Something You Don’t See Every Day

Watching tonight’s Yanks-Royals game, the Royals just took a 2-1 lead as Mike Sweeney brazenly stole home off of Andy Pettitte. Sweeney, who was just activated at the beginning of the series after missing a month, isn’t exactly known for his speed (now 5 SB this year, 35 for his career). But he drove in the tying run with a sharp single down the rightfield line, advanced to second when Raul Mondesi misplayed the ball, and took third on a sac bunt. After Pettitte struck out the next batter, he had rookie Aaron Guiel in a 1-2 hole–a pitch away from being out of the inning.

With the double-whammy of having his back to the baserunner AND pitching from the stretch (that ought to be in the dictionary under “futility,” right next to underthrowing into double coverage and locking the barn door after the horse has escaped), Pettitte obviously had no idea Sweeney would run. Thus Sweeney got a terrific jump, getting past halfway down the line before Pettitte delivered the ball to Posada, and beat the Yankee catcher to the plate.

I’ve seen a few steals of home in my time, even recently–the Mets’ Roger Cedeno off of Ted Lilly earlier this year, Raul Mondesi off of Randy Keisler last year. Most of the other ones were on the front end of delayed double steals, or missed suicide squeezes that miraculously survived. Rarely have I seen one which was as bold as that Sweeney’s, or as flat-out exciting. Even in the dog days of August, playing for one of the worst teams in the league, somebody’s battling, and playing heads-up baseball. Unique moments like that are what keep me watching.