GIF: Shaun Marcum Has Sinned

While the word sin is commonly understood to mean “an offense against God” in modern parlance, the corresponding words in the Greek and Hebrew versions of the Old Testament (hamartia and chet, respectively) actually both mean something closer to “missing the mark” — the way, for example, an archer might miss a bull’s eye. The suggestion is not that one has purposely aggrieved God, but has, instead, fallen short of imitating Him.

As the attentive reader will note — either by using his memory or peering deeply into the footage embedded above — Milwaukee right-hander Shaun Marcum sinned the crap out of a 1-2 fastball to Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt Tuesday night. Nor did this particular sin go unpunished, as Goldschmidt smote (a) Marcum’s offering into the right-field stands and (b) Milwaukee’s probability of victory by about 15% (the largest single play of the game).

To his credit, Marcum is instantly aware of his error, tossing his glove air-ward in a manner that one might refer to as “disconsolate.” In truth, the Brewer should take heart: sin is inevitable. It’s how one reacts to same that is meaningful.*

*Note: may (a) not be theologically sound and/or (b) be totally fabricated by heathen author.