Comments on: A Harrowing Escape http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/ Philadelphia Phillies baseball analysis that everyone can enjoy. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:49:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jon http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13324 jon Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:23:00 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13324 Looking at the replay shows clearly that the bat was still extended for the bunt. It has to be not just pulled back but turned 90 degrees. The fact that he was going to be hit does not matter. How often has a ball been thrown at a players head in a non bunt situation and in spinning out of the way it tips the bat for a strike. It is true he tried to protect himself but he did not pull back on the bunt in the process so it is a strike. Looking at the replay shows clearly that the bat was still extended for the bunt. It has to be not just pulled back but turned 90 degrees. The fact that he was going to be hit does not matter. How often has a ball been thrown at a players head in a non bunt situation and in spinning out of the way it tips the bat for a strike. It is true he tried to protect himself but he did not pull back on the bunt in the process so it is a strike.

]]> By: Pete http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13323 Pete Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:56:08 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13323 And, if it was as obvious as everyone is trying to make it, then why did Girardi come out of the dugout to argue.... Irrelevant. Managers argue calls that go against their team, regardless of whether they have any idea what the right call should have been. It's usually done to support their players so a player doesn't run the risk of getting tossed. I'm not saying Girardi didn't really believe the ump missed the call, but whether he chooses to argue has no bearing on whether the call was missed or even close. Anyway, I've noticed this appeal to Yankee authority seems to be a trend. One post argued that it is obvious ARod is being intentionally hit because ARod said it was obvious. And, if it was as obvious as everyone is trying to make it, then why did Girardi come out of the dugout to argue….

Irrelevant. Managers argue calls that go against their team, regardless of whether they have any idea what the right call should have been. It’s usually done to support their players so a player doesn’t run the risk of getting tossed. I’m not saying Girardi didn’t really believe the ump missed the call, but whether he chooses to argue has no bearing on whether the call was missed or even close.

Anyway, I’ve noticed this appeal to Yankee authority seems to be a trend. One post argued that it is obvious ARod is being intentionally hit because ARod said it was obvious.

]]> By: john http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13275 john Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:42:43 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13275 Charlie will never do it (his rigidity and dumb loyalty are a bigger problem than Howard) but he should put Werth after Utley and then Howard............especially with petite. Right handers hit much much better and it would be good to break up the lefties. That inning in Game four where we had rollins and Vic on with no outs...........what happened.........out out out (lefty lefty lefty). But Manuel would let Howard strike out another 40 times before he made a change. Guess what Charlie there are only two games left in the WS..........show your players you can manage.....Werth hit 36 homers on the year - he is more than deserving of the cleanup role. This change in itself might actually win us the game. Charlie will never do it (his rigidity and dumb loyalty are a bigger problem than Howard) but he should put Werth after Utley and then Howard…………especially with petite. Right handers hit much much better and it would be good to break up the lefties. That inning in Game four where we had rollins and Vic on with no outs………..what happened………out out out (lefty lefty lefty). But Manuel would let Howard strike out another 40 times before he made a change. Guess what Charlie there are only two games left in the WS……….show your players you can manage…..Werth hit 36 homers on the year – he is more than deserving of the cleanup role. This change in itself might actually win us the game.

]]> By: Pedro http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13240 Pedro Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:38:52 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13240 He was definitely offering. He didn't react until after he was hit. I've watched the replay numerous times, pausing it just before and just after he got hit. He releases the bat the moment AFTER he is hit, and the bat is still square. Also, he didn't turn away until after he got hit, because the ball came in so quickly there wasn't time to turn away. Also, since he was looking for a pitch in the strike zone, he didn't pick up the ball until late. Even just considering the speed of the pitch and the time when he picked up the ball coming towards him, there is no way he could have pulled back in time. And, if it was as obvious as everyone is trying to make it, then why did Girardi come out of the dugout to argue, and why did the home plate umpire appeal to 3rd? Notice that the home plate umpire didn't say he didn't offer. He said the third base umpire said he pulled it back. Home plate ump wasn't sure either. Why couldn't the third plate ump be wrong? But it doesn't matter. Yankees win 10-4 on Wednesday. He was definitely offering. He didn’t react until after he was hit. I’ve watched the replay numerous times, pausing it just before and just after he got hit. He releases the bat the moment AFTER he is hit, and the bat is still square. Also, he didn’t turn away until after he got hit, because the ball came in so quickly there wasn’t time to turn away.

Also, since he was looking for a pitch in the strike zone, he didn’t pick up the ball until late. Even just considering the speed of the pitch and the time when he picked up the ball coming towards him, there is no way he could have pulled back in time.

And, if it was as obvious as everyone is trying to make it, then why did Girardi come out of the dugout to argue, and why did the home plate umpire appeal to 3rd? Notice that the home plate umpire didn’t say he didn’t offer. He said the third base umpire said he pulled it back. Home plate ump wasn’t sure either. Why couldn’t the third plate ump be wrong?

But it doesn’t matter. Yankees win 10-4 on Wednesday.

]]> By: Mark http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13232 Mark Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:22:04 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13232 Jussa, Yeah hit in the face. If you take a gander at where the ball is heading to start with it’s right at his face as he is squared around at the beginning of the pitch. He turned his head away expecting to take the hit in the body but that caused his hand to move right into the line of fire. As for the bat barrel coming back to his back shoulder I took a look again and you are right there. What I was remembering was his left hand coming back to his body. I thought he brought the bat with it when in fact he took his hand off of it. There was no attempt at the ball all his movements in that entire sequence were to defend himself from being hit. I would like to see you attempt a bunt on a 90 some mph fastball coming at your face. Jussa,

Yeah hit in the face. If you take a gander at where the ball is heading to start with it’s right at his face as he is squared around at the beginning of the pitch. He turned his head away expecting to take the hit in the body but that caused his hand to move right into the line of fire. As for the bat barrel coming back to his back shoulder I took a look again and you are right there. What I was remembering was his left hand coming back to his body. I thought he brought the bat with it when in fact he took his hand off of it.

There was no attempt at the ball all his movements in that entire sequence were to defend himself from being hit. I would like to see you attempt a bunt on a 90 some mph fastball coming at your face.

]]> By: Jussa http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13231 Jussa Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:18:45 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13231 Yeah hit in the face. If you take a gander at where the ball is heading to start with it's right at his face as he is squared around at the beginning of the pitch. He turned his head away expecting to take the hit in the body but that caused his hand to move right into the line of fire. As for the bat barrel coming back to his back shoulder I took a look again and you are right there. What I was remembering was his left hand coming back to his body. I thought he brought the bat with it when in fact he took his hand off of it. There was no attempt at the ball all his movements in that entire sequence were to defend himself from being hit. I would like to see you attempt a bunt on a 90 some mph fastball coming at your face. Yeah hit in the face. If you take a gander at where the ball is heading to start with it’s right at his face as he is squared around at the beginning of the pitch. He turned his head away expecting to take the hit in the body but that caused his hand to move right into the line of fire. As for the bat barrel coming back to his back shoulder I took a look again and you are right there. What I was remembering was his left hand coming back to his body. I thought he brought the bat with it when in fact he took his hand off of it.

There was no attempt at the ball all his movements in that entire sequence were to defend himself from being hit. I would like to see you attempt a bunt on a 90 some mph fastball coming at your face.

]]> By: smitty http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13228 smitty Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:12:22 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13228 Victorino didn't offer at the pitch. But he did turn into it-though in an attempt to get out of the way Victorino didn’t offer at the pitch. But he did turn into it-though in an attempt to get out of the way

]]> By: Jussayin... http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13227 Jussayin... Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:37:34 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13227 The Phillies have no faith in their bullpen. None. That is why they kept Lee in the game. The Phillies have no faith in their bullpen. None. That is why they kept Lee in the game.

]]> By: Jussayin... http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13226 Jussayin... Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:35:34 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13226 Mark, I guess you see things differently than they actually are. Hit in the face? Really? The bat up by his shoulder? Really? I think you should get a job as an umpire, you could do as good a job at blowing calls as they do if that is how you saw that. Mark, I guess you see things differently than they actually are.

Hit in the face? Really? The bat up by his shoulder? Really? I think you should get a job as an umpire, you could do as good a job at blowing calls as they do if that is how you saw that.

]]> By: Mark http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/02/a-harrowing-escape/comment-page-1/#comment-13224 Mark Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:07:51 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=578#comment-13224 If you watched the replay at all you would notice well before the ball got to him that he was pulling back and trying to get out of the way. Also, by the time the ball hit his hand the bat was way back by his back shoulder and his head was turned. Just because he put the bat out doesn't mean he offered. To offer you need to make an effort to hit the ball. All Victorino was doing was trying not to get hit in the face. If you watched the replay at all you would notice well before the ball got to him that he was pulling back and trying to get out of the way. Also, by the time the ball hit his hand the bat was way back by his back shoulder and his head was turned. Just because he put the bat out doesn’t mean he offered. To offer you need to make an effort to hit the ball. All Victorino was doing was trying not to get hit in the face.

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