Kang is one of very few South Koreans in the Major Leagues, but he is a significant one. Indeed, most South Koreans know Pittsburgh only because of Kang and the international reach of the game is constantly enhanced by this kind of international representation. Moreover, Kang is a genuine talent who is a student of the game, hits with power and plays excellent defense. Kang is crucial to the Pirates and their year. His injury is of tremendous significance to him, to the team and to the game.
Now the play. St. Louis' Chris Coghlan slid into Kang as Kang was trying to turn the double play at second. Coghlan was not sliding at the base, he was sliding at Kang. The moment he realized that Kang had sidestepped the slide Coghlan reached out with his legs and whipped him, catching his planted left leg at the knee, breaking it and disrupting his medial collateral ligament. There has been debate over the hit. Some think it legal, some--me included--think it was a deliberately cruel act.
Still, this is a foolish argument, the aesthetics of the sucker punch. (The only other sport in the world that glories in the physical attack upon an defenseless player is the NHL. Even the NFL discourages it and professional boxing stops a fight either temporarily or permanently when a fighter can not defend himself from injury.) The real point is this: The turn of the double play by the second baseman in baseball is probably the single most precise play that can be done on defense. It is beautifully athletic and is the defining characteristic of great infielders; many talented infielders end up in other positions because they cannot make that play. Why would anyone allow it to be compromised by the inherent threat of career ending injury? Why should this complex athletic moment come with the concurrent need for self-defense?
The "hard baseball play" is a euphemism for nasty bad sportsmanship. More, it is incongruous; baseball is loved because it is a precise and athletic game devoid of the hulking mean-tempered savagery of football and hockey.
There is a game called "look out!" in which, during a golf game, any member of the foursome may, once--even in mid-swing, scream "Look out!" It use--or threat of its use--adds excitement and tension, wild play and leads to jolly 19th hole discussions. But it is not golf.
Now the play. St. Louis' Chris Coghlan slid into Kang as Kang was trying to turn the double play at second. Coghlan was not sliding at the base, he was sliding at Kang. The moment he realized that Kang had sidestepped the slide Coghlan reached out with his legs and whipped him, catching his planted left leg at the knee, breaking it and disrupting his medial collateral ligament. There has been debate over the hit. Some think it legal, some--me included--think it was a deliberately cruel act.
Still, this is a foolish argument, the aesthetics of the sucker punch. (The only other sport in the world that glories in the physical attack upon an defenseless player is the NHL. Even the NFL discourages it and professional boxing stops a fight either temporarily or permanently when a fighter can not defend himself from injury.) The real point is this: The turn of the double play by the second baseman in baseball is probably the single most precise play that can be done on defense. It is beautifully athletic and is the defining characteristic of great infielders; many talented infielders end up in other positions because they cannot make that play. Why would anyone allow it to be compromised by the inherent threat of career ending injury? Why should this complex athletic moment come with the concurrent need for self-defense?
The "hard baseball play" is a euphemism for nasty bad sportsmanship. More, it is incongruous; baseball is loved because it is a precise and athletic game devoid of the hulking mean-tempered savagery of football and hockey.
There is a game called "look out!" in which, during a golf game, any member of the foursome may, once--even in mid-swing, scream "Look out!" It use--or threat of its use--adds excitement and tension, wild play and leads to jolly 19th hole discussions. But it is not golf.
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