Timing and thoughts on Cowser's hustle play

[Filmstudy]

Cowser went from contact to touching first base in 112 clicks (3.73 seconds), a rate of 24.1 FPS which is lower than his sprint speed since it involved both acceleration and deceleration (on the slide).

It was nice to have LHP Valdez falling off to the wrong side of the mound, which effectively eliminated the chance he could cover.  Singleton let a slowly-hit ball come to him, which would have been sufficient against the vast majority of the league, but is terrible technique.

What folks don't seem to be talking about is how much time Cowser cost himself with a badly mistimed slide (way too early).  We almost had a scene like that from 1 of the Major League movies where Hayes comes up about 3 feet short of 2nd base and the fielder waves him on into his tag.  I'm not someone who says sliding into 1B is never optimal unless to avoid a tag, but he cost himself time on this one.

One other point...the contrast of styles from the booth was absolutely wonderful...

Jim Palmer responds to every defensive miscue with a groan ("You gotta be kidding me..."), even those of the opponents, as if he was personally betrayed by Singleton. I laugh every time he does it on an opposing error.

Brown was euphoric and captured the excitement of Orioles fans everywhere with his call.

McDonald was analytic, citing WHY Singleton had been late to the bag.

It was great TV, made greater and more broadly circulated by Holliday's 3-run double on the next pitch.  They should have these 3 in the booth together more often.

[OriolesMagic83]

9 minutes ago, Filmstudy said:

Cowser went from contact to touching first base in 112 clicks (3.73 seconds), a rate of 24.1 FPS which is lower than his sprint speed since it involved both acceleration and deceleration (on the slide).

It was nice to have LHP Valdez falling off to the wrong side of the mound, which effectively eliminated the chance he could cover.  Singleton let a slowly-hit ball come to him, which would have been sufficient against the vast majority of the league, but is terrible technique.

What folks don't seem to be talking about is how much time Cowser cost himself with a badly mistimed slide (way too early).  We almost had a scene like that from 1 of the Major League movies where Hayes comes up about 3 feet short of 2nd base and the fielder waves him on into his tag.  I'm not someone who says sliding into 1B is never optimal unless to avoid a tag, but he cost himself time on this one.

One other point...the contrast of styles from the booth was absolutely wonderful...

Jim Palmer responds to every defensive miscue with a groan ("You gotta be kidding me..."), even those of the opponents, as if he was personally betrayed by Singleton. I laugh every time he does it on an opposing error.

Brown was euphoric and captured the excitement of Orioles fans everywhere with his call.

McDonald was analytic, citing WHY Singleton had been late to the bag.

It was great TV, made greater and more broadly circulated by Holliday's 3-run double on the next pitch.  They should have these 3 in the booth together more often.

If there is a better booth in baseball, even nationally, I would like to know what it is.

[Moose Milligan]

I think it worked out just fine. Probably doesn’t work out if he did it another few times but this is the one where it did. 

[Roy Firestone]

43 minutes ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

If there is a better booth in baseball, even nationally, I would like to know what it is.

Thank you!!for all those who despise Kevin Brown( and on this page there are many) I cant remember ANY three man booth in baseball that brings more excitement, analysis, and chemistry than Brown, Big Ben, and Palmer. Enjoy it while you can, it won't be like this forever. 

[Hallas]

2 hours ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

If there is a better booth in baseball, even nationally, I would like to know what it is.

Mets booth is great.  Jon Miller doesn't do that much TV anymore but when he does it's obviously great.  Even when he's not there the Giants booth is pretty good

 

Outside of those I can't really think of anyone else I'd pick over our A booth.

Edited August 25 by Hallas

[sevastras]

Jon Miller was(is) exceptional. Giants booth is definitely top notch. Os booth is fantastic with any combination of the three. 
As far as the slide goes, I don’t know that Cowser could have made it any other way safely. Between Cowser and Holliday today, I hope that the team has their spark back and will roll from here on out. 

[ChosenOne21]

I think it's been extensively studied that sliding isn't faster than running through the bag. The reason you slide is so you don't overrun second or third base and get tagged out. Or to dodge a tag at home plate.

[Frobby]

@Filmstudy, do you have thoughts on how much time Cowser’s slide cost him?   3.73 is an exceptional time to 1B.  I thick the slide caught Singleton off guard and certainly prevented him from reaching out to tag Cowser while he was running towards the bag.  I’m not so sure Cowser would have been safe without the headfirst slide.  

[Filmstudy]

18 minutes ago, Frobby said:

@Filmstudy, do you have thoughts on how much time Cowser’s slide cost him?   3.73 is an exceptional time to 1B.  I thick the slide caught Singleton off guard and certainly prevented him from reaching out to tag Cowser while he was running towards the bag.  I’m not so sure Cowser would have been safe without the headfirst slide.  

I have no problem with the slide itself, just the timing was way off.  I don't have a way to judge the time it cost him, but it's very clear from watching the video.

[RZNJ]

18 minutes ago, Frobby said:

@Filmstudy, do you have thoughts on how much time Cowser’s slide cost him?   3.73 is an exceptional time to 1B.  I thick the slide caught Singleton off guard and certainly prevented him from reaching out to tag Cowser while he was running towards the bag.  I’m not so sure Cowser would have been safe without the headfirst slide.  

Singleton was behind the bag.  Not sure how he tags Cowser before his foot hits the bag if Cowser runs through the bag.    The head first slide did take away any chance of a collision.  

[Aristotelian]

11 minutes ago, Filmstudy said:

I have no problem with the slide itself, just the timing was way off.  I don't have a way to judge the time it cost him, but it's very clear from watching the video.

May have had to do with the solid 260 lb guy heading straight at the same spot. I can give Cowser a pass for perhaps the top hustle play of the season

[terpoh]

To my untrained eye I actually feel like the slide is why he was safe and he wouldnt have been safe if he ran through.

[Moose Milligan]

7 minutes ago, terpoh said:

To my untrained eye I actually feel like the slide is why he was safe and he wouldnt have been safe if he ran through.

I think @Filmstudy’s point is that he went into the slide far away from the bag and his momentum had significantly slowed by the time he reached the bag.  I think he’s probably correct, that was my takeaway from the replay. 

IMO it was a perfect storm. Singleton is a big guy, doesn’t seem to move well. IIRC the pitcher was late getting over.  Cowser was fast enough to make it close, hustles and makes a great play. 
 

[terpoh]

Just now, Moose Milligan said:

I think @Filmstudy’s point is that he went into the slide far away from the bag and his momentum had significantly slowed by the time he reached the bag.  I think he’s probably correct, that was my takeaway from the replay. 

IMO it was a perfect storm. Singleton is a big guy, doesn’t seem to move well. IIRC the pitcher was late getting over.  Cowser was fast enough to make it close, hustles and makes a great play. 
 

Yea, could definitely be true. Amazing play no matter how you break it down and gave us the opportunity to win the game. 

[Jim'sKid26]

Palmer played on teams that many feel were the best defensive teams in MLB history. There are those who feel that he would not be in the HoF without the great team defense behind him all those years. Errors are an affront to his sensitivities as a pitcher. When you've had the best, the rest won't do.