Nearing the top of that winter hill

Last night, Christine was taking pins out of some shirts we had bought.

I offered to get her something out of the kitchen.

"Thanks," she said. "I can't move."

"Afraid you'll knock the pins into the cracks of the couch?"

"No, I can't stop watching this."

On the screen was a riveting contest from 1989 in with Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh 15-11. It was not a low-scoring football game, but a slugfest between two awful baseball teams on June 8, 1989.

The Pirates knocked out Phillies starter Larry McWilliams after one-third of an inning. They scored 10 runs in the first, famously prompting announcer Jim Rooker to say, "If the Pirates lose this game, I'll walk home."

That's famous because in the fall he had to walk the 300 miles after the Phillies - led by Steve Jeltz - kept chipping away and finally took the lead with an five-run 8th inning, which was preserved by Steve Bedroisian.

Jeltz hit two of his five career home runs in this game despite entering the game in the 2nd inning when it was assumed the game was a blowout. Von Hayes had four RBI, and newly acquired - and baby-faced - John Kruk had four hits.

It was an awful game that we couldn't stop watching (and we weren't even sure at the time whether the Phillies would win). It was great see a younger Kruk and much skinner Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla. The late Eric Gregg was a treat to watch umpiring at home plate.

Christine's only lament was that we got the Pirates broadcasters (although in retrospect it was probably intentional because of Rooker's line) instead of Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn.

With 78 days to opening day, let's hope MLB Network airs some more like this in the coming weeks.