Game Team Barely Won Is Turning Point in Imaginary Narrative

by evanmcmurry

Is there any contrivance more abused in sportswriting than “the turning point“?

The Red Sox managed more walks than hits and runs combined over the last two games against the White Sox, neither of which they particularly deserved to win. Lester’s pitching was more coincidental with their poor hitting than it was a causal interaction with it.

But that’s all beside the point. The season is sixteen games old; that’s like asking for the turning point of a novel in the first chapter. There’s no narrative yet.

(This rhetorical crutch is even worse with broadcasters, who view every good pitch or outfield single as a potential turning point for player/game/team/season.)