Ocala.com Bloggers
- Broken News
- Bill Thompson
- Digital Editor
- Eric Barnes
- Frame 37
- Ocala.com Multimedia
- Marion Politics
- Newsroom
- Observations
- Naseem S. Miller
- OcalaDay
- Joe Byrnes
- Read My E-Mail
- Allen Parson
- Running Wide Open
- Joe Vanhoose
- Speaking of Business...
- Dr. Philip R. Geist
- The Bowling Blog
- Debbie Whitten
- The Green Zone
- Dave Rhea
- The Sports Blog
- Gregory Broome
- What is that?
- Newsroom
 |
Search Blogs
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Blog Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whose side are you on, Bradford?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location: Blogs The Sports Blog |
 |
| Posted by: Gregory Broome |
8/6/2007 3:32 PM |
A sidearmed pitcher provides unexpected comic relief at a Rays game.
Imagine going to a Tampa Bay Rays game and the other team's pitching staff provides the biggest laugh of the day. Unlikely, but it happened when my wife and I attended the Orioles-Rays game at Tropicana Field on Sunday.
Here's the situation: Orioles ace Erik Bedard has the win all wrapped up after seven, and hands it off to reliever Chad Bradford for the eighth. I immediately noticed that Bradford has the world's oddest-looking delivery.
That's already hilarious, but it got even better. The first Rays hitter of the inning, Delmon Young, hit a weak ground ball to the mound. Bradford fielded it capably and looked towards first base. Meanwhile, I was overcome with anticipation. Would he throw Young out sidearmedtoo? It was the most dramatic moment of a game that essentially ended in the fourth inning.
My dreams came true. Bradford goes into his full pre-pitch motion and launches the patented nuclear submarine to first base, beating a loafing Young by a couple of steps.
I can only imagine what this guy's pickoff move must look like. Next time the Orioles are on TV, I'm taping it, just in case. I don't think his arm can make an overhand throwing motion. A decent runner could steal second while Bradford packages that delivery.
Bradford finished up a scoreless eighth, and his style lost no comedic value on repeated viewings. How many things are as funny each time you see them as they are the first time? The only ones I can name offhand are certain episodes of Seinfeld and the Simpsons, the dramatic chipmunk, the 1980s John Cusack film "Better Off Dead" and this video.
You could make a sitcom out of this dude's throwing motion. I'll even map out the first season.
Episode 1: MLB players go on strike and Bradford is forced to get a job as a paperboy.
Episode 2: Bradford doesn't like his new job and takes a long walk on the beach, lost in thought and throwing pebbles into the water.
Episode 3, Bradford attends a taping of the relaunched Arsenio Hall Show and injures dozens when he attempts Hall's trademark fist pump.
Episode 4: Bradford joins a men's basketball league and has his shot blocked by the free-throw line.
Episode 5: Bradford's arm is used as a model for a distressed Olive Oyl in a CGI version of Popeye.
Episode 6: Bradford meets the president, and sparks controversy when he is unable to shake the president's extended hand.
Episode 7: Bradford's wife asks him to pass the gravy at the dinner table, and is surprised to find it slide under her chair after she had moved on to dessert.
Episode 8: Bradford finds work in the cast of Cirque du Soleil, the only place outside of the baseball diamond where his unorthodox gift is appreciated.
Episodes 9 and 10: In a very special two-part season-ender, Bradford plays catch with his kid, who gets married and raises a family of his own in between catches.
I just need a title, now that this one is taken.
|
|
| Permalink |
Trackback |
|
|
|
|