Comments on: What Happens to an Offensive Outburst Deferred?

By: jjmerlock

jjmerlock — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:03:16 +0000

I did, indeed, find that a simply bizarre explanation. Particularly in that the meat of his explanation wasn’t coverage of “how can we make sure this will not happen again.”

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:35:16 +0000

One other thing: The third base ump was completely out of position on the Swisher play. He could have and should have gotten up the third base line a bit so he could have both the runner and the fielder in view. We’ve seen this a thousand times.

I think he may have done it on purpose. To make up for the bad call at second, he needed to be in position to call Swisher out no matter what, which would be by necessity the incorrect position.

Did anyone see the post-game press conference when he said he “thought in [his] heart” that Swisher was out?

By: Horace Clarke Era

Horace Clarke Era — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:24:29 +0000

[85] Sets it up!

New Banterism for Jorge running on basepaths … Pomentum.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:08:44 +0000

[67] and his momentum (sorry monkeypants) drove him past the bag.

Now that’s momentum I can believe in!

By: jjmerlock

jjmerlock — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:02:32 +0000

Whoa – just watching the replay now – didn’t have my feed up immediately – but didn’t Kazmir balk on that first pick off? He crossed the plane towards the outfield and then threw. As a long, long time ago lefty pitcher with a nasty pick off move and very little else (some kid hit a ball about 400 feet off of me when we were 12), that sure looked like a balk.

By: jjmerlock

jjmerlock — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:50:34 +0000

[80] I thought you would see it that way on a rewatch. The thing is – even with Cano off the bag (but still within tagging vicinity) – as the fielder, I still say your #1 responsibility is always the lead runner.

I think of “pickles” – which we drilled endlessly – as always involving the following:

1) every fielder needs to rush in to occupy a spot in the rotation

2) the essence of a pickle from a fielding perspective is a) always control the lead runner b) drive back and c) throw and rotate out, when appropriate

3) again, always avoid disaster, making sure that the worst case – the lead runner getting out and preceding to a further base or worse, home, never happens. This means being incredibly careful about entering any situation where the lead runner is not being driven back to the bag…

By: jjmerlock

jjmerlock — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:45:35 +0000

So… to get off of yelling at our two (unfathomably stupid) players, people may want to look back to my [49]. Because let’s not forget that the most unforgivable things that happened last night were performed by the men in charge of the game…

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:42:58 +0000

[76] I did ask that earlier in the thread. The replay shows him pointing at the bag and yelling at Cano. I don’t think he deserves blame.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:41:10 +0000

[73] You’re right…just watched it on MLB.com. Napoli didn’t have a tag, so he played it right, although Cano was so far from the bag, he could have thrown the ball if he noticed it (which would be hard to do).

The amazing thing about Cano is he wasn’t inches off the bag…he was a couple of feet away. Also, his posture was that of an observer…not someone waiting to tocuh the base once he read the situation. Furthermore, after he was called safe, he walked off the bag again…and had to beat a second tag!

Awful all around for Cano.

By: flycaster

flycaster — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:39:46 +0000

[78] That’s for sure.