Well-executed

Well-Executed

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

I have some very good friends who coach or play baseball at many different levels, including within the major leagues. I don’t pretend to know much about baseball—they do. I enjoy baseball, but I don’t know it as well as I know football, so I don’t appreciate all the nuances of the game that occur inning by inning.

Even though it is a team sport, it seems to the casual observer that baseball is a game played by nine individuals on the field together—until you watch closely and realize that like other team sports, it really is all about the team.

The classic case is demonstrated in the cutoff play. Ninth inning with the tying run on second. On a sharp single to left, the pieces begin to move: an outfielder moves to get the ball and throw it, while infielders move to various places to receive the ball; still others, who aren’t directly in the play, move into position to catch overthrows. In the meantime the batter, who now represents the potential winning run, is rounding the bases. The first baseman yells, “Two! Two!” signaling to the catcher that the runner is heading for second.

This is where a perfectly executed cutoff play comes into action. The catcher sees that the runner from second will beat the throw and yells, “Cut two!” a few times to the third baseman, who has moved onto the infield grass in line with the throw from left. The throw—properly made—is low enough so the third baseman can catch it and throw to the second baseman to tag the batter out as he tries to slide in the bag.

No one could have done it by himself. Nor with two of nine players. Instead, it took the left fielder, shortstop, pitcher, first baseman, catcher, third baseman, second baseman, center fielder, and right fielder. All nine.

All nine players involved in a cutoff play executed after a base hit. That’s what community and teamwork should look like in the Kingdom of God. We shouldn’t do it alone—we can’t do it alone.

Uncommon Key > Life is meant to be lived in community, with people whom you trust and can count on. Are you part of a faith community? If not, start looking for a place to make your contribution to the team.