Was it poetic justice or the baseball gods? Maybe both?
For the second consecutive season, the Texas Rangers season ended prematurely thanks to an error. Last season in the same location and at around this same time, Rangers’ shortstop, Elvis Andrus, had an inning of defense that would make Bill Buckner blush. Now, history has repeated itself as Rangers’ second basemen, Rougned Odor, made a throwing error that sealed their fate this season.
Lost in the agony of defeat and the thrill of winning, it seems as though MLB has gained its best new rivalry. The rivalry kicked off last season, when Blue Jays’ outfielder, Jose Bautista, hit a go ahead home run against these same Rangers in the playoffs, prompting the “bat flip heard around the world”. This bat flip sparked outrage across baseball, but also had its fair share of defenders.
That bat flip certainly set the stage for one of this seasons’ craziest MLB moments, as Odor would hit Bautista with a clean right jab after a hard slide at second base. Bautista has a hell of a chin by the way, but the brawl sent the baseball world into a frenzy. Both players served suspensions, making their potential playoff rematch, a must watch.
Even though the brawl, and subsequent matchup was intriguing to say the least, both players downplayed the drama surrounding the series.
“If we play against Toronto, it’s good,” Odor said. “If not, that’s OK. We are just going to keep going and doing the same thing we do every day.”
After homering in Game 2 of the ALDS series this season, Bautista had a chance to reenact his famous bat flip, in Texas at that, but decided against it.
“We’re baseball players,” Bautista said. “Not UFC fighters and we come here to play ballgames”
The Blue Jays would take the first two games of the series, setting up a potential sweep scenario. Tensions could not be higher as the game went back and forth heading into extra innings, with the Rangers fighting for their playoff lives, but Toronto threatening in the bottom of the 11th.
It felt as though it was inevitable that the Blue Jays would win the game, but not because of another Rangers’ gaffe. Yet, then it happened.
Runners were on first and second, with one out. A routine ball is it to last year’s culprit, Elvis Andrus, who cleanly throws it to Odor for the potential game saving double play. But, Odor rushes the throw, pulling the first basemen off the bag, allowing the runner all the way from second to score.
And there you have it.
The baseball universe yearned for Jose Bautista to pay for his celebratory bat flip that “disrespected” the game, and it seemed as though that Odor’s punch was the sweet justice. Yet, with the game on the line and the ball in the right hand that made him famous, Odor failed to hit his target when it really counted.
Baseball is a cruel game.
Brad Kelly
CMAT Sports Now Editor Contributor
CMAT Sports Now 