There is No Joy in Mudville

Today, Mudville is Philadelphia. The mighty Casey (Ryan Howard) struck out to end the game and season for the Phillies. For whatever reason, I thought of the Ernest Thayer poem, Casey at the Bat. You may recall in the poem, it didn't seem possible that Casey would get an at bat. But just like the Mudville 9 in the poem, two were on and two were out. The season ended with Ryan Howard watching strike three on a 3-2 count. It was a perfect pitch by the Giants closer, Brian Wilson.

Though tempted to blame-we can't. It's a team game. The fact the Phillies lost the series can't be pinned on one at bat, one pitch or one error. In a seven game series, a team has plenty of opportunities. It's what they do with those opportunities that determines if they keep playing or go home. Ask the Reds, Braves, Twins, Rays, and Yankees. In essence, the Giants played better as a team than the Phillies. They picked each other up and did what they needed to do to win.

How does your team work? Is it a group of individuals out to do the best for themselves or is it a team that supports, cajoles, backs up and looks at each victory as one for the team? In business, the latter is hard to develop unless its supported at the top. It's the same in baseball. What makes the Giants story stand out is that many came to the team after the season started. Their manager put the pieces together well and utilized all their talents to win games. Isn't that what a leader should do?

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, we will survive. The last stanza of the poem says it best:
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Philadelphia - mighty Ryan has struck out.

I hope Mr. Thayer appreciates the artistic license. Go Rangers!