Holliday optioned, McKenna recalled

[forphase1]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I’m fine with anyone’s opinion that McKenna should have caught that ball.  I certainly don’t suspect that “his head wasn’t in the game.”   He just got a bad read on a ball hit very hard directly over his head.  

Maybe.  But we DO know, both from past experiences AND from reports when he was in the minors from coaches and the like, that at times his attention wanders.  Fair or not that makes a situation like last night call into question if that was a factor as well.  We will never know of course, but it's not out of the question either with him.  

[Frobby]

3 minutes ago, forphase1 said:

Maybe.  But we DO know, both from past experiences AND from reports when he was in the minors from coaches and the like, that at times his attention wanders.  Fair or not that makes a situation like last night call into question if that was a factor as well.  We will never know of course, but it's not out of the question either with him.  

Think of the circumstances.  He’s in the game for half an inning, for defense, in a one-run game with a runner on base.  If he can’t keep his head in the game in that circumstance, he has no business being a professional baseball player.  I seriously mean that.   And, while I’m not a huge McKenna fan and am aware he’s had mental lapses, I don’t think so little of him as to think he wouldn’t be focused at that moment.  

[Jagwar]

And... I can't understand why Stowers didn't get the call. Defensive comparison aside, he can actually hit LH pitching.

[forphase1]

Just now, Frobby said:

Think of the circumstances.  He’s in the game for half an inning, for defense, in a one-run game with a runner on base.  If he can’t keep his head in the game in that circumstance, he has no business being a professional baseball player.  I seriously mean that.   And, while I’m not a huge McKenna fan and am aware he’s had mental lapses, I don’t think so little of him as to think he wouldn’t be focused at that moment.  

Sure, but that's my whole problem in general.  He's a baseball player.  While I know they are VERY busy overall, when we talk ACTUAL work time, it's only what, like 60-90 minutes a day?  Half of the game you are on the bench as your team is batting, and 1/2 the time in the field you are just standing in your infield/outfield position waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball, guys warming up, etc.  Actual 'action' time is a very small portion of the 2.5-3 hours baseball game.  Point is there is REALLY only 60-90 minutes at most that you need to be completely zoned in and focused, and apparently he has trouble doing that.  Given that, I think it's certainly possible he wasn't focused as that moment.  I certainly agree that given the situation there is NO excuse if he was zoned out.  And that's the problem.  After all, he once was getting ready to make the final out against an in-division rival, and dropped a simple popup.  

The bolded part of your quote that I highlighted is my main problem with McKenna.  He has enough talent to stick around as a valuable bench/role player, but the lapse of concentration negates any positive value he has.  I don't think he should be in the majors and I'll be happier when he's out of the organization.  

[Aristotelian]

Tough play but a defensive replacement guy has to make that. That is your role. You should be practicing balls like that all the time. Not remotely as bad as the Fenway play but I think even Santander makes that most of the time. 

[Tony-OH]

You know what's interesting? The Orioles were 7-3 while Holliday was here despite his struggles, but did sending him down cost the Orioles a game?

Think about it. Urias replaced him in the lineup and went 0-for-3 (something he could have done) and didn't have any productive at bats. He did make a nice stop and throw to get the runner at the plate in a run down, but nothing Westburg most likely would not have made. 

But, if he were on the roster and not McKenna, Santander probably is in the game in the 9th and most likely makes that catch. 

So in a weird way, sending Holliday down may have contributed to the Orioles losing last night. 

[sportsfan8703]

No excuses for McKenna. He’s played his whole career in OPACY. I’m sure he got pregame reps in and knew he was going to be a defensive replacement. 

It’s a bad read. Whether it’s the 1st inning or the 10th.

The 85% catch rate on that ball is for a normal RF. That should be much higher than 85% for a defensive specialist and essentially a CF in RF. 

Edited April 27 by sportsfan8703

[survivedc]

1 hour ago, Spakman said:

I’d still despise him.  He is my least favorite Oriole of all time. He’s got the opportunity to do the most amazing thing that most of us would want to do and every time he gets a chance to do it he doesn’t have his head in the game and he doesn’t seem to care. No team wants him, but the Orioles keep holding onto him. And i’m judging his character not just his play because his play is obviously horrible.

He’s your least favorite of all time? Do you remember Pedro Severino?

[24fps]

4 minutes ago, survivedc said:

He’s your least favorite of all time? Do you remember Pedro Severino?

Jack Flaherty?  Reggie Jackson?

[Master Guns]

22 minutes ago, survivedc said:

He’s your least favorite of all time? Do you remember Pedro Severino?

He wasn’t even my least favorite catcher. That would easily be Jesús Sucre. He had the worst body language out on the field. Seemed like every time the pitcher threw a ball he was visibly disgusted. 

[baltfan]

1 hour ago, Tony-OH said:

You know what's interesting? The Orioles were 7-3 while Holliday was here despite his struggles, but did sending him down cost the Orioles a game?

Think about it. Urias replaced him in the lineup and went 0-for-3 (something he could have done) and didn't have any productive at bats. He did make a nice stop and throw to get the runner at the plate in a run down, but nothing Westburg most likely would not have made. 

But, if he were on the roster and not McKenna, Santander probably is in the game in the 9th and most likely makes that catch. 

So in a weird way, sending Holliday down may have contributed to the Orioles losing last night. 

The Holliday Curse!!!!!!!

[Drifter]

21 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

If they can hold hold off until next season they can keep him stashed in Norfolk through 2027.

He'll be stationed there longer than I was!

Regular or Gator?

[Frobby]

In case anyone is a glutton for punishment, here's the Toro double over McKenna's head.  My main reaction watching it isn't "McKenna should have caught that."   It's "what a crappy two-strike pitch."

Abraham Toro's RBI double ties the game  | 04/26/2024 | MLB.com

[jabba72]

Just now, Frobby said:

In case anyone is a glutton for punishment, here's the Toro double over McKenna's head.  My main reaction watching it isn't "McKenna should have caught that."   It's "what a crappy two-strike pitch."

Abraham Toro's RBI double ties the game  | 04/26/2024 | MLB.com

Yeah, I was expecting another horrible misplay reading the comments, but that ball looked pretty difficult to catch to me. Not sure Santander would have made that at all. Unless he was playing a step or two deeper. 

[Malike]

Just now, Frobby said:

In case anyone is a glutton for punishment, here's the Toro double over McKenna's head.  My main reaction watching it isn't "McKenna should have caught that."   It's "what a crappy two-strike pitch."

Abraham Toro's RBI double ties the game  | 04/26/2024 | MLB.com

It was my first reaction as well, then I thought, what a terrible play by McKenna. He had a bad jump and was stutter-stepping his way to the ball, there was nothing fluid about anything he did.