What makes an incredible play? Difficulty? Rarity? Skill? Joy to watch? Importance of the moment?
Yeah, it’s probably all of those things. I also think there’s some indefinable quality about a play that hits you right in your gut. Something that rumbles out from your core and tells you, “Yes. This play. This was a great play.”
For me, the straight steal of home will always be right there near the top of the list. It’s *so* rare these days. It’s *so* hard to pull off successfully.
And it’s just so dang much fun to watch.
Tonight, Jacoby Ellsbury did it against lefty Matt Moore and the Rays, and I’ve already watched 10 times:
A straight steal of home?! @JacobyEllsbury can FLY. #StealAHomehttps://t.co/8oW6VR23Jq
— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2016
The lead he was allowed to get at third, of course, played the biggest part in him being able to pull it off, but he still had to time his break so well and then fly to the plate to score.
Such a joy to watch, folks.
Also, if you’re a ‘Sandlot’ fan, it almost certainly puts this in your head: