There's no crying in baseball

From WSJ's Washington Wire Blog:

As usual, Republicans easily won last night’s annual congressional baseball game between Republican and Democratic members of Congress. The Democrats’ pitching woes continued as Rep. Joe Baca of California, a former semi-pro player, threw more than 100 pitches in his debut on the mound. Things didn’t get better when Baca was replaced by Rep. Mel Watt of North Carolina, who gave up several Republican runs before recording his first out. By the halfway point in the game, Republicans had built a 10-ru lead. Rep. William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat facing corruption allegations, played a few innings at first base as a bench player.

Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania played 3rd base as a reserve for the Republicans and was the night’s most controversial player. Both Republican and Democratic fans were on their feet when Santorum walked to the plate for the first time with two outs and runners in scoring position. Surprised by the cheers and jeers, Santorum stepped out of the batter’s box to compose himself before the first pitch. Santorum went down 0-2 quickly on two awkward swings. Then he tucked the 3rd pitch just inside the 3rd base for a stand up double knocking in Republican runs.

Republicans cheered loudly. But the damage wasn’t done for Santorum, who is considered the Senate Republican’s most vulnerable member in the fall’s mid-tem elections. When the next Republican got a hit, Santorum was heading for home plate. Democrats had trouble fielding the ball, so Santorum was clear to score easily. But Rep. Tim Holden — the Democrats’ catcher and fellow member of the Pennsylvania delegation — was standing on home plate awaiting a throw that would never come. With a full head of steam, Santorum lowered his shoulder and leveled Holder. Republicans cheered in delight. Holden, on his rear, yelled at Santorum. Democratic managers ran on to the field to complain, but to no avail. But the umps let it go.

To anyone familiar with the commonly accepted definition of Santorum, the depiction of the play at home described above evinces particularly unpleasant mental images. At least it does for me.

Most baseball fans would agree that the play at the plate is "baseball the way it should be played." A similar play by the White Sox's AJ Pierzinski against the Cubs' Michael Barrett a few weeks ago provoked more then Rep. Holden's "yelling" - Barrett slugged AJ, and got fined and suspended for it. The umps were right to ignore the Dems' complaints.

This apparent "tradition" is further evidence of our unhealthy entrenchment in a two-party system. Say a Green gets elected, and he's got a great curveball - whose team does he play for?