Monday, April 19, 2004
Stupid Double Play Grounders
How sweet would it have been for me to see what by all accounts was a tremendous home run by Barry Bonds (aren't they all, though?) off of Eric Gagne? I heard Barry coved one the pitch before too.
But I'm very glad I missed Marquis Grissom's game-ending double play ground ball on Saturday. I probably would have thrown and broken something again. With Barry on deck, don't hit a goddamn double play ball that will end the game, goddammit.
I was unfortunate enough to have to see Feliz and Pierzynski hit two more inning-ending rally-killing double play grounders on Sunday. Guys, Barry can do almost everything, but one thing he can't do is bat right after he bats. He has to wait out eight subsequent batters before he can bat again. You guys need to pick up the slack and stop hitting rally-killers. The fewer double plays the Giants hit into, the better Barry's chances are of getting to the plate an extra time during a game. And since he's locked in right now, a Bonds AB is an invaluable resource.
I also question the wisdom of ever trying to steal a base with Bonds coming up later in the inning. If you're Felipe Alou and you see Ray Durham get on base to lead off an inning, what do you think a steal will accomplish. If he's thrown out, that's a baserunner that is no longer going to be there when Barry gets up. And if he steals, and the next two guys make outs, first base is open for Barry. Felipe, the more guys who are on base for Barry to hit with, the better. So don't have your boys steal. Not with Barry batting soon.
Unless, of course, you're trying to avoid an inning-ending, rally-killing double play.
But I'm very glad I missed Marquis Grissom's game-ending double play ground ball on Saturday. I probably would have thrown and broken something again. With Barry on deck, don't hit a goddamn double play ball that will end the game, goddammit.
I was unfortunate enough to have to see Feliz and Pierzynski hit two more inning-ending rally-killing double play grounders on Sunday. Guys, Barry can do almost everything, but one thing he can't do is bat right after he bats. He has to wait out eight subsequent batters before he can bat again. You guys need to pick up the slack and stop hitting rally-killers. The fewer double plays the Giants hit into, the better Barry's chances are of getting to the plate an extra time during a game. And since he's locked in right now, a Bonds AB is an invaluable resource.
I also question the wisdom of ever trying to steal a base with Bonds coming up later in the inning. If you're Felipe Alou and you see Ray Durham get on base to lead off an inning, what do you think a steal will accomplish. If he's thrown out, that's a baserunner that is no longer going to be there when Barry gets up. And if he steals, and the next two guys make outs, first base is open for Barry. Felipe, the more guys who are on base for Barry to hit with, the better. So don't have your boys steal. Not with Barry batting soon.
Unless, of course, you're trying to avoid an inning-ending, rally-killing double play.
