Celebration, Pain: Maybe It’s Just Society

Loyal NotGraphs-reader, Nick, sends us this little nugget of a slice of a part of life. Above we have featured celebratory catcher Yadier Molina, fist-pumping his fist, pumped about the Cardinals’ first World Series appearance since 2006.

The majesty of the still-photo, though, is how it makes ever-saddened, cycle-hitting Mark Kotsay appear as though he is forlornly calling his shot.

But instead of some strange post-game called-shot, we in truth have pictured the near-exact moment, which had been inevitable to the men in the dugout for a few innings at this point, that ended 25 men’s seasons — began their TV-watching, golfing, and everything else winters — and extended the lights, interviews, and day jobs for the men wearing “Cardinals” on their shirts.

Maybe society is to blame.