Base-running Blunders
by Vacafan on Apr 8, 2007 6:57 AM PDT
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PrintI would have included this in last night's game recap, but since I haven't seen one yet, I just needed to get this off my chest.
Look, I'm all for the A's being more aggressive on the base-paths. Like several of the players said, I think it will serve us well in the long-run. Put the pressure on the other team's D and make them throw you out once or twice a game -- sometimes you'll get burned, but more often than not, you'll manufacture a win or two a week this way.
But, for goodness sakes, don't stop being aggressive when you're being aggressive!! When Chavez got caught in that rundown last night, (bad mistake, but they happen) what the *&%$ was Swisher doing??!! I was listening to the game on satellite radio, and when Chavez got thrown out, I said to myself, "Well, at least Swish got over to second, and he can score on a hit, now." Then, when Buck singled, I figured "tie game," only to then discover, of course, that for some unbelievably ridiculous reason, Swisher never advanced!!!!
Is there something I'm missing?! What the heck was our first-base coach doing?! Like I said, if we're gonna be more aggressive, great ... but everyone has to take their heads out and stop acting like you've never been taught fundamentals, or it will never work.
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I agree about Swisher
Drift off 1st, as soon as a throw leaves a fielder's hand in the run-down, take off for 2nd -- it's almost impossible for them to get both the lead and trailing runner on that play, and one of them will end up in scoring position (both if you're lucky).
As it happens, however, Buck's hit only got through because Kotchman was holding Swisher at 1st. If Swish had moved up to 2nd on the play, that grounder would have been an easy 3-1 put-out. Not that that excuses the baserunning screw-up.
Thanks
Knowing that the Buck hit would have been an out, makes me feel a little better at least.
But you're right -- no excuse for not advancing when someone in front of you is caught in a run-down. No excuse.
i dont use that reasoning
i feel buck would have been inspired by the great swisher baserunning and hit a homer. DAMN YOU SWISHER!!!!
by OAKobsession on Apr 8, 2007 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
And then he would have circled the bases
on his pony.
Yay, pony!!!
-Cindi.
Chavy had a rough nite ..
.. baserunning blunder plus GIDP on one pitch from Shields in the ninth, when they should have known Shields was tired {or should be, having pitched in almost every game the Angels have played}. I don't know which was worse, but I think the GIDP on one pitch was as much mental as the baserunning gaffe .. everyone has bad games but Chavy just didn't seem to have his head into the game last nite ..
by Randy Bell on Apr 8, 2007 7:11 AM PDT reply actions
Also, with the count 2-0 on Ellis,
you hardly wanted Ellis to be forced to bunt at anything, so why was Chavy so aggressively taking a secondary lead that would backfire if Ellis took the pitch, let alone missed it? That's not aggressive baserunning (which I like), it's just bad baserunning (which I don't).
Have to agree
That if we are to compete this year we need to be aggressive and I love it. Hopefully because it is still early in the season these little mistakes will dissappear when we're playing in the World Series!!! I gotta back my boys!! We will be there........I just didn't say which year...lol
by opiewannabe on Apr 8, 2007 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
When you spend as long as Chavey has
not being aggressive and you're suddenly being asked to be, you're going to make mistakes like he did. Let's hope he (and the rest of the team) are quick learners and that Geren remains patient with them because this is something that will pay big time in the long term.
I kind of see it the opposite way, actually:
High school, college, minor leagues, and major leagues have offered Chavy a couple decades to refine the art of "taking a secondary lead in a bunting situation". It's not a new concept and so I don't excuse Chavy for the blunder on the "we're not used to bunting, we're not used to taking secondary leads" argument. He just screwed up; it happens.
Agreed, plus the GIDP on one pitch ..
(in the 9th, with a tired Shields on the mound) - could also be characterized, at least in part, as a "mental error", imho .. Chavy just didn't seem to have his head in the game, and as you say, it happens. I also don't understand why Swisher did not get to 2nd base while Chavez was in the rundown; terrible base-running on both ends!
by Randy Bell on Apr 8, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree on the DP
I think his head isn't 100% in the game right now and that bothers me a little. Last year Perry had him in spring training using his normal batting stance and he did well coming out of the gate. This year he went back to toying with it all spring and he looks slow and lost. Whatever it is, I expect him to turn it around quickly.
Have you ever done something
for the first time in a long time? Professional or not, there's going to be a learning curve. He has to rid himself of all the rust. Is it expected that he should know what he's doing? Absolutely. Does that mean he does? Nope. He did "just screwed up" and yes "it happens". But I'm anticipating that it'll happen a few more times until it sorts itself out. Because he is a professional, it'll happen fast. And as much I yelled at Chavey for doing it, I can understand how it happens.
Leave my love life out of this
I saw a quick replay on Ellis' bunt attempt
and while the angle wasn't that good, it could be that, for a few seconds, Chavez mistakenly thought Ellis had bunted the ball. It was up high, and Chavvy might have lost sight of the ball, and figured "The bunt is down... ooops, no it's not!!"
...and, hung out to dry!
Cannot figure out Swisher still at first!
by One won lost won on Apr 8, 2007 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm not as mad at Chavez
(believe it or not) ... I'm just wondering what Swisher was doing over there while Chavez was running back and forth between second and third.
What was the base coach doing?! "Hey, um, Nick, I don't know ... but while those guys are goofing off over on the other side of the field, go ahead and WALK over to second if you want."
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