There was a buzz around the stadium today. Starling Marte, the young Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, was in town to do a rehab assignment, working his way back into game shape by playing with the Spikes. He’s kind of a big deal, and the first Pirate position player to come through State College. Did you see his debut earlier this year with the Buccos? He homered on the very first pitch he saw as a major leaguer hitter! I don’t know if his presence made a difference in attendance, as we couldn’t make the game. But I listened to as much of the game as I could.
To be fair, I didn’t see any of his at bats. He reached base on an error in the first inning, the struck out swinging, struck out looking, and flew out to right before coming to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game knotted at 4 runs apiece, the winning run perched on second base. A base hit would win the game, making Marte the hero of the night, even with 4 pretty bland plate appearances already in the books.
He struck out.
So much for playing the hero.
His spot in the order came around in the bottom of the 11th. With the game still tied Derek Trent doubled. Walker Gourley laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move Trent to third, bringing Marte to the dish. He didn’t get a second chance to be the hero as the manager pinch-hit for him with a player of less stature and experience. Samuel Gonzalez smoked a line drive into centerfield, plating Derek Trent to win the game in walk-off fashion for the Spikes.
I guess sometimes you don’t need the big name, the well-known, the major leaguer. Maybe it’s possible to get the job done with the everyday players around you, with the guys who have been working hard at it all year. Maybe the answer isn’t to go out and get someone else, but to stay the course…
Does that apply to anything you’re dealing with?
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