Thursday, July 13, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Mike Fitzgerald CAL b. 1960, played 1992
Ken Hunt LAA b. 1934, played 1961-1963, d. 1997-06-08. He was only a regular one year in his career, the first year of the Angels' franchise, but he hit 20 dingers. Injury and military service cut short his 1962, and his ability collapsed when he returned.
John O'Brien BRO b. 1866, played 1891, d. 1913-05-13
Pat Rapp ANA b. 1967, played 2001
Daryl Spencer LAN b. 1929, played 1961-1963
Random Bullety Stuff
- Bill Shaikin's midseason Angels review.
- Steve Henson's midseason Dodgers review.
- How Camille Johnston got to be the McCourts' spin doctress.
- Roy Campanella, among three other players, will be honored at Yankee Stadium as part of an unveiling ceremony for a new postage stamp honoring baseball's sluggers. The Daily News article incorrectly states that Yankee Stadium is "the only ballpark still standing from the 1940s and '50s"; the current Yankee Stadium is a completely different stadium from the one Campy hit in as a Dodger in the World Series. The Yankees played two years, 1974 and 1975, in Shea while waiting construction in the second Yankee Stadium to complete.
- Update: Maury Wills, recently heard giving pecksniffian commentary on Orlando Cabrera's steal of home some weeks back, now has a piece of improbable advice for Chone Figgins:
"All [bunts] do is help you win ballgames," said Maury Wills, the former Dodgers great who is the team's bunting and base-running instructor.
Fortunately, Figgins actually is onto this silliness:Now Wills would like to get that message across to Chone Figgins, the Angels' leadoff hitter who is their fastest runner and one of Wills' favorite players.
Unfortunately, he also is among the team's worst bunters.
"It's a crime for a player like Chone Figgins not to be a great bunter," Wills said. "For a guy like him, with his speed, it would be a sin not to learn. He could add 20 or 30 extra bunt hits a year."
"You have to put down a great bunt to get on," he said. "I just have to go on situations. If I don't drop it down perfectly, I'm going to be out."
Coincidentally, the Baseball Analysts have a column up by designated hitter Dan Leavitt about the advisability of bunting; his study takes into account the overall desirability of a bunt based on the probability of the batters behind the runner actually getting a hit.
How many times does bunting for a hit work? 1 out of 10?
I do agree that these guys do need to learn how to bunt to make the sacrafice more effective.
cupie
: 7/13/2006 10:42:00 AM : 7/13/2006 11:12:00 AMNewer› ‹Older
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