Back To Back To ???

Red Sox radio announcer Jerry Trupiano today used the term "back-to-back-to-back," repeatedly, to describe the three home runs given up by David Wells on five pitches to three consecutive batters. This term has always driven me nuts, mostly because it's a lame way to describe three consecutive occurrences of anything.

To illustrate, get two friends and have them stand back-to-back. Now, you try to stand back-to-back-to-back. It's physically impossible.

Trupiano's partner, Joe Castiglione, had the good sense to avoid the term and instead referred to "three consecutive home runs." Yet another reason why Joe is so much better than Jerry.

And don't even get me started on "three-peat."

©2005 Douglas T. Dinsmoor