Padres.
Meanwhile, us fans will always look for action — of stolen bases on formidable sides, curb balls, slide steps players, and more.
These are the signs, sights and sounds you can’t see on broadcast.
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E-mail Mylah at [email protected]
