Coming Friday: Professor Enberg's confession -- what he gets out of watching baseball
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
San Diego Padres shortstop Miguel Tejada throws to first after forcing out the Dodgers' Jamey Carroll to complete a double play on Andre Either during the first inning of Tuesday's game at Dodger Stadium.
Consider the double play.
Dick Enberg says he does every night from his new home in the San Diego Padres' TV booth.
"I'm still fascinated and memorized by it," the 75-year-old Enberg, who cut back on his network NFL and college basketball assignments to sign a multi-year deal with the Padres to do their games.
"It's something so few can appreciate. In less than four seconds, the ball comes off a bat, is fielded cleanly by one player, who has to throw it cleanly to another player, who has to catch it perfectly, avoid a sliding runner trying to knock him into centerfield, then make another perfect throw to first base ...
"Two outs in four seconds ...
"It's the rhythm and dance that goes with a great double play that's extraordinary. You might see one every game. You should, actually. But to watch it go from athleticism to something almost classic dance and art. And it is an art form. Coming back to the park every night, those are the little things you start to appreciate."
Enberg, the former Angels' play-by-play man in the 1970s, has been re-energized by this season with the Padres -- so much so he admits he's considering becoming a baseball-only broadcaster if he can clear out the rest of his network obligations.
We have more with Enberg in Friday's media column.
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