***MLB Postseason Thread***
- Thread starter Cy$
- Start date
If the talk around here in Detroit is right, the Tigers might make a run for him. Assuming this is the case, I kind of like it. It's not like he's going to make the defense any worse, because first he's not moving Austin Jackson out of CF, and second our LF and RF are already pretty sad defensively. He'd be brought in as another bat that protects Cabrera and Fielder. Take a look at the lineup if this were to happen:
1. Jackson - CF
2. Berry/Dirks - RF or Infante - 2B
3. Cabrera - 3B
4. Fielder - 1B
5. Hamilton - LF
6. Martinez - DH
7. Peralta - SS
8. Avila and Laird - C
9. Infante - 2B or Berry/Dirks - RF
That is a SCARY lineup and the defense is probably a wash with or without Hamilton in it.
Well, this certainly isn't the postseason I envisioned for my Giants. I knew that Cincinnati was probably a slightly better team going in, but I thought the first two games would at least be competitive. Heading to Cincy down 0-2 is not what I thought would happen.
When I first got to AT&T Park on Saturday and was waiting to get in the gate, I noticed a near complete lack of buzz or excitement from the crowd. It was very strange, but not unfamiliar. Once a year or so, I walk into Hilton during basketball season and get the same feeling - the crowd is dead, there's no buzz or electricity, and I get the feeling in my stomach that we're not going to win that night (and that's usually the way it ends up). When the game started, I let myself believe that in the top of the 1st, my gut was wrong. Matt Cain had a great 1st inning and Brandon Belt had a spectacular catch while chasing down a pop-up and flipped over the fence just past the Reds' dugout. The ump signaled "out" and the place went nuts. Then Cain gives up a two run homer to Phillips in the 2nd and it sucked the life out of the place. The only other time there was any real emotion in the stands was for Buster Posey's homer late in the game.
Last night, I stopped watching after Bumgarner allowed 3 in the 3rd, and was quite surprised to see another 5 runs had been allowed in the 8th (but not that surprised, considering). As bad as the offense was Saturday, it was worse yesterday - two hits all night. That's just sad. It seemed like every time the bat connected with the ball, it went straight to a Red. As in he didn't even have to move to catch it. Nearly every time. Ugh.
Also, I'm rather bummed that BOTH Bay Area teams are now down 0-2. The A's have at least been competitive and provided an entertaining game yesterday. But I had hoped that at least one of these two teams would be looking good after having played two.
Still, I'm glad I made the trip to see my Giants play for the first time in the post-season in person. The weather could not have been more perfect on Saturday. It was simply beautiful, as it tends to be this time of year (San Francisco's best weather is typically in September and October). I spent the first part of the day in Berkeley, hiked up Tightwad Hill above the new and improved Memorial Stadium to check out the renovations (very nice!) and got to eat at my favorite pizza place for lunch, followed by a visit to Rasputin's Music, both on Telegraph Avenue. Then, it was back across the Bay to the City where I was able to see the airshow for this weekend's Fleet Week festivities. The Blue Angels were zipping around everywhere, which was cool. Had never seen them in person before. Then it was down to AT&T for the game.
I was only in California for 33 hours, but I packed a lot into that time. Completely worth the cost and effort to go. Just wish we could have won at least that Saturday game. It snapped my personal streak of six straight wins by the Giants when I'm in the house, which kinda sucked. Hopefully they can win this next one and at least avoid a sweep.
When I first got to AT&T Park on Saturday and was waiting to get in the gate, I noticed a near complete lack of buzz or excitement from the crowd. It was very strange, but not unfamiliar. Once a year or so, I walk into Hilton during basketball season and get the same feeling - the crowd is dead, there's no buzz or electricity, and I get the feeling in my stomach that we're not going to win that night (and that's usually the way it ends up). When the game started, I let myself believe that in the top of the 1st, my gut was wrong. Matt Cain had a great 1st inning and Brandon Belt had a spectacular catch while chasing down a pop-up and flipped over the fence just past the Reds' dugout. The ump signaled "out" and the place went nuts. Then Cain gives up a two run homer to Phillips in the 2nd and it sucked the life out of the place. The only other time there was any real emotion in the stands was for Buster Posey's homer late in the game.
Last night, I stopped watching after Bumgarner allowed 3 in the 3rd, and was quite surprised to see another 5 runs had been allowed in the 8th (but not that surprised, considering). As bad as the offense was Saturday, it was worse yesterday - two hits all night. That's just sad. It seemed like every time the bat connected with the ball, it went straight to a Red. As in he didn't even have to move to catch it. Nearly every time. Ugh.
Also, I'm rather bummed that BOTH Bay Area teams are now down 0-2. The A's have at least been competitive and provided an entertaining game yesterday. But I had hoped that at least one of these two teams would be looking good after having played two.
Still, I'm glad I made the trip to see my Giants play for the first time in the post-season in person. The weather could not have been more perfect on Saturday. It was simply beautiful, as it tends to be this time of year (San Francisco's best weather is typically in September and October). I spent the first part of the day in Berkeley, hiked up Tightwad Hill above the new and improved Memorial Stadium to check out the renovations (very nice!) and got to eat at my favorite pizza place for lunch, followed by a visit to Rasputin's Music, both on Telegraph Avenue. Then, it was back across the Bay to the City where I was able to see the airshow for this weekend's Fleet Week festivities. The Blue Angels were zipping around everywhere, which was cool. Had never seen them in person before. Then it was down to AT&T for the game.
I was only in California for 33 hours, but I packed a lot into that time. Completely worth the cost and effort to go. Just wish we could have won at least that Saturday game. It snapped my personal streak of six straight wins by the Giants when I'm in the house, which kinda sucked. Hopefully they can win this next one and at least avoid a sweep.
Going back quickly: If you can't call the infield fly off the bat you shouldn't be calling it period. It's an easy call to make.
I hope like hell the Yankees get off to a fast start tonight. Give Pettitte a cushion and he normally pitches well when he can be aggressive with the cutter. Against a lineup like Baltimore's that's crucial. They aren't completely free swingers like the Rays, but CC was extremely efficient last night and that's what you need from your starters.
I hope like hell the Yankees get off to a fast start tonight. Give Pettitte a cushion and he normally pitches well when he can be aggressive with the cutter. Against a lineup like Baltimore's that's crucial. They aren't completely free swingers like the Rays, but CC was extremely efficient last night and that's what you need from your starters.
I love how defensive Cardinals fans get when someone suggests it was the wrong call, like it's not even up for debate.
That part about the umpire's judgment needing to be immediate...yeah, that part. There are things in each sport not covered by the rule book which are governed by common sense. This would be an example.
You have trouble reading the part where it says "when it becomes apparent"? It became apparent when the SS was under and calling for the ball.
Seems to me that it is covered in the rule book and thus a call was made.
So it's defensive when you argue a point? Is he being defensive for arguing his side?
Obviously it's an opinion. It's an informed opinion however-- the infield fly rule was created in response to defensive players taking advantage of short fly balls to get double plays because runners are pinned to the bases. The rule is intended to be for the benefit of the runners. Where is the advantage gained in letting a fly ball drop to the ground 50-70 feet into the outfield? There is not going to be a double play in that situation.
Therefore, the infield fly rule, which is a judgment call after all, was not needed, and the umpire who called it should be embarrassed for judging that it was needed in that situation.
