Being Gutsy in the Bronx – 5/20

[Hank Scorpio]

Everytime the Orioles have guys on the bases, the Benny Hill theme should play.

How embarrasing it is to be a fan of this team sometimes.

This time I'm really done for the night. It's really amazing how bad this team can really be. You would think pure dumb luck would make them look good occasionally.

[rockford33]

This about sums up that inning...

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[Lucky Jim]

And it was a horrible call.

Not from where I'm sitting.

Excellent work from our "All Stars" (and coaches).

[FarmSystem]

For all of Dave's talk about playing the game right, its getting obvious to me that he knows what to say not how to actually do it. Players are above getting benched for sloppy play, so why listen to the manager if there is no action.

[tvz1997]

So ... Lebron is on in half an hour.

[LAOSfan]

Yep, is there ever a 3-1 count with a guy on 1st where DT doesn't call for the hit and run?!

But if it's ball 4, Markakis does not have to swing because the runner advances automatically. I don't get why it's a bad call. If it's a strike, DT has faith in Markakis to put the bat on the ball and make something happen. If not, it's bases loaded knowing Markakis' eye.

[scottbbfm]

was that throw from Jones on the fly? Good lord!

[El Gordo]

What? Markakis took the pitch. It was a called strike three.

I'm stuck with gameday. Was that a bad jump by BRob on a straight steal, or was it a H&R and Markakis didn't swing?

[ccbird]

I think he was referring to the prior pitch, where Roberts broke for second and Markakis swung at a potential ball four.

Except if it's Ball 4 Nick is still going to take the pitch. I doubt it was a hit and run but even if it was there is absoulutely no incentive to swing at a ball. There is no need to protect the runner in that situation.

Note: I didn't see the pitch I'm following on gametracker so I guess if it was truely a hit and run and the pitch was borderline the player would swing but poster was making it seem it was on obvious ball. If that is true than my above statement applies. That said I don't see hit DT hitting and running on 3-1 there with Nick at the plate. Probably a straight steal by Roberts.

[gatoto]

What a throw by Jones...

[OrioleParkatWrigley]

It appeared Roberts was trying to get in a run down by pulling up to let Andino try to score, but Andino never broke for the plate.

I think you're right about that. If so, just a rookie mistake by Andino and some pretty smart baserunning by B-rob.

[LAOSfan]

Except if it's Ball 4 Nick is still going to take the pitch. I doubt it was a hit and run but even if it was there is absoulutely no incentive to swing at a ball. There is no need to protect the runner in that situation.

My point above, exactly. It's actually the perfect time to hit and run.

[Why Not?]

For all of Dave's talk about playing the game right, its getting obvious to me that he knows what to say not how to actually do it. Players are above getting benched for sloppy play, so why listen to the manager if there is no action.

So Markakis and Roberts should be benched because of a hit-and-run that backfired?

[Lucky Jim]

So Markakis and Roberts should be benched because of a hit-and-run that backfired?

I don't think that's a hit & run.

Markakis has to swing at that if it is.

[sector7g]

I'm stuck with gameday. Was that a bad jump by BRob on a straight steal, or was it a H&R and Markakis didn't swing?

It was a straight steal on the 3-2 count. On the 3-1 it was H&R and the ball was well out of the zone but Markakis fouled it off.