by David E. Matthews
Many’s the times I’ve seen it
. Â Â When imminent gloom turns to glee:
From Tinker to Evers to Chance
. Â Â To end the inning, mark it 6-4-3.
From third to second to first,
. Â Â All around the horn,
They proved themselves the greatest
. Â Â Double play combination ever born!
Tinker goes deep into the hole
. Â Â And cleanly picks the ball,
Throws a dart to second base,
. Â Â The ump calmly makes the call.
At second Evers gets it
. Â Â Just the way he likes,
He pivots, the ball vanishes
. Â Â In a blur as he jumps the spikes.
Chance stretches incredibly
. Â Â As he waits at first,
He gloves the ball, the batter swears,
. Â Â And so the out is pursed.
This is not to say that they never erred,
. Â Â Kicked the ball or muffed the play,
But only that they always tried,
. Â Â Then let the ump have his say.
There is this, then, in contemplation,
. Â Â The base between effect and cause:
That unpredictable expectation
.   Is one of Nature’s laws.