Josh Harrison had an infield double in today’s game (click on the link to view the video). Below is a screen cap at the exact point that Harrison takes off for 2nd base.
The ball was hit into the hole and Castro threw to 1st. Darwin Barney raced behind the bag to back it up and was in foul territory as Harrison took off for 2nd. The question here is this: whose responsibility is it to cover 2nd base? It’s not exactly clear. Barney can’t possibly do it as he’s backing up 1st. That leaves Starlin Castro, Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Dempster. None of them are paying any attention at all, but Castro is over there kicking dirt, which is the same thing Ramirez is doing. Castro was clearly capable of covering 2nd base, or at least heading back in that direction after throwing it to 1st. That would have kept Harrison at 1st base. You usually don’t see a pitcher cover 2nd base. A 3rd baseman will on a shift and Ramirez undoubtedly should have been paying more attention, but when you vacate your base as Castro did, you have to pay attention and make sure someone is there. If someone isn’t, you need to get there yourself.
There’s probably some blame to go around between Ramirez, Dempster and Castro, but the bulk of it has to fall on Castro on this particular play. I’m curious what Mike Quade said about this, if anything. All I really know is that it’s not often you see an entire infield not paying attention to the runner. Usually on plays like this one of them is yelling at someone else (like Jeff Samarzija did not long ago).
Unpossible. Castro’s momentum is entirely moving away from the play. He cannot be counted on to be the guy to cover 2nd. The only blame you can give to Castro is that he didn’t cover 2nd AFTER it was apparent Barney vacated his position.
Barney should have never been in foul territory to end the play. That would have been where Reed Johnson in RF should have ended up.
It’s all Aramis’ fault. Starlin is simply following his lead.
On a more serious note: since Pena had the ball, couldn’t he have stayed close to first base to prevent the runner from advancing?
Q thinks it should have been Castro covering second.
[quote name=ACT]Q thinks it should have been Castro covering second.[/quote]Yeah, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.
Chris, Barney’s momentum took him well into foul territory. Castro doesn’t have to run back to 2nd, but he at least need to be heading in that direction and not looking down.
Look, I don’t care. These things happen. It’s not a big deal, but Castro is standing there, kicking dirt and even if he took off right then he gets to 2nd before Harrison does.
[quote name=Chris Dickerson]Unpossible. Castro’s momentum is entirely moving away from the play. He cannot be counted on to be the guy to cover 2nd. The only blame you can give to Castro is that he didn’t cover 2nd AFTER it was apparent Barney vacated his position.
Barney should have never been in foul territory to end the play. That would have been where Reed Johnson in RF should have ended up.[/quote]No, 2nd basemen back up the throw to 1st on plays to that side of the infield. Yeah, Reed Johnson should have been coming in as well, but you often see the 2nd baseman field a ball that gets past the 1st baseman. Even when the pitcher throws a ball by the 1st baseman on a pickoff move the 2nd baseman immediately goes in that direction and often fields the ball. Same thing with catcher’s trying to pick guys off at 1st. Barney did the right thing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14770359
Curt Schilling is a big fan of advanced metrics: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6920942&categoryid=2378529_
I also agree that pitchers should not win the MVP. They have the Cy Young.
I was wondering about the Barney cover because I’ve seen lots of 2B do that when the SS is way deep in the hole (TWSS) and there are no men on base. I figured a version of the “wheel” would be in effect where Castro needed to run back after the throw and cover 2B. Barring that, somebody should’ve been at least headed in the direction of 2B.
I think the C is supposed to back up overthrows to first as well. I never really thought about the RF as a backup because they’re just so far away from the action.
[quote name=mb21]Curt Schilling is a big fan of advanced metrics: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6920942&categoryid=2378529_/quoteI get annoyed when people talk about WAR without saying which implementation of WAR they are using.
[quote name=ACT]I get annoyed when people talk about WAR without saying which implementation of WAR they are using.[/quote]I always assume it’s Fangraphs. If I write an article I try to use the f or r, but probably don’t always do it. In the comments I’m lazier, but still try to do it.
What annoys me is that they give the impression that it’s a single number, like batting average or ERA. It really should be seen as a method.
[quote name=ACT]What annoys me is that they give the impression that it’s a single number, like batting average or ERA. It really should be seen as a method.[/quote]Agreed, but they did mention it included defense. Baby steps. 2 years ago ESPN never would have mentioned WAR. Now they’re talking about it and you’ve got former players who really like it.
Poor Tim Wakefield. It’s starting to look as though he’ll never get his 200th win.
That is, he’s now being relegated to mop-up duty.
GBTS, last time I was in downtown DC I went to a decent and relatively inexpensive tapas place called La Tasca near the Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stop. I don’t really have a good yardstick to say how good it was but I enjoyed it. Our family goes to Clyde’s every year for Christmas, and they’re generally pretty good.
You should message shawndgoldman on facebook, he’s actually lived in DC as opposed to out in the boonies like me so he should know better (dying laughing).
Earlier this year, a simiilar play by the A’s. Sogard did exactly the same thing Castro did, kicked the dirt instead of paying attention. 3B ran to cover second when he saw the runner break, Sogard, still standing around doing nothing, couldn’t prevent the runner from then taking an open third on the play. Young players not used to major league play don’t realize, I think, how smart everyone else is on the field.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17585257
Brendan Ryan was the runner
[quote name=josh]Earlier this year, a simiilar play by the A’s. Sogard did exactly the same thing Castro did, kicked the dirt instead of paying attention. 3B ran to cover second when he saw the runner break, Sogard, still standing around doing nothing, couldn’t prevent the runner from then taking an open third on the play. Young players not used to major league play don’t realize, I think, how smart everyone else is on the field.[/quote]
I’d agree with this. Especially guys who come up so young because they are so good. They are used to being the best player on the field for pretty much their whole lives. I don;t think people understand the adjustment someone like Castro has to make mentally when he is suddenly not the best player on the field, and even when he is better, he’s not 100x better like he’s used to.
[quote name=josh]http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17585257
Brendan Ryan was the runner[/quote]
They scored that one (Ryan) a single and an advancement to third with defensive indifference.
This one (Harrison) they scored a double. I think it had to do with the fact that he overran first and didn’t go into foul territory, but still an interesting scoring decision.
It would have been even funnier if he somehow managed to score on that play.
[quote name=ACT]It would have been even funnier if he somehow managed to score on that play.[/quote]While they all stood around and kicked dirt. It would be hilarious if we could take a screen cap as Harrison crossed each base and the fielders in the same position.
[quote name=mb21]While they all stood around and kicked dirt. It would be hilarious if we could take a screen cap as Harrison crossed each base and the fielders in the same position.[/quote]
I think Ramirez was too close to 3B to let him advance anymore, but I could see Harrison getting to third on the play since Dempster had the ball and Cubs pitchers this season can’t field for shit.
It’s always all about you, isn’t it?
[quote name=Suburban kid 22]It’s always all about you, isn’t it?[/quote]Correct. (dying laughing)
1st quarter of the 1st game and Iowa is already down 1 running back.
Starlin Castro – SS
Darwin Barney – 2B
Aramis Ramirez – 3B
Carlos Pena – 1B
Alfonso Soriano – LF
Marlon Byrd – CF
Tyler Colvin – RF
Geovany Soto – C
Casey Coleman – P
Derrek Lee is back in the lineup, as is Andrew McCutchen.
I see Casey is growing an Amish-style beard.
[quote name=ACT]I see Casey is growing an Amish-style beard.[/quote]Is he wearing a spandex tuxedo like the other Amishman?
Brian Wilson isn’t Amish. The Amish don’t have mustaches.
Good point.
Castro with yet another 1-4.
Kerry with another BS.
Wood just isn’t very good anymore.
This is a little odd: http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/6925476/the-chicago-cubs-keeping-their-vp-player-personnnel
Anybody know how much Oneiri Fleita makes per year?
[quote name=Aisle424]Anybody know how much Oneiri Fleita makes per year?[/quote]No, but I’d assume it’s somewhere between $500K and $1 million.
Signing him to the extension tells me two things: the Cubs are confident based on numerous discussions that whoever takes over as GM will keep him and that Oneri Fleita is pretty damn good at his job. I know BA has mentioned how highly Fleita is thought of so that part doesn’t surprise me.
It’s possible Ricketts has narrowed the GM to search to 2 or 3 people and has spoken with representatives of each of the candidates and has been told they would want to keep him (and probably Wilken).
Marmol did it again (give up a go-ahead grand-slam, that is).
I was really hoping play would not be resumed after it started raining.
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
[quote name=mb21]
It’s possible Ricketts has narrowed the GM to search to 2 or 3 people and has spoken with representatives of each of the candidates and has been told they would want to keep him (and probably Wilken).[/quote]
That’s true. There will be a new post soon.
Reed should have jumped.
I wonder if any other closer has ever given up 2 grand slams in the 9th inning before.
In a season
The contract for Marmol wasn’t a bad one, but if there’s one thing I hope a new GM does is that’s we stop seeing multi-year contracts for relievers.
I was also hoping he’d leave Marshall in for one more inning. I trust him more than Marmol these days.
[quote name=mb21]The contract for Marmol wasn’t a bad one, but if there’s one thing I hope a new GM does is that’s we stop seeing multi-year contracts for relievers.[/quote]We need to give a multi-year extension to Grabow, though.
New panicky over-reaction (or not): http://www.obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/oneiri-fleita-getting-an-extension-is-clearly-a-sign-of-the-end-of-the-world.html