On
the
one
hand,
my
editor
wants
this
article
by
a
certain
date
and
time.
She
wants
to
make
sure
everything
fits,
nothing
is
objectionable,
all
the
words
are
spelled
correctly,
and
that
obfuscation
is
eschewed.
I
have
no
problem
with
that.
In
fact,
I
am
grateful
someone
is
willing
and
able
to
correct
my
mistakes
before
they
become
public
knowledge.
If
only
that
were
the
case
for
the
rest
of
my
life!
But
this
week
is
different.
There
are
more
important
issues
at
stake.
As
much
as
I’d
like
to,
I
simply
cannot
turn
this
column
in
on
time.
I
must
make
sure
I
do
not
offend
the
baseball
gods.
Everyone
knows
you
cannot
tempt
fate.
If
you
are
so
brash
as
to
make
assumptions
about
what
will
happen
next,
sure
enough,
the
baseball
gods
will
come
crashing
down
to
exact
vengeance.
So
as
much
as
I’d
like
to
meet
deadline,
I
just
can’t.
If
I
dare
to
write
as
if
the
Diamondbacks
had
reached
the
postseason
before
it
actually
happens,
it
most
definitely
will
not
happen.
And
it
will
be
my
fault.
Jose
Valverde
is
on
the
mound.
He’s
struggling.
You
can
always
tell.
When
he
is
confident,
he
struts
like
a
proud
rooster
awaiting
his
next
conquest.
When
he’s
not,
his
shoulders
sag,
his
paunch
extends,
and
he
looks
like
he
wants
his
mommy.
Two
consecutive
walks.
Daron
Sutton
has
already
tempted
the
gods
by
revealing
that,
since
the
Mets
lost,
the
Diamondbacks
postseason
berth
is
secure
if
they
hold
on
to
win.
“Shut
up,
Daron!”
I
scream
to
the
television.
This
is
not
the
time
to
worry
about
that.
There
are
still
two
outs
to
get.
The
Rockies’
winning
run
is
at
the
plate.
It
does
not
look
good.
I’m
feeling
guilty
for
starting
this
article
early.
Just
when
I
think
all
hope
is
lost,
Valverde
pulls
it
together.
He
strikes
out
the
final
two
batters.
Diamondbacks
win!
We’re
going
to
the
postseason!
The
baseball
gods
are
not
angry
with
us.
I
will
not
have
to
do
penance.
Have
you
ever
considered
how
utterly
illogical
it
is
to
assume
that
superstition
has
anything
to
do
with
the
outcome
of
a
sporting
event?
Why
is
it
that,
as
enlightened
as
we
are,
we
still
behave
like
savages
at
the
whim
and
fancy
of
unpredictable
gods
when
it
comes
to
sports?
If
you
believe
what
the
Bible
says
about
these
things,
our
superstitions
reveal
something
about
the
collective
human
condition.
In
virtually
every
religion
outside
the
Judeo‑Christian
tradition,
religious
ritual
is
an
attempt
to
appease
the
gods.
From
Marduk’s
conquest
of
Kingu,
to
Odysseus’
quest,
we
find
this
theme
in
ancient
religions.
But
it
doesn’t
stop
there.
Whether
it’s
the
pantheon
of
gods
in
Hinduism,
the
eightfold
path
of
Buddhism,
or
the
five
pillars
of
Islam,
all
of
these
reflect
the
notion
that
there
is
something
humans
can
do
to
put
themselves
on
good
footing
with
the
Deity
or
deities.
Humans
can
effect
their
own
salvation.
Only
in
Christianity
do
we
find
the
exception.
In
the
person
of
Jesus,
grace
trumps
karma.
God’s
wrath
is
not
appeased
by
the
religious
devotion
of
faithful
adherents,
but
by
the
voluntary
sacrifice
of
his
own
Son.
Salvation
is
not
a
status
to
achieve
by
good
deeds;
it
is
instead
a
gift
to
receive
by
faith.
God
will
not
be
manipulated
by
our
devotion,
no
matter
how
earnest
we
are.
