May 20, 2008
We Got the Beat
Joe Christensen gives us an inside look at what the night of a beat writer is like in a close, extra inning, back and forth game:
My next deadline was 11 p.m. And it seemed like a gift from sports writer heaven when Bobby Korecky nearly pulled this 11th-inning trifecta -- first major league hit, first major-league run, first major-league win.
I had the story all set to go. But then, Morneau struck out, and Cuddyer grounded out, stranding Korecky at third. (Cuddyer stranded nine runners on base tonight, by the way.)
Well, it was sort of back to the drawing board at that point. Slot editor Jeff Rivers told me he needed something by the end of the 12th inning, even if it was a running story (ie: the game was in the 13th inning when this edition of the Star Tribune went to press), and this wound up saving me.
I had to make that story look like it was finished, even if the game wasn't. So, I was pretty well prepared when Clark hit the game-winner. Of course, I had no contingency plan for a Livan pinch-hit, or a Livan walk-off. I think my head would have just exploded.
Yes, Livan Hernandez was ready to pinch hit last night. Hernandez is a career .233 hitter with nine home runs.
Posted by David Pinto at
11:20 AM
|
News Media
|
TrackBack (0)