Good Lord, Cody Bellinger

It’s been a pretty good night for Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger. In the top of the fifth inning, he did this:

And in the bottom of the fifth inning, he did this: best appreciated through an ordinary video clip, maybe, but best understood through a series of still frames. Watch him dive over the dugout railing for the ball and think, “Holy shit, great catch!” But break the moment apart, and find true meaning.

Now, captured via Rick Scuteri of the AP. Look at manager Dave Roberts’ eyes here. Look at the terror therein. Look at the fan in the Dodgers jersey on the left, who’s real into the acrobatics on display here and is reveling in some totally unfiltered joy, without any space to stop and wonder if there might be cause for concern. Look at the fan in the navy short-sleeved button-down in the middle, who maybe was excited five seconds ago but isn’t quite sure what he’s supposed to do now. Look at the blonde woman sitting down with the red manicure on the right, who has no joy and only fear.  

Now you cannot see the terror in Dave Roberts’ eyes, because Dave Roberts cannot bring himself to look anymore.

And finally, the aftermath. Care. Protection. Brotherhood. From Christian Petersen of Getty:

A living reenactment of a Renaissance painting, perhaps The Dead Christ Mourned by Annibale Carracci?

Good catch.