Say someone told you he could get you a tape of the ideal game for you to watch, any sport, any era—describe the game in general terms and he will get you the tape that most nearly conforms to your description. This is NOT a specific game, mind you, one whose date and results you know already, but simply the ideal TYPE of game you like to watch.
I would pick a Mets game from my youth, when I knew every player on the team thoroughly, and most players in the NL pretty well, and I would specify the following attributes:
Fairly low-scoring pitching duel, but NOT a shutout (I like the game to move along quickly—my ass gets sore sitting for more than three hours)
No home runs—they bore me, and I enjoy watching runners take extra bases and score at their peril
Few walks
Several lead changes, maybe a pattern like
NYM 001 000 120
SFG 010 100 100
with the Giants putting together rallies that fizzle in those last two innings.
Great fielding plays, maybe a runner or two gunned down by great throws from the outfield, with some defensive specialists getting into the game in the late innings, when the managers have decided to get the heavy hitters out of the game for the good gloves (maybe the Giants put in Jim Davenport for Jim Ray Hart after Hart bats in a run in the bottom of the seventh, only to need Hart’s bat again in the bottom of the ninth). I love to discuss the wisdom of the managers’ strategy, especially when there are good arguments to be made on either side.
And of course this would have to be a nice sunny day game at Candlestick, which I was never fortunate enough to attend while it still stood.
Your turn: pick a sport, a type of game, the kind of plays you’d love to see, pick opponents or players if you like…go nuts.
