Ed Note: This is a special guest post from friend of the site, John Madigan. If you’re ever inspired to write something on the Cardinals, let us know…
Folks, I watch a lot of baseball. I have done so for years. My (female) roommate dreads April through October because I claim complete dominance of the TV.
I’ll say that Matt Carpenter’s somersault slide into home plate on Friday’s game was maybe the ballsiest, coolest play I’ve ever seen. Looked like Willie Mays Hayes from Major League 2.
Before I could write this, a writer from MLB also shared my sentiment. However, I have a few points to address with her story, as well as the play itself.
1. She said ‘Matt Carpenter channeled Wesley Snipes as Willie Mays Hayes in Major League.’ While ‘Major League’ is one of the greatest baseball movies of all time, this similar play was conducted in Major League 2, not the original. Sure, the sequel is never as good as the first one. But was I still entertained? Yes, I was.
2. In Major League 2, Willie Mays Hayes was played by Omar Epps, not Wesley Snipes. I’ve always been irritated when shows/movies do that about replacing an actor, but Epps did do a fine job.
3. Is anyone surprised that (3rd base coach) Jose Oquendo was waving him through like his arm was a windmill? Didn’t think so.
4. The video below compares the two dives (thanks to the guy/girl who put this together). However, in the movie, that probably wasn’t Epps. It was likely a stuntman, likely with wires attached to him. But Carpenter did it himself, and was just all heart and balls. And that’s awesome.
Thank you Carp for providing probably one of the best drives to home plate any of us will ever see.
Photo: Innings Eaters
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