Heads-up play

One of the plays of the day yesterday was made by the Indians second baseman Ronnie Belliard.

It was one of those 'routine' plays that never cease to amaze me, because they reflect years of practice and conditioned reflexes. I put myself in that situation: on an exceptionally good day I might have had the presence of mind to look the runner back to third, but Belliard, running full tilt, faked the throw to first, causing the third-base coach to send Willie Harris home to try to tie the score, and then Belliard threw to the plate for the final out of the ballgame. Not spectacular, but great baseball.