The Play's The Thing

What single play, if any, best defined the 2006 World Series? Certainly a miscue is in order, to capture the true flavor of the most poorly played games in recent memory. Either of Eckstein's soft flies, one dropping by a fallen Curtis Granderson, pinned to the turf as if in a bad dream, the other eluding the game grasp of directionless Craig Monroe, qualify by redefining the term "Fall Classic".

Our choice, however, is the Game 1 obstruction play, because it showcases Scott Rolen's professional tenacity as a microcosm of the Cardinal's late season run, against a backdrop of Detroit's self destruction. ( You can watch the video here by scrolling down to the October 21st clips and clicking on "Cards score two on two errors").

While most attention to the play harps on whether Rolen intentionally drew contact with Inge ( he didn't), Diamondhacks was struck by what Rolen did after somersaulting head first, which all but eliminated his chance to reach home before the ball.

He got up.

Real quick, too. Like Ozzie diving on the Astroturf, Rolen almost bounced off the ground in one smooth motion, before proceeding plateward.

Think about that. It's not like he had no other options. He could've sat there, stunned, or thrown up his arms in frustration. Imagine if Hollywood Edmonds had taken that tumble? Good Lord, Jimmy'd be on his knees with his hands in the air like Sgt Elias abandoned at the end of Platoon.  Remember Miguel Tejada, after Bill Mueller obstructed him in the 2003 ALDS ? Tejada, who didnt fall down, stopped running, pointed alot, and was called out for his "efforts". 

Contrary to conventional wisdom, obstruction does not end a baserunner's responsibilities between bases. The runner advances at his own peril even after obstruction. The umpire then decides how material the obstruction was to the play's outcome. As umpire Tim Welke explained after the 2003 game, Tejada would've been awarded home if he had simply run the play out, even if he was tagged out at home. Tejada was ruled out, effectively, because he decided to be an umpire and stop being a baseball player - in the middle of a play.

I dont know if Rolen knows the rule or not, but his lack of wasted motion in regaining his feet after tumbling head over cletes, and then sliding into home as if it might still actually matter, silently speaks volumes about his focus and will, especially nowadays. Rolen took nothing for granted. He had no interest in   advocacy or a handout. The temptation to be an umpire - or a politician - never seemed to cross his mind.

In a world full of professional athletes increasingly influenced, and defined by, big business reality jockeys, Scott Rolen eschewed the role of  entitled "star" and awakened dormant echoes of Cobb, Slaughter, and those runnin' Robinsons, Jackie and Frank. Echoes that transcend self conscious celebrity and reverberate the game's highest compliment.

Player.