Holy ****.. What a WS game..
- Thread starter 57stratdawg
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It was the double foot kick
It's the right call. It was obvious to me the double kick was timed with when the runner was trying to advance over him. If he just plays it naturally, there is no call for interference.
It's the right call. It was obvious to me the double kick was timed with when the runner was trying to advance over him. If he just plays it naturally, there is no call for interference.
Absolutely the correct call by the umpire
Third baseman stuck his feet up into the air tripping the runner, who would have easily scored if he hadn't tripped. If the umpires hadn't called obstruction, Matheny might have detonated.
Third baseman stuck his feet up into the air tripping the runner, who would have easily scored if he hadn't tripped. If the umpires hadn't called obstruction, Matheny might have detonated.
Intent does not matter....according to the rule. Again, what was the third baseman supposed to do? Lie there prone and not go after the ball?
He didn't go after the ball. He kicked his feet up into the air to trip the runner. You don't kick your feet straight up into the air if you are trying to get up off the ground. It looked to me like he was trying to get in the runner's way. Smart play, because he scores without a play if he doesn't trip. Not every umpire has the stones to call that. Jim Joyce does.
This is how I saw it too and how I would've played it in Middlebrooks shoes as well. Crazy finish.
Can't believe no one is talking about the half *** lunge by Middlebrooks that let the ball go by.
"OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner.
If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner."
According to this he was no longer in the act of fielding the ball. When he kicked his legs up tripping Craig it became obstruction.
If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball." It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the "act of fielding" the ball. For example: an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner."
According to this he was no longer in the act of fielding the ball. When he kicked his legs up tripping Craig it became obstruction.
How? Because the umps followed the rules of baseball?
And save the "aww you're just a cards fan" ********.
And save the "aww you're just a cards fan" ********.
As a Braves fan and someone who doesn't care who wins this World Series, I agree the umpires made the correct call, according to the official rules.
Hey Red Sox. Next time you think there's a play at third,
There isn't. Just hold on to the ball.
Besides, realx. It's not like Sawx fans have excruciatingly long, bitter memories when it comes to fielding miscues in the World Series or anything.
(and yes, that has to be the most "Cardinals way" to end a ballgame. Scrappy McHustler with the busted wheel gets awarded home plate because of THE LETTER OF THE LAW).
There isn't. Just hold on to the ball.
Besides, realx. It's not like Sawx fans have excruciatingly long, bitter memories when it comes to fielding miscues in the World Series or anything.
(and yes, that has to be the most "Cardinals way" to end a ballgame. Scrappy McHustler with the busted wheel gets awarded home plate because of THE LETTER OF THE LAW).
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He is having a terrible season. He brings nothing to the table. He makes what appears to be the occasional slick play - plays that are routine for most other SS's.
The Cardinals were fortunate to get bailed out by an umpire's judgement call. The game could have been put on ice with better coaching. First Oquendo held Molina up when the Red Sox were conceding the run. Even then, they had the bases loaded and no outs with a chance to send Craig up to bust it wide open. Instead Matheny let Kozma hit - no stand in the batter's box - and then Kelly, who was beginning to labor.
Finally, they gave Martinez too much rope in the 8th. I don't think he threw a strike when he was warming up and - as we've seen with him -when he's good he's good, but when he's bad, he's really bad.
A few thoughts other than the ending...
Kozma looks "good" at SS because he's the best of a bad infield defensively.
I thought not scoring with the bases loaded and no one out would result in a loss. It almost did. Jose Oquendo should have let Molina score. The great batting average with RISP during the regular season has all but vanished in the postseason.
For all the people that hate on Holliday in the past, that guy has done nothing but bail the Cardinals out this postseason with his bat. And for all that love Freeze for what he did in 2011, he has been abysmal this postseason.
Kozma looks "good" at SS because he's the best of a bad infield defensively.
I thought not scoring with the bases loaded and no one out would result in a loss. It almost did. Jose Oquendo should have let Molina score. The great batting average with RISP during the regular season has all but vanished in the postseason.
For all the people that hate on Holliday in the past, that guy has done nothing but bail the Cardinals out this postseason with his bat. And for all that love Freeze for what he did in 2011, he has been abysmal this postseason.
Spot on on all accounts. Despite the fielding pct., the defense is awful.
The lack of clutch hitting is exactly why I thought they should of let Craig hit for Kozma or Kelly when the bases were loaded. It could have been over there.
Holliday has been clutch and Freeze has proven to be that flash in the pan guy. It is time to cut him loose.
One negative on Holliday last night. He got caught loafing on the dropped fly ball. Not saying it affected the outcome, but you can't turn around and re-gift a play like that.
I'll give him a pass on that for now. He's done enough already to more than make up for loafing on a fly ball.
little rough on freeze...
freeze has played hurt a lot of this season. i am not ready to cut him loose.
disagree on oquendo...
Jose was 100% correct in holding up Molina. you NEVER make the first out at home. Molina is the slowest runner on the team. No way do you send him there. he played it the right way , the hitters coming up failed in not getting him in.
Once again, the Red Sox conceded the run. It's hard to make the first out at home when the throw us going to third. At the very least, the 3rd base coach should pick that up.
And what have you seen out of Freese the last two years that would suggest the Cardinals should make a long term commitment to him? He is an average player, at best. A good month a couple of years ago doesn't qualify him as a Cardinal for life.
You might not be ready to cut him loose, but it seems very likely the Cardinals are.
He's up for arbitration I believe. I don't know if he's worth the trouble. They could move Carpenter to third and go after middle infielders. If Wong ever learns how to hit he could handle second regularly.
The rumors I've heard is that Freese has taken up the party life and the front office thinks it's affecting his play... meaning he'll likely be dealt this offseason.
Don't give up on Wong so quickly... he's just a few months into his big league career and less than 3 years into his pro career. I think we see a Carpenter3B/Wong2B combo next year for the majority of the time.
I really think we see Lynn/Freese both being dealt this offseason. There are rumors about Max Scherzer and Tulo... however, those trades are going to be difficult to do with Scherzer only having 1 year left on his contract and Tulo having a HUGE contract.
I do expect upgrades to MIF and the SPs in the offseason, however. Beltran's contract is coming off the books too, so there will be some financial freedom this winter to spend a little money.
Wong has a long way to go. He has been overmatched almost as much as Kozma, and that's saying something. He doesn't have a high ceiling, but the Cardinals know that and don't seem to to concerned about it because he fits the budget. But it's not like they've gotten much production out of 2b before this year. In other words, they can win and still go cheap there.
i will say that if they ever thought they could use Wong as trade bait, that window is probably closed. The word is out on him. They scouted him for two weeks when he came up and had hasn't hit since.
Don't see how you can say that about Wong. You take a kid who has started at all levels and thrust him into a pennant race where he gets to bat only in high pressure situations 4-5 times a week. His upside is huge. And you couple that with being able to move Carp to 3B. It's good news for the Cards. As far as Freese goes he should be the odd man out but he won't. We are too loyal off a org. They'll keep him.
conceeded the run?
i'll have to go back and look where the throw went and why. back to Freese , his 162 game average is 15 hrs, 28 doubles, and 82 rbi. those numbers include the time he played hurt. i still think he is pretty good.
They all play hurt. I said he was average at best. Those numbers are pretty common.
As for the throw. It went to short. It's like Mike Shannon said when it happened. When they give you a run, you have to take it.
Wong might want to hone his base running skills. Seriously kid. Did you really get picked off in Game 4 in the World Series with the tying run at the plate in the form of one of the best post season hitters of all time?
if the Cards lose this series, it would be hard to pick a goat. But Wong would get some votes.
Played too conservative for most of the game, too aggressive in parts.
Lance Lynn- good game, except for one part- quit pitching to Papi. If you have a modicum of sense, walk him. Just about every time, walk him. Plain and simple. I blame him wholeheartedly for run #1.
Our offense needed to jump on Buchholz early and fast. I don't know what the deal was there. If he's not hitting strikes, make him hit them. Wasting Yadi on third was ridiculous. Not trying a steal with Lance Lynn at the plate was dumb IMO, too- make that pitcher nervous, make them prove they can throw down to third.
I don't get why Shane Robinson doesn't get the start over Jay every time. Kid can hit and he's smart on the bases and it's not hard to be better than Jay as a fielder.
Seth Maness- just not the best pitcher in the entire postseason. Last night to me was a big game; he's not who I would have picked.
Lance Lynn- good game, except for one part- quit pitching to Papi. If you have a modicum of sense, walk him. Just about every time, walk him. Plain and simple. I blame him wholeheartedly for run #1.
Our offense needed to jump on Buchholz early and fast. I don't know what the deal was there. If he's not hitting strikes, make him hit them. Wasting Yadi on third was ridiculous. Not trying a steal with Lance Lynn at the plate was dumb IMO, too- make that pitcher nervous, make them prove they can throw down to third.
I don't get why Shane Robinson doesn't get the start over Jay every time. Kid can hit and he's smart on the bases and it's not hard to be better than Jay as a fielder.
Seth Maness- just not the best pitcher in the entire postseason. Last night to me was a big game; he's not who I would have picked.