I Know I Shouldn’t, but …

Every so often, something happens on the field that is just amusing. I’m not necessarily talking about those plays that appear on those MLB “Blooper” videos, in which fielders stop as the ball falls among them or a shortstop tries to pick up a grounder as he’s charging. I’m talking more about what happened during the ninth inning of the game I scored Tuesday night.

With one out, Braves outfielder Stefan Gartrell hit a home run to extend the Braves’ lead to 9-1. That’s not amusing. Next batter Mauro Gomez, however, hit a medium-speed grounder toward the hole between short and third. Tides’ shortstop Brendan Harris took a couple of steps to his right and dove for the ball, but the ball bounded under his dive. The next batter, Shawn Bowman, hit a medium-speed grounder toward the hole between short and third. Again, Harris took a couple of steps to his right and dove for the ball, and again the ball bounded under his dive. The next batter, J.C. Boscan, hit yet another medium-speed grounder toward the same hole. Again, Harris took the couple of steps to his right and dove, seemingly in tantalizingly slow motion as the ball bounded under his dive. I couldn’t help but smile to myself as I saw this.

I shouldn’t find that funny. Brendan Harris was certainly trying his hardest, and I’m sure was he was annoyed that he couldn’t make any one of the plays. But still, there’s something comical about him trying so hard and failing so narrowly. At least the only thing hurt was Brendan Harris’ pride.