Being Too Anxious

BEING TOO ANXIOUS for a hit is never good for a batter. Boston’s Hideo Nomo took advantage of the Baltimore Orioles’ overanxiousness to turn in a hitless performance in 2001.

The 1995 National League Rookie of the Year joined the Red Sox as a free agent following the 2000 season and drew the starting assignment for Boston’s second game of the year. With a mixture of his trademark hesitation delivery, baffling off-speed pitches, and high heat, Nomo handcuffed Baltimore from the outset.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig’s directive to major league umpires to call higher strikes contributed to the Japanese pitcher’s success.

Although Nomo walked three and Cal Ripken reached on third baseman Shea Hillenbrand’s error in the second inning, the Orioles went hitless through eight frames. With one out in the ninth, second baseman Mike Lansing saved Nomo’s pitching masterpiece by catching Mike Bordick’s soft looper to center with a backhanded, tumbling snag. Two pitches later, Delino DeShields flied out to left for the game’s final out, giving the Red Sox a 3–0 win.

Brian Daubach provided all the offense by blasting two home runs—a two-run shot in the second and a solo effort in the eighth.

In pitching his second major league no-hitter, Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning, and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to hurl no-hitters in both leagues. The 32-year-old pitcher also no-hit the Colorado Rockies on September 17, 1996.

EXTRA < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

POINT Hideo Nomo’s performance not only brought anxiety to the Oriole batters, his no-hitter put butterflies in the stomach of his own teammates and fans. But with great thanksgiving, Nomo joined the exclusive two-league–no-hit club.

We can also experience anxiety in everyday life. We too feel those butterfly wings when we face tense situations and problems. How do we get those butterflies to fly away?

Paul told the Philippian Christians how to control their anxiety: Pray. And his advice still works today. With thanksgiving, we can present our requests to God.

GOAL! Think about times you feel butterflies inside during athletic contests and in life. Pray and give your anxieties to the Lord.