Sometimes you need to throw caution to the wind.
There are rare occasions in life where the only thing to do is to get out of the way –
And allow the magic to happen.
Ross Stripling, a 26-year-old pitcher for the Los Angelas Dodgers took a no-hitter into the 8th inning of his major league debut the other night and was pulled before he gave up a hit.
After being replaced, the very next batter hit a home run to tie the game.
Wow.
Just wow.
Karma, you would say.
Caution Dave Roberts would argue.
You may have picked up some hints in the sentence above.
A 26-year-old pitcher making his major league debut.
In 2014, Ross Stripling had Tommy John surgery and like any other pitcher who has undergone the operation was sidelined for 18 months; this was just his 15th outing since the surgery.
Yes, the conditions were horrible for even a healthy pitcher, yet alone a vulnerable pitcher recovering from an arm injury – the rain intensified in the 8th inning.
Yes, Stripling had just given up his 4th walk in 7 1/2 innings, and yes the game needed to be won by a rookie manager.
And yes, there was a predetermined 100 pitch count for the outing.
And yes, Stripling never went over the 100 pitch level in any of his previous 48 minor league starts.
And yes Ross Stripling’s 100th pitch, on a 3-1 count, was a micro inch high and outside.
And yes the tying run just eagerly started scratching the dirt with his cleat in the batters box.
But no, you don’t replace a pitcher who is throwing a no-hitter in the 8th inning.
Sometimes in life, you just need stay out of the way in order to allow the magic to happen.
Baseball has taught many a manager that some of the best managerial decisions are the ones where you just allow the game to be played.
What could have been a “No-No”, turned into an ” O-No”
It has been 124 years since a pitcher in his major league debut threw a no-hitter.
Actually, Ross Striplig has revised that stat.
It has now been 124 years since a pitcher threw a complete game no-hitter in his major league debut.
In Ross Stripling’s major league debut, the magic showed up but he was taken out.
And the Dodgers wound up losing more than just the game.
It is one of life’s unwritten rules:
Stay out of the way when the magic is happening.
John Passaro 