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In life, there are some things that are known for certain.

As I sat alone in my living room, and 2 a.m. was approaching faster than ever this morning, I was certain that Jerry Meals made the wrong call in the bottom of the 19th inning.

The Braves and Pirates were playing possibly the game of the year. Two teams showing an intense amount of hunger for the playoffs this season, knowing that every game counts, gave us an epic game to talk about for a long time to come.

Today we talk about it for the wrong reasons.

A routine, infield, grounder followed by a gamble that only happens in the bottom of the 19th by sending Julio Lugo home from third, ended exactly the way it should have.

He was tagged out a mile before the plate.

It was the umpire’s call that decided otherwise.

I know for certain that Lugo was out. Maybe, just maybe, the tag missed because of some miniscule miss that only happens as often as sightings of Halley’s Comet, but you don’t make that call in the bottom of the 19th.

I know for certain that Lugo was out. I also know for certain the value of a great teammate.

The Braves celebrated a tremendous win last night/this morning with their teammates. Today we celebrate a tremendous career at WTVY with one of our own teammates.

Patrick Claybon is moving on to the next stop in his career as a sports anchor in Birmingham.
He is one of the finest individuals I have ever met, and I speak for a multitude of people when I say that my career is blessed because I have worked with him.

I know that Julio Lugo being tagged out a mile away from home doesn’t have much to do with Patrick Claybon going to Birmingham. This all may seem randomly thrown together.

The news business is about facts though.

I know that Julio Lugo was out.

I know that Patrick Claybon will do well in the next step of his excellent career.

Thanks for everything Patrick!