May 15 Players of the Game

[gohlkus]

Despite the italics in the box score, I would nominate Paul from our team -- not that Will had a bad game, but the 4 RBI to me outweigh the one extra run and hit. Paul was playing injured and did good work in the field (and yeoman's work behind the plate) as well.

Ken for POTG for sure (darn it, play poorly when you're not on my team!).

After the game, Nick and Scott nominated the play where Rich crawled back to 3rd as a web gem -- I didn't see it, so I couldn't vote. One more vote and Rich gets a web gem. (Description, Nick or Scott?) If not, then we had a game without a web gem, which sounds about right to me.

Scott, what the hell happened to Gibbs? In a previous post you claimed he would be there.

[tallguy]

Wow, my team really had a bad day collectively if I can get this nomination going 2/5!

[Baseball=Life]

Yeah, on the play Nick & I were talking about, There were runners on 1st & 2nd. A ground ball was hit to third base and Rich made a pretty average stop, out near the edge of the infield. But Ryan was coming to third hard from second, so Rich had to sprint to the third base bag and then he even had to dive headfirst and touch the 3rd base bag for the force with his outstretched glove. Due to the hustle and the willingness to sacrifice his body, I think Rich deserves a WebGem for that play.

But, like Jason said, we need another who remembers the play and agrees before it can be called a WebGem. So, does anyone else recall this and agree?

" -For a defensive play to become an offical Web-Gem (i.e. great play), it must be first nominated by a player other than the player who made the play. After a play receives a nomination, 3 other players must vocally support the nomination. At that point, the player who made the defensive play will receive a Web-Gem."

As for player of the game, yes, Ken for the winning team (honorable mention to myself for 5 hits & 4 runs scored). For the other team, it was a close call between Will & Paul. I gave it to Will because he had 2 extra base hits, scored another run than Paul, and went 3/5 instead of Paul's 2/5. Plus Will made some nice catches in LF, including robbing me on a liner down the left field line in the 2nd inning. But I see what you're saying Jason, it really is a toss up between the two of them (honorable mention Jason for going 4/5 with 2 doubles... who knows how many RBI's you would've gotten if higher in the lineup).

Oh, and Gibbs flaked because his fiance was really sick so he had to stay with her.

[tallguy]

I was coaching 3rd on that play, saw it transpire exactly as you described it, Scott. A Gem it is.

[gohlkus]

Well, we kind of did have a bad day collectively, didn't we...? Scoring 10 isn't really that great. We didn't score in 4 out of the last 5 innings or something. Yecch.

[TheLegend]

i remember the play in question... but don't remember the details. There were two outs, correct? If it was a simple play (as someone said it was) wouldn't the third out (at first, or second) have been a routine play?

Not to say that it wasn't a hell of an effort, just doesn't seem gem worthy to me...


my 2 euros

[gohlkus]

Doesn't matter, Paul makes 3... it goes down in history as a gem despite Ken's negativity.

[TheLegend]

i'm just sayin... gosh...

[TheLegend]

and it's more like jealousy than negativity 8-p

I want more gems damnit!

[gohlkus]

I would like to see you get more gems as well, Ken. You've been playing a rather low-profile, low-reward position recently. It can be tough to get gems at catcher when your teammates won't throw you the ball.

[TheLegend]

That reminds me... If I'm calling for the throw home, throw the goddamned ball home! Even if the throw is going to be late, I want a throw whenever it's going to be close to being close. Keep in mind that I (and any other experienced catcher) can sometimes turn a late throw into an out.

[Baseball=Life]

Unless, of course, there is a runner on 1st that can go to 2nd on the throw home. Not every potential play at the plate deserves a throw, at least not until we get our infielders accustomed to listening to the catcher say "cut!" and then cutting off that incoming throw, thus stopping runners from advancing to 2nd. Once infielders (P, 1B, 3B, SS, 2B) are more ready to get into position, listen for the catcher's instructions, and then comply, then I say outfielders should always go for that throw home when you hear "4!" or "home!" So let's make it a priority with runners in scoring position to inform infielders that they'll either a) be covering 2nd or 3rd; b) positioning themselves as the cutoff/relay man in the shallow outfield; or c) positioning themselves and listening to the catcher so they can cutoff a throw from an outfielder all the way home.

If someone can make these options more clear, please feel free to edit and re-post. Maybe it's time we get the strategy index going for the infielders. Or, hey Jason, maybe we could have those strategy indices made into sticky threads so they remain prominent.

PS: Ken, you know I'll always go for that play at the plate, since I love nailing people at home.

[TheLegend]

I should get back to those... There's been so much other stuff to talk about! I'll try and do one this week.

[retep]

I nearly cut a guy down at home, and the throw was right on... untill it hit the ground and took a 90 degree turn!

[Baseball=Life]

Yeah, I almost nailed someone (Paul on his first ITP HR?) at home early in the game... The throw was right on (correct me if that's not true, Ken), but just a bit late. I was in RF, and not that shallow. This was very early in the game.