A Robby Alomar classic with the glove and some Baltimore beef

Описание: Here's a link to the full game,    • 1999 09 04 - Indians v Orioles (Begins Top...  

Ah, memories of Robby.

Jays fans may have turned their back on the guy after he started to cause problems for the post-World Championship Toronto teams. The spittle he blew in the direction of ump, John Hirshbeck, an act committed during his orange bird days, certainly didn't help his reputation in the mid and latter 90s. But the offense the eventual HOFer put up in 1999, playing with his bro in Cleveland, really was spectacular.

His 138 runs-scored would lead the league and, even though it's passe to reflect upon ribbies, 120 driven-in is just plain impressive for a guy that was never really known for his power. Well, maybe there's a mustachioed closer that played in the Bay area, a HOFer himself, who may reflect on a Robby at-bat that had some juice to it. That season in Indians' colours didn't result in October glory, as have all the fall seasons in that little burg since 1948 (a factoid I'll have on instant recall for the rest of my life, because David Halberstam made it a footnote to his tale about the summer of 49, appropriately titled, 'The Summer of 49'). But just look at his on-base and slugging line. Is there any doubt that he should have been in contention for the MVP (he'd finish just behind Ivan Rodriguez and Pedro)?

There was a swashbuckling quality to Robby's talents (although it's unfair to compare the two, Bo has a feeling of that aura around his play too). It was equal parts athletic talent, timing, and daring. A slash-line only tells a bit of the story when recalling what the man brought to a ballgame. I wonder if today's risk averse world would have limited the times Robby could have challenged on the base paths. I wonder if the number crunching probability-calculating killjoys of this era, not to mention the pocketbook conscious player agents who just want healthy athletes to sell to the highest bidder, would have encouraged a young Alomar away from the daring that we who saw him perform remember with a smile? I'm glad be played back then.

For as impressive as that year's stat-line is, it's Robby prone in the dirt, diving after a liner, creating a cloud of dust around second or third on a steal attempt, that is the definitive memory of the ballplayer.

...except for Eck, of course. He may remember something a little different.