Dodgers get blunder struck on basepaths as Angels win again in Freeway Series - LA Daily News
One second, the Dodgers are celebrating what looks like a tying hit in the ninth inning. The next, Russell Martin is slamming his helmet to the ground after being tagged out before that run could score. So the Angels' mastery of the Dodgers continued Wednesday with a 2-1 victory at Angel Stadium and they can finish off this season's second three-game sweep of their rivals tonight. "I guess you see something new every day in the game," Angels starter Joel Pineiro said. "That's amazing." Pineiro (7-6) had pitched the Angels to their one-run lead and reliever Brian Fuentes was trying to put it away, but he wasn't making it easy. Pineiro gave up six hits and a run in the first three innings but that was it. "Early in the ballgame I was getting the ball up a little bit," Pineiro said. "And then after that I started to get the ball down and that's when the ground balls started to come." Pineiro retired 14 batters in a row before walking Andre Ethier with one out in the eighth inning. Kevin Frandsen, the Angels' hottest hitter, bounced a double over first base to open the fourth inning. He took third on a groundout then scored when Furcal, playing in with a runner on third, couldn't handle Torii Hunter's ground ball. Frandsen, delivering relief help while infielders Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis recover from injuries, has hit safely in 16 of his last 19 games and the Angels are 17-8 in games he has appeared this season.
Weird game, that's for sure, but I get the feeling the Angels got (and I hate to use the word...) lucky last night. I'm not too sure Fuentes didn't balk on his pick off of Kemp, Martin might have been safe on the play that ended the game, and the club is fortunate Reed Johnson didn't run full-speed. I'm not saying the Angels didn't deserve to win the game, they did just based on Pineiro's performance...and in spite of another Brian "I got the save so I must be pitching good" Fuentes lob-toss inning. Here are the highlights: Rivera throws behind runner, seals the win - Juan Rivera throws behind the runner on second following a single and gets the last out of a one-run game in the top of the ninth, Fuentes gets a huge pickoff in the ninth - Brian Fuentes gets a big out in the ninth inning of a one-run game by picking Matt Kemp off of second base, Frandsen scores on Furcal's fielding error - Kevin Frandsen scores a run on Rafael Furcal's fielding error, tying the game at 1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Napoli gets ball caught in webbing of glove - Mike Napoli makes a great stop on a hard ground ball by Andre Ethier, but the ball gets jammed in the webbing of his glove.
Dodgers-Angels Preview - 6/24/10 - FOX Sports on MSN
Offensive woes have plagued the Dodgers, as they've plated 15 runs while batting .164 with runners in scoring position during their skid. Breaking out of this funk against Scott Kazmir (7-5, 5.08 ERA) likely won't be easy. Kazmir has posted a 2.35 ERA in winning his four starts this month, yielding two runs or fewer in each outing. This stretch includes a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers on June 12, when the left-hander allowed two runs, three hits and four walks in five innings. The Dodgers counter with knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, who is expected to be activated from the disabled list. Haeger (0-4, 8.53) missed most of May while on the DL with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, and hasn't pitched since June 7 because of a sprained right toe. The right-hander recorded a 13.14 ERA in losing his last four starts for Los Angeles, but is coming off an encouraging rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque, throwing six scoreless innings Sunday.
Relief on the way... and Aybar still in a holding pattern - ESPN Los Angeles
Reliever Jason Bulger has been one of the Angels' steadiest relievers this year, and he could be close to helping them bridge the gap from the starters to closer Brian Fuentes again. Bulger has been playing catch without pain in his right shoulder and he said he could get back on a mound by Friday. If all goes well, he could return from the disabled list by next week.Shortstop Erick Aybar, meanwhile, has not engaged in any baseball activities since receiving a cortisone injection Tuesday. The Angels still haven't decided whether or not they'll put him on the DL.
Another interesting bullpen development could be happening with the performance of Daniel Cabrera (see link below).
Angels' Bobby Wilson doesn't make waves - latimes.com
There is credible evidence to support the rookie catcher — the Angels are 10-1 in his 11 starts, their pitchers combining for a 2.53 earned-run average in those games."I would like to think there is a correlation — the guys I've caught have pitched well," Wilson said. "But I don't want to look into it too much. The bottom line is to try to keep the team close to give the offense a chance."
An intriguing arm to keep an eye on at double-A Arkansas: Daniel Cabrera, a 6-9 right-hander who signed a minor league deal with the Angels in mid-June. Known for his blazing fastball and control problems, Cabrera had 674 strikeouts and 520 walks in 892 1/3 innings over six big league seasons, five with the Baltimore Orioles. The Angels are converting Cabrera to a reliever, and he has a 2.57 ERA in seven innings, with six strikeouts and three walks. "The arm strength is there," Scioscia said. "There are some delivery things we're looking at."
It's only been 7 innings, but how huge would a Cabrera transformation be to the Angels pen? Throw in a rejuvenated Scot Shields and the pen would be stocked with dominating relief...minus Fuentes.
The Baserunning Blunder In Anaheim - FanGraphs Baseball
We can clearly see in the video that he picks up his speed a little bit more than halfway between home and third. This one is pretty simple to me – Reed Johnson just didn’t run it out, and if he had, the Dodgers might still be playing in Anaheim.
Interesting analysis from FanGraphs (although the headline kind of bothers me). A lot of pictures, something I like.
Baseball ain't easy - The Orange County Register
The cliché has a special part in baseball history, and one of the best movies about the sports, "Bull Durham" devotes an entire scene to "taking it one game at a time."But when you ask a ball player what's the single hardest thing to do on the diamond, and the answers start to change.The clichés are replaced by thoughtful responses, highlighting some specific plays and some of the mental challenges of being a professional baseball player.
A good write-up by Dan Woike as he provides a unique look at some Angel players.
Plate discipline made Yankees' Robinson Cano a breakout player - Tom Verducci - SI.com
Is there another Robinson Cano in the majors right now -- a good, young hitter who can reach an elite level by "learning" better plate discipline? Chances are, given that most patient hitters are born and not made, the answer is no. But here are four candidates who could be the next breakout hitter like Cano, if they improve their plate discipline:3. Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels. Kendrick posted a .403 OBP in the minors, but that was more a function of a ridiculously high batting average (.360) than it was command of the strike zone. In the majors, he is "only" a .297 hitter and his OBP is an unacceptable .328. Kendrick has drawn just 52 unintentional walks in 1,692 plate appearances. Without the abilities to draw walks and hit for power, Kendrick is a below-average player.
Howie Kendrick may win a batting title one day. You heard it here first.
Report says Valentine is Marlins' choice - CBSSports.com
Could Bobby Valentine be the Marlins manager by next week? The New York Daily News ' Mark Feinsand cites an anonymous source saying Florida owner Jeffrey Loria has already settled on the former Mets manager. Feinsand cites a source "with knowledge of the Marlins' thinking." "I'd say it's about 95 percent that it will be Valentine," the mysterious source told Feinsand. "Loria has already told him he's his guy." It would make sense, Valentine is reportedly friends with Loria and as soon as Fredi Gonzalez was fired, Valentine pulled his name from consideration for the Orioles' position.
Loria's expectations for the Marlins are too high - FOX Sports on MSN
It was Loria — not Gonzalez, not president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest — who set ridiculous expectations for this team in spring training, saying he expected to make the playoffs and proclaiming, “We’ve got all the ammunition we need.” All the ammunition that the Marlins could buy with their $57 million Opening Day payroll, the fifth lowest in the majors — and remember, it took union intervention to ensure that the Marlins spent that much. So now Gonzalez is gone, despite increasing the Marlins’ win total from 71 to 84 to 87 in his three full seasons. Gone, too, are bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley — the latter even though the Marlins rank fourth in the NL in runs per game, with shortstop Hanley Ramirez performing below his usual levels.
At least he didn't hire someone to send positive energy to his team through the television.
New Strasburg rookie-card auction goes north of $100,000 - Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports
If you click on over to eBay, you'll find that the Stephen Strasburg "Red Autograph" 2010 Bowman card has received 142 bids and is currently scheduled to sell for $101,000. But the auction doesn't end until next Monday, so that eye-popping price will likely soar higher.
When I posted this article, the price was already up to $113,201. Oh, and the other Strasburg card that recently sold on ebay is back up for auction and is at $21,200.
Bugs & Cranks » Does Somebody Have a Case of the Grumpies?
But back to the story, Fielder was hit by a Brian Duensing pitch that glanced off of his right hand, to which the linebacker first baseman dropped his bat and stared off into the seats behind the plate, as if to calm himself. Fielder then took a peek into the Twins dugout before offering a bit of a stare toward Minnesota’s reliever.
Typical write-up, right? This post goes on to talk about intensity and game situation, but then this happens...
Get the chip off your shoulder, and get your big ass out of the way when the ball is coming at you. No one is trying to send a message to your Jerome Bettis-lookin’ ass, they’re all scared of you, not just because you are the size of a small car, but because you clearly can’t control your discontent in any baseball-related situation, and half the time are in possession of a blunt object. How ’bout this, concentrate on getting the ol’ average above .260 and reach 30 RBI on the year, and then worry about who may or may not be throwing at you, your majesty.
Holy crap, does someone have a case of the grumpies? Dislike fat ballplayers? Milwaukee Brewers? Geez, it's not like Fielder did anything other than look around and then trot down to first base.
I stumbled upon this blog/website yesterday and found this awesome baseball comic (and other cool stuff): The Senators' Last Stand.
June 24 - BR Bullpen
1964 - University of Wisconsin star slugger Rick Reichardt signs with the Angels. He receives the biggest bonus to that point, an estimated $200,000. The signing is one reason that the amateur draft is put into place to try to level the playing field and hold the line on bonuses.
1972 - Culminating a long battle to reach pro baseball, Bernice Gera umpires the first game of a doubleheader between Auburn and Geneva (New York-Pennsylvania League). Several disputes take place and she ejects the Auburn manager, Nolan Campbell. Gera resigns before the 2nd game, leaving in tears, saying resentment from the other umps was a factor in her decision. She will later work in the Mets PR department. (insert "there's no crying in baseball" quote here...oh, wait, I just did)
1983 - Milwaukee's Don Sutton strikes out Alan Bannister in the 8th inning of a 3 - 2 win over Cleveland to become the 8th pitcher in ML history with 3,000 career strikeouts. County Stadium is packed with 46,037 fans for the game, mostly to welcome back popular OF Gorman Thomas, who was traded to Cleveland earlier this month. (Sorry, but any time Alan Bannister is mentioned it gets posted here...even when he strikes out)
1999 - The Angels defeat the Mariners, 12 - 7, as 2B Randy Velarde and DH Mo Vaughn both go 5-for-6. Velarde homers and drives home four runs, while Vaughn homers twice and brings home 6.
2009 - Vladimir Guerrero hits his first home run since April 12 in Los Angeles' 11 - 3 win over the Colorado Rockies, who lose their second straight after winning 17 of their previous 18 games. Guerrero and Bobby Abreu drive in 3 runs each for the Angels and Joe Saunders picks up the win while Jason Marquis fails in his bid to become the majors' first 10-game winner.
Happy b-day:
1971 - Chip Glass, minor league outfielder (one of the best baseball names ever)
One day, we'll write sonnets about Joel Pineiro:
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| Game Information |
| Attendance - 41001 |
| Game Time - 2:31 |
| Temperature - 71 |
| Umpires - Home - Mike DiMuro, First Base - Tim Welke, Second Base - Jim Reynolds, Third Base - Bill Welke |
0 recs | 62 comments
Scioscia must've signed a deal with the devil
Something like “you and your family will live long, prosperous and healthy lives, as long as you keep Fuentes as the closer for the Angels.”
Slyintine - June 24, 2010
I'm not so sure Bulger will help.
If he keeps allowing 1/2 of his inherited runners to score, he won’t be very relieving.
Rally Manatee - June 24, 2010
I saw haeger pitch a rehab start against the quakes a couple weeks back
He got completely shelled by our A ball guys, I cant wait to see what the major leaguers do against him.
As for why fuentes is the closer, he’s the closer because he is the closer so of course he is the closer because that is just what he is. How could you even question it?
Balls and Strikes - June 24, 2010
And the first rule of tautology club is the first rule of tautology club.
http://xkcd.com/703/
red floyd - June 24, 2010
rec'd
for the xkcd link!
raskul - June 24, 2010
Oh Foo-when-tays
This season in 19.1IP, he’s given up 20 hits, 12 ER’s, 5HR, 9BB, and has 3 blown saves to go along with his 1.50 WHIP.
For someone making $9 million dollars and pitching for a living in high pressure situations, this just isn’t going to get it done right now.
He has 12 saves on the season but for some reason, I can’t really remember any of them. I just remember the ones that gave me heart burn. I guess what the say is right. You only remember the firsts, the best, and all the red heads.
RexTookMyStash - June 24, 2010
Yes, that WAS a balk
Memories of Kevin Malone has a good animated GIF that proves it. Fuentes’ knee was up; he had to deliver the ball, but instead spun to pick off Kemp.
scareduck - June 24, 2010
THANK YOU!
I was about to start a thread on this idea.
The balk rule is one which is rarely well-understood by the fans (I don’t claim thorough understanding), but in reviewing the video, Fuentes’ leg began to travel towards the plate because he had to bunny-hop on the rubber to turn to 2B and throw.
On the one hand, Torre didn’t run out and protest, nor did the ever-combustible Larry Bowa, nor did Kemp (though he was probably looking for the tunnel which went directly from 2B to the visitor’s clubhouse). None of the umps seemed to have any interest in that call
On the other hand, on MLB Network, both Harold Reynolds and (former SP) Joe Magrane said, without hesitation or equivocation, that Fuentes had balked. They made that statement while viewing in real-time, then reinforced the call when seeing the replays.
So did the Angels catch a break? I know we’re the luckiest team in baseball, but was that just one more example?
[As an aside, what does it take to get Torre out of the dugout to argue? He seems even more serene than Scioscia during the game.]
George Kaplan - June 24, 2010
Yeah, I'd like to get a further explanation on this one...
It seems like the leg went up, without any forward motion home, then swept back to 2B.
clover_black - June 24, 2010
If that wasn't a balk, I'll never understand the rule
Even though the Angels came out ahead, last night’s game is now just another example of my mounting frustration with the game of baseball: the officiating is terrible. Old-timey baseball folks give the umpires credit for getting “most” of the calls right. I think those were the words Selig used a little while ago. Really? I get “most” of the calls right just watching from my couch. “Most” of the calls are obvious. Umps get paid to make the non-obvious calls, and when it comes to really close plays, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that they are any better than a coin toss. And then they’ll go and mess up even the obvious calls like Fuentes’s balk from time to time.
Being flawed is one thing. I can’t get too upset about umpires being limited by the flaws of human perception. I can get upset about the official replay policy, but we’ve already had that debate (again) recently. What most pisses me off about umpires is the attitude. They all have their heads stuck so far up their asses that they can’t ever ask for help. How often do the umps get together to talk about something? Almost never. The guy who made the call just won’t permit the “sign of weakness” or whatever dumbass stigma the officials have against reconsidering their actions. Coaches will get in their faces and yell, but the umpire will just sit there like Buddha and delay the game instead of just asking his colleague who maybe had a better angle on the play. But even that might not help, since every umpire knows not to challenge another umpire’s air of infallibility.
This has nothing to do with the rulebook and everything to do with the culture. And it won’t change so long as the rest of baseball culture continues to respect the umpires’ attitude.
Suboptimal - June 24, 2010
I agree with most of what you said, but as an "Old-timey baseball folk"
I have noticed how often it is that a blown call by an umpire is so often his positioning viewing the play. We see the obvious bad call on instant replay (in slow motion) most often from an infield view looking toward the base and the infield position player and base runner are clearly visible to our eyes. The umpire has to be positioned behind the base and the players making it impossible to see everything that is going on. These calls more often than not go bad because the players involved in the play have their backs to the umpire. For the umpire to see everything he would have to be positioned on the infield side of the bag and have a chance of interfering in the play.
44FAN - June 24, 2010
Wow, you kind of are way off base, Suboptimal...
Read “As They See Em’” by Bruce Weber. He spent two years(2006-2008) talking and watching umpires from Single A to the majors. He also even went through one of the two umpire schools that ALL umpires go to.
Some things that are complete contrary to your statements above include…
Im not trying to be an umpire apologetic here, I agree that there are often really, really bad calls. However, I think a lot of times we are graced with ability to watch shit in slow motion over and over again and pick apart every detail. Both the calls last night that went in the angels favor were SUPER close. And if you watch it at the speed of the game, then they look like they could have gone either way…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
Rec'd
As a new fan to baseball, this post is awesome. I’ve also been a fan of hockey for a long time and your fourth bullet point (ooo shiny bullet points in a comment!) is spot on in any sport. A ref will never overturn a call no matter how bad it is (outside replay of course) or you’ll just have every whiny coach saying that the call they think sucked should be called back.
Baseball officiating is probably the worst of professional sports, but until more instant replay gets instituted I don’t see it changing. Baseball is just too quick and precise to get accurate calls. It’s not like calling a hooking penalty or lane violation. It comes down to milliseconds and on top of all that there are tons of subjective calls. Umps also have to make calls from terrible positioning and from further away from the play (like outfield catches/etc).
haloduck - June 24, 2010
That's the point
In my job, I genuinely appreciate it when someone catches my mistakes. Would you drive over a bridge built by engineers who never checked each other or fly on a plane if the co-pilot never questioned the captain? Yes, baseball is different from those things because lives are not at stake. But is that really a justifiable excuse? Professional sports is not just a game. The outcome of a game can affect millions of people emotionally, not to mention the potential revenue on the line for the organization.
I take issue with the fact that umpires act like selfish individuals on the field instead of as a team. It’s a sham intended to disguise the fact that they are wrong more often than they want to admit. If their skills and training weren’t valued as irreplaceable, they would lose their bargaining power as a union. And as long as they are human, they will be replaceable.
Umpires cannot reliably judge events that take place within the margin of human reaction time because no one can. A coin is just as accurate, yet everyone pretends otherwise. I just don’t see how that makes anyone feel better.
Suboptimal - June 24, 2010
A couple things...
In 1999, they pretty much did lose their bargaining power as a union. This lead to 22 veteran MLB umpires losing their jobs permanently. If you read up on the history, the umpires union has dissolved and re-formed in various ways over the past 20 years, mostly at the cost of the umpires and not so much major league baseball.
I agree with your first point and actually, the umpires are constantly checked on their performance…thus the computer read-outs of balls and strikes. In the minor leagues its worse. Its highly competitive and umpires who have been working the minors for 10+ years are often dismissed completely if they fail to perform up to standards. It just doesn’t happen ON the field. Which I think makes sense but that is a point we can dispute til the cows come home….
Also, your last point doesn’t actually make much sense. They aren’t acting as individuals but as a 4 men united. If they were acting as individuals then discrepancies would arise ON-field BETWEEN umpires much more often.
Suboptimal, as a baseball fan I think you would really find Weber’s book fascinating. You write a lot of intelligent comments and posts on HH…I think Weber’s book would only serve as added fodder to your baseball knowledge regardless of your opinions of umps.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
although the officiating in the NBA can be awful,
every now and again you will see one ref run over and overturn another ref’s call. usually its on a play where the ball goes out of bounds, and the ref’s try to make the right call on who the ball went off of. This seems to be the only case that I can think of where one ref overturns another’s call without being asked.
also, in the NBA ref’s will miss a call and shrug their arms looking at the other refs to see if they saw the play and can make the call, even though they were closer. if the umps in baseball would admit that they couldn’t see a play due to a tough angle and seeked out help from their counterparts, maybe a lot of these calls wouldn’t be missed. the problem is that they are unwilling to admit that they couldn’t see it and make an accurate call.
like I said, the refs in the NBA are awful, but it seems they are the only ones who have no problem asking for help, or correcting one another when the moment warrants it.
2pintsofbooze - June 24, 2010
Irony
I’ve read, and I can’t remember where, that MLB umpires actually support the expanded use of replay, in that it takes some of the heat off them if they blow a call. Plus, adding a replay umpire up in the booth creates more jobs, and therefore more dues-paying union members.
jjackflash - June 24, 2010
the leg can go up...
No part of you can commit to home. Once you make a motion towards home you have to continue with the pitch or its a balk. Watching it at the speed which is happened, I think its hard to say whether it was a balk. Sure we can slow stuff down to the milisecond and pick it apart but it was a close call, indeed.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
Fangraphs has been all over this today.
Second by second photos, descriptions, diagrams of the playing field ect. Two major articles written on the Fuentes pick off move and the Rivera throw in the ninth.
44FAN - June 24, 2010
yeah, im not convinced....
I read all of them but .the angles are wonky, though. It looks like Fuentes is moving towards second, too. Also, if you watch the replay in full-speed, his motion is a bit different than it normally is. Plus, that rule is almost never applied.
Think about lefties who pick guys off at first. Go into the motion but instead of stepping towards home, the step towards first. Thats essentially what Fuentes did, only it was towards second.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
Knowing Fangraphs, I think their aim was to prove it was a balk with their flashy
graphics and pumped up anal-ysis to prove how bad umpires are at umpiring by not calling it a balk in the first place.
44FAN - June 24, 2010
right, Fangraphs is popular more because of promotion....
and not necessarily because of their analysis. Just because these guys work wonders with Adobe Flash isn’t enough to make me trust what they say…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
From what I saw
He did a little hopping manuever to make his way around, which caused his leg to come up and then move forward slightly. From the rules, anything which can be construed as a move toward the plate but which do not result in a pitch is a balk.
As stated before, none of the Dodgers present bothered to protest, so maybe it really is nothing. Had it been a Dodger play, however, I am sure Scioscia would have been all over that.
From the Olympus-like heights in Ft Lee, NJ, Joe Magrane said immediately that the play was a balk, and it sure seemed that way to me. Replays haven’t provided an alternative which is obvious.
George Kaplan - June 24, 2010
yeah, I agree...
Replays haven’t shown that it wasn’t a balk but on the other hand, I haven’t seen anything entirely convincing that it WAS either.
Which means it must of been a really close play and hard to call.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
that didnt prove anything...
To me, Fuentes lifts his left straight up and then puts it straight down. His front foot doesnt seem to make any motion towards home. Seriously, do it right now at home. That is totally a legal, non-balk move. If the leg made a motion towards home then its a balk but I think he kept it rigid…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
I agree with you
i think it was very close to a balk, but it looks legal.
howiestheman - June 24, 2010
Why isn't Fuentes the situational lefty?
Is it because he’s proven how great he is as the closer? Look to that no-pressure Cubs game where we got blown out to see how bad Fuentes can pitch when not closing. There’s proof right there that he has to be in the 9th or he’s just terrible. Otherwise, he’s aces!
ugh.
daze - June 24, 2010
When was the last time Scioscia had a lefty specialist?
For whatever reason, he doesn’t use them, and I’m not sure it’s going to be any different with Fuentes.
~MMP~ - June 24, 2010
If Fuentes goes 1,2,3
my head will explode.
clover_black - June 24, 2010
The world will end
Haqs he ever been 1-2-3 while in a Halo uniform? Just a thought
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - June 24, 2010
Has*
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - June 24, 2010
yes
RexTookMyStash - June 24, 2010
He did it like a week and a half ago in Oakland.
~MMP~ - June 24, 2010
Fuentes and 1-2-3 as an Angel
Number of Times Fuentes has had a 1-2-3 inning
2010: Six
2009: Sixteen
Fan Since 1981 - June 24, 2010
He did go 1-2-3
To finish off the Red Sox last year.
RallyMonkey5 - June 24, 2010
contract extension
clover_black - June 24, 2010
Eff that
HALL OF FAME!
Commander_Nate - June 24, 2010
You know, I dislike Fuentes like the rest of you...
but Frankie rarely went 1,2,3 either…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - June 24, 2010
Martin was out
Higz - June 24, 2010
Not really, no.
PhiSlamma - June 24, 2010
When they say that the Angeles are a lucky team, I tend to agree with them when Fuentes picks up a save.
Halo84653 - June 24, 2010
Gosh, WiHaloFan, I would think you of all people would get it by now. :)
When the Angels are not scoring a lot of runs to win a game Scioscia finds other ways to win. One of those classic ways is keeping constant pressure on the opposing team. Scioscia was awake and doing his job last night and called that pick-off move Fuentes made to second base. Fuentes is heroic for pulling that off. Rivera and all the other players on the team are trained to pay attention to what is going on on the field of play and execute fundamental plays successfully. This allows Angels players to keep pressure on the other team and take advantage of their mistakes. Juan Rivera was heroic last night for his heads up play.
This is one of the reasons why Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball while managers like Joe Torre and Lou Pinella snooze in the dugout and lose to the Angels and Scioscia most of the time. There were close calls that went our way for a change in the game but the way the Angels played was not luck. I study every match this team.
44FAN - June 24, 2010
I study every match this team.
luminous.
clover_black - June 24, 2010
Can anyone define "pressure"?
People say it a lot, but I still have no idea what it means. It seems to only apply when something works out in the Angels’ favor. I’ve never heard the broadcasters say that the Angels were pressured when they’ve made a mistake.
Suboptimal - June 24, 2010
Its typical sosh nuthuggary.
Juan Rivera didn’t make that throw to 2B. sosh willed him with his magical jesus power of constant pressure.
Fact of the matter, you could have put a banana in the dugout as manager for the 9th, and the same exact events would have unfolded.
clover_black - June 24, 2010
Is this a joke?
Did Sosh not call the pickoff?
haloduck - June 24, 2010
source on sosh calling the pickoff?
if true, he’s one up on a banana.
clover_black - June 24, 2010
If he didn't
how did Howie know to be there right then? He’s not normally moving directly to the base as the pitcher’s windup begins.
LAASurfin - June 24, 2010
He may have called a pickoff
But he didn’t call for a balk that slipped by the umpires.
Suboptimal - June 24, 2010
Who cares if it was a balk
we won!
ryanfea - June 24, 2010
If there was a banana in the dugout the exact same events would NOT have unfolded
Because:
1) Someone would have slipped on the banana and end up on the DL
or
2) The banana would have been eaten and the subsequent food poisoning would have sent somebody to the DL
or
3) Pat Burrell would have gotten a hold of the banana and …(nevermind)
Fan Since 1981 - June 24, 2010
To be honest, I have
I’ve heard it mentioned by various announcers for and against the Angels and other teams. Mainly it’s in reference to moving, speedy baserunners causing defenders to divide their attention and make mistakes.
Commander_Nate - June 24, 2010
Well said.
I would add the Scioscia mantra of running first to third on a single, constantly taking the gamble to steal a base against the other team to advance the runner hoping they will make a mistake throwing, players being able to put down an accurate bunt, squeeze plays, double steals, not any one of these things, but the combination of all of it all the time. Base runners are the weapons of the Soth.
44FAN - June 24, 2010
Man I lovee beating the Dodgers, if we could sweep the dodger’s this year, I would be almost as happy as beating the Yanks/Sox in the ALCS this year
robi s - June 24, 2010
Fuentes is the closer...
I actually have no idea why, but maybe Scioscia realizes that it’s not the most important role in the bp? Seriously, he’s been bad for his entire Angels tenure now, but how many games has he actually cost us? He would have cost us more games pitching more innings in earlier on in tighter games…
That being said, I still think Fuentes best role at this point is as a left-handed specialist (He should face primarily lefties). He would actually be an asset in that role. Wouldn’t mind seeing Rodney closing games. Guy isn’t very good, but he’s had experience and like I said before, the closer is not the most important role in the bullpen.
Spird - June 24, 2010
agree that closers are not the most important role in the pen at least in Soth's pen
The market however rewards closers not set up guys. I find that interesting. To me, the great Angels’ pen of a few years ago was anchored by Shields and not KRod. But KRod gets the big pay day. In particular, Soth uses the closer almost exclusively to start an inning with nobody on base. It’s the guy that comes in with runners on base in a tight run game in Soth’s system who should be rewarded financially not the closer. To me this is Jepsen’s role to inherit from Shields.
tanana40 - June 24, 2010
Fuentes Declining Fastball Velocity
A steady decline in Fuentes’ fastball since 2008. Why is this happening?
Is he hurt?
Is this related to age? (He turns 35 this year)
Has he changed his delivery since being with the Rockies?
source
Fan Since 1981 - June 24, 2010
Telling
I’ve been looking at this too.
The only explanation I can think of is that, as (successful) pitchers age, they tend to replace raw speed/power with movement/deception/guile. I see no indication that F-word is doing so.
LAASurfin - June 24, 2010
He has had various shoulder problems during his career.
44FAN - June 24, 2010
Not a "steady decline" but instead a sudden drop-off during Winter 2008/2009.
it appears that the data so far from 2010 mirrors the “beginning 2009” data. I don’t read too much into it other than 2009 and 2010 are vastly different than 2008.
Downing Rules - June 24, 2010
hey
isn’t that the S&P 500 over the past month?
Rev Halofan - June 24, 2010
Mostly just
my shares.
LAASurfin - June 24, 2010
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