Post by sharksrog on Jun 18, 2013 9:52:47 GMT -5
Three defensive plays over the last couple of games that seemed worthy of discussion:
. Max Venable's wonderful play in the bottom of the 12th saved the game for the Padres and was about as nice a catch as we will see. Max was pulled in to choke off the winning run on a base hit, and yet was able to get back nearly to the warning track.
. Andres Torres has just baffled with his defense this season. Back in 2010 I thought Andres played at a Gold Glove level on the other side of the ball. His arm isn't strong, but his range certainly was.
But this season he's lost balls in the sun or lights or moon and allowed base hits to get by him even on plays on which he should easily have been set. Baffling.
. On the bunt on which the winning run scored last night, Joaquin Arias inexplicably took a step toward third before breaking toward shortstop. He lost any chance he had of cutting off the run, and had to dive to field the ball, turning it into a hit.
The only thing I could figure was that Joaquin incorrectly thought he would have to cover third with the pitcher being able field the bunt.
. This is yet a fourth play, but Hector Sanchez didn't look like a great ball blocker the other night when a breaking ball just flat-out got by him. As they mentioned on TV, he may have been thrown off by thinking of getting up to throw to second as the runner on first was stealing.
A final note: Teams look worse when the pitching and defense falter than when the offense sputters, but neither is a particularly pretty sight.
. Max Venable's wonderful play in the bottom of the 12th saved the game for the Padres and was about as nice a catch as we will see. Max was pulled in to choke off the winning run on a base hit, and yet was able to get back nearly to the warning track.
. Andres Torres has just baffled with his defense this season. Back in 2010 I thought Andres played at a Gold Glove level on the other side of the ball. His arm isn't strong, but his range certainly was.
But this season he's lost balls in the sun or lights or moon and allowed base hits to get by him even on plays on which he should easily have been set. Baffling.
. On the bunt on which the winning run scored last night, Joaquin Arias inexplicably took a step toward third before breaking toward shortstop. He lost any chance he had of cutting off the run, and had to dive to field the ball, turning it into a hit.
The only thing I could figure was that Joaquin incorrectly thought he would have to cover third with the pitcher being able field the bunt.
. This is yet a fourth play, but Hector Sanchez didn't look like a great ball blocker the other night when a breaking ball just flat-out got by him. As they mentioned on TV, he may have been thrown off by thinking of getting up to throw to second as the runner on first was stealing.
A final note: Teams look worse when the pitching and defense falter than when the offense sputters, but neither is a particularly pretty sight.