ATLANTA -- No one on the planet has greater self-esteem than Braves leftfielder Eddie Rosario. His body is slowly taking on the role of star in the postseason. Rosario, who was one win away from the World Series title with the Braves in Game 4, sat down casually at the podium and smiled.
A sweatshirt featuring a large blue-green eyeball and flecks of brightly-colored lashes was worn by him. He answered a question with the statement, "I feel right here I'm Super Rosario." He was able to answer the question in a way that was relevant, but not completely, which was the best thing about it. He was still playing the game, but his passion for his own work hadn't found the right outlet.
Rosario scored two runs Saturday night but no one wanted to talk about them. Rosario scored the Braves first run at a moment when it seemed like the offense would take the whole night off. Nobody cared.
The game was much the same as the previous three, with little happening in an inordinate amount of time. However, a lot happened in a hurry. In the bottom of the eighth, Rosario made what may have been a game-saving catch after Jose Altuve's two-out run. It was remarkable for many reasons, but the most important was how lucky it was.
"Wow," Rosario said. "What a catch!"
In Game 4, there was a lot going on in left field at Truist park, and Rosario's catch was only part of the story. Yordan Alvarez was criticized for failing to catch a catch that was extremely difficult, but still possible. The Braves' shortstop Dansby Swanson had hit a single homer in the seventh, tying the score at 2. Jorge Soler, the pinch-hitter, followed up with a 107-mph warhead. It hung in midair for 3.8 seconds. This allowed Alvarez to travel 59ft at 22.9ft per second for those counting. Alvarez was within a glove string of a catch which would have kept the tie intact. Alvarez raised his arm just a second after the ball passed. Then he held onto the wall with his left hand, just long enough for it to seem that he might stay there.
He stayed on the ground until he was ready to return to the surface. The crowd burst into delirium and spontaneously started to riot. As Soler floated around the bases, he raised his fist in frustration. Alvarez's closest Astro, shortstop Carlos Correa ran immediately toward Correa and the Astros trainer.
Correa stated, "I was very concerned, very worried." "I made sure to reach out to him when I saw him and translate for him. And thank God, he's fine."
It is strangely symbolic that Alvarez played such a crucial role in the outcome of the game. He was a DH who had to play outfield to allow the Astros to field his bat at a National League park. He is likely to be the last of his kind, given the rule changes that will be implemented during the offseason. The reluctant non-outfielder must do his best and accept the consequences of the only sport that alters the rules of its signature event due to the location.
Alvarez is not a great or average big-league outfielder. Alvarez is wildly insecure out there and treats every fly ball that comes his way like he just stepped out of a darkened room to see the sun. It's true that Alvarez is one of only a few bona fide outfielders in the big league, with a 70% chance of making a catch. Correa called the play "impossible" saying, "It wasn't possible." He had to timing it perfectly and he could have broken a bone trying to catch that catch. It's a difficult play for me to make. Rosario's play was impressive, but the ball stayed in the park. This one was out.
Rosario's catch cost Altuve at least a second run. He would have been the tying runner in scoring position for an Astros last-ditch effort. Altuve seemed to believe that he had tied it as soon as he hit it. This is true in 26 other major-league ballparks, including Minute Maid Park.
Play 1:01 Swanson, Soler go back and forth to get Braves on top Dansby Swanson & Jorge Soler hit back–to-back home runs for the Braves to surpass the Astros.
Altuve's flyball hung in the air for 4.2 seconds. This was 0.6 seconds more than Soler's. Rosario, however, was playing lower than Alvarez, and had further to run. He ran straight away, turning his face to the plate and running blindly to the spot where he had predicted the ball would land. He reached the warning track, and twisted his body to make his back face second base. He was oddly awkward and stabbed his glove at the wall in an attempt to make it look better. This is just an educated guess.
It turned out that he was correct, even if it was only barely. Rosario was as shocked as any other person in the park when the ball found its way into his glove's webbing. Rosario ran back towards the dugout with his beautifully arranged facial hair framing the face of the world's most happy man, while his teammates raced toward him.
Rosario stated, "It just happened." That was it. "That was it. I believe anyone in that position is trying to make the play. I was charging as hard as possible and running when the ball was struck. I reached for my glove and was able catch the ball.
Brian Snitker, Braves manager, is a man who values fundamentals and plays the game right. He no doubt longs for the days when the catch was two-handed. Rosario's catch was the subject of his disapproval. "That's not likely an instructional video that we're going show."
There was a hint if admiration there. It struggled to find its way out. Rosario's team was, unsurprisingly, far more enthusiastic in their praises and their use descriptive abilities.
Soler stated, "I was there in the corner with a bunch of guys and we were watching it." "When Eddie looked at the fence, we all thought to ourselves, or at least to me, that the ball had either hit the fence or gone. He kept running, throwing the glove out the window, and making the catch. We all stared at each other in wonderment. It was a surprise to us all, and something that seemed out of place in a movie.
Two movies, one night, one field. In the outfield, angels and devils.
