Sunday, April 22, 2007 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Ray Benge BRO b. 1902, played 1933-1935, d. 1997-06-27
Sandy Burk BRO b. 1887, played 1910-1912, d. 1934-10-11
Jake Daniel BRO b. 1911, played 1937, d. 1996-04-23
Tom Long BRO b. 1898, played 1924, d. 1973-09-16
Lew Riggs BRO b. 1910, played 1941-1942, 1946, All-Star: 1936, d. 1975-08-12
Jack Savage LAN b. 1964, played 1987
Why Do The Angels Let Garret Anderson Play Against Lefties?
.248/.280/.382 last year. So far this year, .227/.227/.273. Jes' sayin'.Juan Rivera can't get back fast enough, and am I mistaken or did I spy him with my binoculars in the dugout last night?
The Blanche DuBois Strategy: Dodgers 7, Pirates 3
Whoever you are — I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.While we were at the park yesterday — the park being Angel Stadium — I did some scoreboard watching of the Dodgers game and was shocked to see that it was low-scoring for the Dodgers, and slightly less so for the Pirates. In fact, the Pirates got three gift runs, packaged neatly by— Blanche DuBois, A Streetcar Named Desire
- a first inning throwing error by Russell Martin that allowed Chris Duffy to get to third on a
successful stolen base attemptwild pitch - a bases-loaded walk to Adam LaRoche by Brad Penny in the top of the third, followed by
- a wild pitch during Xavier Nady's at bat that allowed Jack Wilson to score.
But then it got interesting 'round about the time I arrived home from the Angels game. It's odd to have the Angels and Dodgers having scheduled homestands simultaneously, but last night it almost didn't matter, because the Angels start their games an hour earlier than the Dodgers. As a result, I got to see the ninth inning and beyond on TV, and as it turned out, those were really the only innings that mattered.
The tying run in the bottom of the ninth was essentially a gift, as the Pirates' runs had been from the Dodgers. Andre Ethier started off with a walk, but Wilson Valdez hit into a force play at second, with Solomon Torres making a fine hard throw to second. But then the wheels came off for the Pirates. Ronny Paulino threw away a pick to second when Valdez made a steal attempt advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then Valdez made it safely to third. That set up the tying run when Torres, whose history of implosions is well-documented, gave up a wild pitch that allowed Valdez to score.
The Dodgers mounted their final assault in the bottom of the tenth. Jason Bayliss gave up singles to Juan Pierre and Jeff Kent, with Pierre constantly looking to steal the next base; at one point, the replay of one of his jumps back to second showed he was pretty clearly out. He's got speed, but not brains. It didn't matter, because the Pirates brought in Damaso Marte, who walked the only batter he faced, Luis Gonzalez, which brought in Shawn Chacon.
And then Russell Martin dropped one into the left field bullpen. It was his first career grand slam, and that, too, in some sense was a gift: Chacon left one up, way up, waist high and centered over the plate, a hit-me pitch no major leaguer could possibly miss. Martin didn't.
I'm not like some people; I didn't hate Jim Tracy outright, but I did resent his idiotic smallball proclivities. There was some irony that his greatest triumph with the Dodgers was echoed in the 7-3 score — and in the walkoff grand slam following a defensive meltdown.
I give Tracy 'til the end of the year before he's fired or resigns.
Update: corrected s/stolen base attempt/wild pitch/ for Duffy in the first and Valdez in the ninth; somehow my head registered Valdez trying to steal. Thanks to Bob Timmermann for the correction.
Roster Notes
- Joe Saunders was optioned to AAA Salt Lake before Saturday's game.
- Kelvim Escobar threw a 70-pitch simulated game yesterday and will be activated for Tuesday's game against the Tigers, moving John Lackey's rotation slot.
- There is no timetable for Jason Schmidt's return. He will engage in "old-fashioned baseball exercises".
- Yhency Brazoban will continue to play with the 66ers for at least one more game.
- Rotoworld: "There's no better fantasy catcher in the NL" than Russell Martin.
Labels: angels, dodgers, pirates, recaps
Yet another keyboard splattered with tea. I'll send you the bill, Rob. :)
Seriously, that's a headline for the ages.
: 4/22/2007 08:48:00 AM
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