Well, in terms of viewer voting for whom I should collect (yes, my title was grammatically incorrect), it’s a landslide. The Riot leads with, I believe, everyone’s vote.
I think I have my mind basically made up and I’ll announce the lucky winner(s?) on my next post, but I just wanted to share this with you all in the meantime.
Did this catch put Marlon Byrd over the edge? Who-lie Mays? It’s a close race between this and Buehrle’s kick save/between the legs flip for play of the year. Yowza!
Buehrle, because Byrd had to recover after he misplaced the ball and lost it in the sun. That should have been a routine catch, and Byrd is lucky that ball didn’t drop.
Buehrle, however, took a play he shouldn’t have been close to making and made it anyway. There’s a big difference between the two.
You’re right, there is a big difference in the two plays. I guess it all comes down to how you’re comparing them. If you’re going on skill level, Mark wins hands down. His took reflex, speed, flexibility and accuracy. Byrd’s required none of those. But I’m comparing on sheer jaw-dropping and rewind-ability. I don’t get sick of watching either one, and luck or not, both were double-take astounding upon first view. On that level, I think they’re equals.