The Problem With No Minor League

The problem with the NFL having no minor league (besides the variety of football issues) is you can't have moments like this:

Phillies Notebook: Phillies callup Escalona wins big-league debut

As recently as Friday [Sergio] Escalona was pitching for Double A Reading. A 24-year-old lefthander with an impressive breaking ball and good velocity on his fastball, he had recorded 10 saves in 14 appearances. Still, he did not expect the call that he received on Saturday, telling him to get to Philadelphia International Airport for a flight to Washington, D.C...

Prior to the seventh inning yesterday, Escalona got another call, this time on a phone in the bullpen. Forget the fact that the Phillies were involved in a one-run game, trailing the Nationals, 6-5. Setup man Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge had both pitched on the previous 3 days, and manager Charlie Manuel needed to find a way to finish the final three innings...

In the top of the eighth, the Phillies scored three runs to take the lead. An inning-and-a-half later, Escalona was the proud owner of his first big-league victory. Lidge presented him with the final-out ball, and the clubhouse broke out in applause. First wins are like first kisses: You don't forget them...

"It's unbelievable, really," Escalona said. "All I need to say is thank God - he blessed me. Oh my God. It's amazing. First game, first win. What can you say?"

The million-watt smile said it all.

Read the whole story here

Also check out Brad Lidge's quote. Football is a very different game from baseball -- and in many ways better and more exciting -- but I tend to think that with all that physicality there is a loss of the sentimental moments that can make a game so fun.

Then again, maybe I'm just a romantic sucker.