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| Span's expectation for success set the stage for last night's victory. |
A 10-game winning streak in professional baseball is
tough to pull off. Four walk-off
victories in five days as part of that streak is a near impossibility. Yet, that is exactly what the Washington Nationals
have accomplished during the past two weeks.
Yesterday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
was a pitching and defensive exhibition when Nationals center field Denard Span
came to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With no runs on the board for either team, Span hit a bloop single to
center field.
According to the Washington Post, Span arrived at
first base and thought, “Here we go again.”
Diamondbacks’ first baseman Mark Trumbo whispered to
Span, “Just how you guys like it.”
Span proceeded to steal second base and then trot
home with the winning run after the Diamondbacks third baseman threw wild to
first on a relatively basic ground ball off the bat of Anthony Rendon.
Nationals win!
When asked during his post game presser about the
string of victories, Nationals manager Matt Williams emphasized the daily preparation,
training and effort his players invest to put themselves in a position to
achieve success. Yet, I’m confident the
Diamondbacks put forth a comparable level of preparation.
The wild card here may very well be an expectation
for success stirring in the Nationals dugout.
The team is confident it will achieve, while, at least last night, the
Diamondbacks expected failure.
Success is the intersection of talent, preparation
and confidence.
