Day-to-Day Game Comments

jtur88 · 03-25-2008, 06:51 PM

I don't know if there are enough people here for this to work, but when watching games, I often have an observation that I'd like to share and see what other people think. Let's start with opening day:

Oakland is down by 2 in extra innings. Runner on, one out, guy hits a double. They thought by waving the runner home, the batter could advance to third with the tying run. The throw came through to the plate, but the other runner got caught in a rundown. The announcers went apopleptic in a fit if criticism for the bonehead strategy. But I don't see the problem with trying to get the tying run to third with one out. Do you?

By the way, since the next two hitters got the hits that would have driven in the tying run, can Papelbon be credited with an "Unearned Save"?

TestSubjekt · 03-25-2008, 07:09 PM

I see a problem with taking chances with your outs in extra innings. Especially when you're trying to play catch up.

Unless the announcer pitching the fit was Joe Morgan, then I disagree with anything he thinks, says or feels.

LongtimeBravesFan · 03-25-2008, 07:10 PM

If the runner had wound up with a triple, the announcers would have praised the As for a gutsy call and heads up baserunning.

TestSubjekt · 03-25-2008, 07:14 PM

Would it have been scored a triple? I'm thinking double and advancing to third on the play going on ahead of him.

But I'm not an official scorer so it's not my field of expertise.

LongtimeBravesFan · 03-25-2008, 08:20 PM

Didn't see the play. I'm guessing it would depend on where the throw went.

TheFlyingBomb · 03-26-2008, 07:34 AM

[quote=jtur88;179531]The announcers went apopleptic in a fit

jtur88 · 03-31-2008, 08:46 PM

Statistically-challenged announcers. Miller/Morgan: "The Twins have had 12 at bats tonight with runners in scoring position, and only have 3 hits. You have to do better than that." Well, that's 3-for-12, which is .250. The only way they could "do better than that" would be 4-for-12, or .333, which is an unreaslistic expectation.

fabio61 · 04-01-2008, 01:30 PM

If a guy was hitting .395 in September, shooting for .400, and went 2 for 5, they'd say the same thing.

jtur88 · 04-01-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabio61

If a guy was hitting .395 in September, shooting for .400, and went 2 for 5, they'd say the same thing.

Well, at least he would have raised his BA to .39502.

The really astonishing thing about baseball is the narrow spread of statistics. Almost every position starter in MLB, per 12 AB, has 3-point-something hits.
Given 400 ABs, a .320 hitter is outhitting a .255 hitter by exactly one hit per week.

bedir than average · 04-01-2008, 06:19 PM

Check out team boards by the way for Gamethreads and series threads (varies by board)

Cardinals
Braves
Rockies
Mariners
should be active for every series.

jtur88 · 04-01-2008, 11:44 PM

So, again this winter, the secret cabal of umpires met in an incense filled dungeon and had a new rule secretly whispered to them. After standing outside the coaches box for five innings, Dodger coach Larry Bowa was ejected from the game in the sixth for a "Coaghing box infraction". In the next inning, the Giants coach seemed to be standing just as far out of the box.

There are several rules that prohibit 'making a travesty of the game'. Why doesn't that rule apply to umpires?

bedir than average · 04-01-2008, 11:46 PM

I thought the boxes were just decorations. Coaches are more often outside then inside the box.

jtur88 · 04-02-2008, 01:54 AM

My post may have been premature. Vin Scully said the only reason he can think of for the altercation was an order to get back into the box, but that was never verified during the game. Might come out in the post-game comments, which I am unlikely to hear.

fabio61 · 04-02-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

The really astonishing thing about baseball is the narrow spread of statistics. Almost every position starter in MLB, per 12 AB, has 3-point-something hits.
Given 400 ABs, a .320 hitter is outhitting a .255 hitter by exactly one hit per week.

Even 25 AB (a full week) represents a 40 point spread for each hit up or down.

So in terms of hits per week it roughly comes out to....

8 - Tony Gwynn (.338) -1 h/wk = Barry Larkin (.295)
7 - Barry Larkin (.295) -1 h/wk = Bob Boone (.254)
6 - Bob Boone (.254) -1 h/wk = Mario Mendoza (.215)
5 - Mario Mendoza (.215) -1 h/wk = Ray Oyler (.175) or a good hitting pitcher

jtur88 · 04-05-2008, 03:36 PM

Well, I finally heard a broadcaster agree with me on the balk rule. Geoff Geary of the Astros dropped the ball, for a balk, alloweing Fukodoma to advance to third. Astro broadcaster Jim Deshaies: "Stupid rule number one in all of baseball---drop the ball and it's a balk". As if it is an "attempt to deceive the runner". It's like baseball has sunk to the level of pairs ice dancing, where you are penalized for form.

03-25-2008, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,815	Day-to-Day Game Comments I don't know if there are enough people here for this to work, but when watching games, I often have an observation that I'd like to share and see what other people think. Let's start with opening day: Oakland is down by 2 in extra innings. Runner on, one out, guy hits a double. They thought by waving the runner home, the batter could advance to third with the tying run. The throw came through to the plate, but the other runner got caught in a rundown. The announcers went apopleptic in a fit if criticism for the bonehead strategy. But I don't see the problem with trying to get the tying run to third with one out. Do you? By the way, since the next two hitters got the hits that would have driven in the tying run, can Papelbon be credited with an "Unearned Save"? __________________ ------------------ RE-ELECT McCAIN

03-26-2008, 07:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 680	[quote=jtur88;179531]The announcers went apopleptic in a fit __________________ Oh, whatever. Last edited by TheFlyingBomb; 03-26-2008 at 07:39 AM.

03-31-2008, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,815	Statistically-challenged announcers. Miller/Morgan: "The Twins have had 12 at bats tonight with runners in scoring position, and only have 3 hits. You have to do better than that." Well, that's 3-for-12, which is .250. The only way they could "do better than that" would be 4-for-12, or .333, which is an unreaslistic expectation. __________________ ------------------ RE-ELECT McCAIN

04-01-2008, 06:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Check out team boards by the way for Gamethreads and series threads (varies by board) Cardinals Braves Rockies Mariners should be active for every series. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

04-01-2008, 11:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,815	So, again this winter, the secret cabal of umpires met in an incense filled dungeon and had a new rule secretly whispered to them. After standing outside the coaches box for five innings, Dodger coach Larry Bowa was ejected from the game in the sixth for a "Coaghing box infraction". In the next inning, the Giants coach seemed to be standing just as far out of the box. There are several rules that prohibit 'making a travesty of the game'. Why doesn't that rule apply to umpires? __________________ ------------------ RE-ELECT McCAIN Last edited by jtur88; 04-01-2008 at 11:50 PM.

03-25-2008, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
TestSubjekt Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 172	I see a problem with taking chances with your outs in extra innings. Especially when you're trying to play catch up. Unless the announcer pitching the fit was Joe Morgan, then I disagree with anything he thinks, says or feels.

03-25-2008, 07:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,633	If the runner had wound up with a triple, the announcers would have praised the As for a gutsy call and heads up baserunning.

03-25-2008, 07:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
TestSubjekt Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 172	Would it have been scored a triple? I'm thinking double and advancing to third on the play going on ahead of him. But I'm not an official scorer so it's not my field of expertise.

03-25-2008, 08:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
LongtimeBravesFan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,633	Didn't see the play. I'm guessing it would depend on where the throw went.

04-01-2008, 01:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
fabio61 Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 63	If a guy was hitting .395 in September, shooting for .400, and went 2 for 5, they'd say the same thing.

04-01-2008, 11:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	I thought the boxes were just decorations. Coaches are more often outside then inside the box. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

04-02-2008, 01:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,815	My post may have been premature. Vin Scully said the only reason he can think of for the altercation was an order to get back into the box, but that was never verified during the game. Might come out in the post-game comments, which I am unlikely to hear. __________________ ------------------ RE-ELECT McCAIN

04-05-2008, 03:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,815	Well, I finally heard a broadcaster agree with me on the balk rule. Geoff Geary of the Astros dropped the ball, for a balk, alloweing Fukodoma to advance to third. Astro broadcaster Jim Deshaies: "Stupid rule number one in all of baseball---drop the ball and it's a balk". As if it is an "attempt to deceive the runner". It's like baseball has sunk to the level of pairs ice dancing, where you are penalized for form. __________________ ------------------ RE-ELECT McCAIN