Lesser Lights Shine Brightly

Matt Stairs' majestic home run underscores what I wrote below ("Superb Coverage") regarding the best observation this post-season by a television commenter.

I cannot recall if it was [John] Smoltz or [Joe] Simpson (I believe it was the former), but one of them made an incredibly astute observation regarding why in short, post-season series lesser known players frequently succeed. Simply because the opposition identifies which players are most likely to beat them and concentrates a lot of energy trying to prevent that from happening. This emphasis allows the more lightly taken threats to sneak through. The playoffs and World Series have seen a lot of these lesser threats take center stage.

Stairs takes his rightful place at center stage not only in Phillies lore but in the annals of post-season baseball. His shot deep into the Southern California night was a thing of beauty in form to say nothing of function. Not bad for a guy who can go two or three games without making an appearance and then is "merely" summoned to face the other team's best reliever usually in a pressure-packed situation with the game on the line. The thing is, with Stairs it does not appear the pressure part plays much if any role in his approach. He's been doing this for fifteen years, knows what to expect and what he expects of himself, and just does it.

A lot of role players have come and gone in Phillies history, many of them more athletic looking and, frankly, a little more shall we say colorful. Their names and numbers merge in some vague collective recollection. Indeed, in some cases their nicknames may be easier to recall than their exploits. But years from now Phillies fans will be able to ask one another, "were you watching the night Matt Stairs hit that home run?" and everyone will instantly nod knowingly and will close their eyes and see that perfect swing and hear the crack of the bat.

Stairs may be just passing through town on his way to a comfortable retirement in the not so distant future, but should he decide to pay the occasional visit to Philadelphia in subsequent years he is advised to leave his wallet behind.