Before Tampa Bay Rays pinch-hitter Eric Hinske came to the plate in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, Philadelphia Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee wanted a mound visit. The Phillies had a scouting report to review.
The whole infield joined in. Dubee asked Phillies closer Brad Lidge if he’d ever faced Hinske before. “Yeah.” Dubee asked what he threw. “Fastball,” Lidge said. Dubee asked how it worked. “Well, he waffled it over the wall, to right-center field.”
Right then, on the mound at a packed Citizens Bank Park, in Game 5 of the World Series, with two outs and the tying run on second, with the most important Phillie in that moment reflecting on prior misfortunes against a hitter he was now tasked with retiring to clinch a title — Ryan Howard burst out laughing.