Matthew gave us Kolten Wong’s side of the story on that game-ending pickoff play last night. Here’s history’s side of the story.
Via an email from my friend Mark Armour, I am reminded of another World Series pickoff play. It didn’t actually end a game, but it did end the last good chance for the losing team to make something happen. And the players, at least a couple of them anyway, are familiar with it.
Specifically: Game 2 of the 2007 Series. The Red Sox vs. the Rockies. It’s the eighth inning of a 2-1 game. The Rockies finally get a base runner by virtue of a single. Their most fearsome hitter, Todd Helton, is up to bat against the Red Sox’ closer. Then ...
Yup, the Rockies player who hit the single and who got picked off was Matt Holliday, current St. Louis Cardinals left fielder. I imagine, then, that he can console Wong a bit, even if he can’t tell him that everything will be alright in the end.
