Looks like some "sensitivity training" is in store for Mr. Pavano:
"Carl Pavano was involved in a verbal dispute with a fan at his rehab outing in Tampa on Thursday night, during which he made an off-color remark alluding to the fan's sexual orientation, according to sources."
Wow.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, hypothetically speaking of course (since baseball season's babsically on hold and I spend all my time thinking about Who Wants To Be A Superhero), if someone were to get a hit in extra innings, and the game ends due to an error on the play, is it truly a "walk-off"? No idea how I came up with that particular scenario, but it sure would be cool. Especially if it involved extending a hit streak.
It absolutely would be a "walk off" something. I seem to recall the term "walk off" was coined by Eck, which obviously for him had a negative connotation. Something along the lines of "it really sucks to have to walk off like that." And now it has stretch to the absurd where you actually have had "walk off walks" we could have had a "walk off balk" or even a "walk off hawk walk" if Andre Dawson was still playing.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile - which team (hypothetically speaking) leads the ML in walk off victories this year?
And apparently the NHL is encouraging announcers to call game winning OT goals "skate-off goals."
ReplyDeleteOne thing about the whole "walk-off" thing is that it actually makes sense for a HR - you hit a HR, and you can actually walk around the bases - you win, and the other team can do nothing to stop you. For most other "walk-off hits" there's some running involved. I think the term "walk-off" should be reserved for times one can actually walk - HR's, walks, balks, being eliminated in a superhero-themed reality show, etc.
ReplyDeleteSome questions:
- has anyone ever missed a tag in a walkoff and been called out? (What would you do if you were an umpire and you saw that?)
- the greeting of the HR-hitter at the plate after a walkoff is relatively new, right? When did it start?
some thoughts on your thougts (and your pre-thought):
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, 100% on the walk off being reserved for HRs (although technically it also could apply to a walk, a balk, or even perhaps a blast to the triangle with the bases loaded or some other such situation. I guess the problem is that the term was coined from the defensive side which, no matter how you lose, you walk off the field.
The missed tag on walk off would also depend on the defensive team seeing it and properly appealing and slightly dependent on the situation. I think a few years ago someone hit a GW walk off HR, but got mobbed by his team mates and since the winning run was on 3rd and scored and the batter never made it home, he only got credited with a single (or double or something). i can't remember who it was, but something tells me it was the MFY and maybe Knoblauch and/or Justice was involved, but who knows, I also think it could have been Tino or maybe it was AZ and it was Luis Gonzalez. Obviuously I don't remember who, but I'm pretty sure something like that happened. In that case it was obvious, but if the batter scored the winning run and missed second, it would be incumbent on the defensive team to appeal.
The home plate greeting is a great quesiton. I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere. It is often quoted (but also the subject of some debate) that the "tradition" of standing and cheering when a pitcher has two strikes on a batter goes back to a Guidry game in 78 when he struck out 18 batters in a game. Maybe we should start the story that the home plate greeting started on July 24, 2004. Why not.
I remember that - it was a Met (Todd Zeile or Robin Ventura, both of whom became Yankees eventually), getting a HR to beat the Braves in one of the 2000 NLCS games (Game 7 I assume). He got a single since he never made it past first. But the Mets still won the game. I want some situation where the win is taken away - like the HR hitter high-fives the guy who had been on first before they get to the plate.
ReplyDelete" Wily Mo Peña was the first Sox player to double, triple, and homer in a game since Johnny Damon did it June 12, 2005, in Wrigley Field. The last Sox player to do it at home was Nomar Garciaparra, and that was nine years ago: July 24, 1997, against Oakland."
ReplyDeleteSeems like just yesterday Nomar as a rookie. Nine years!!
What I want to know is: when was the last time someone was a single short of the cycle after just 3 plate appearances? (Damon and Nomar's first PAs were outs.)
ReplyDeleteYeah, the thought that Jeter and Nomar have been a major part of baseball for basically 10 years is terrifying.
Also: looking at the box score of the Nomar game...they were playing the A's, who featured as their 3-4-5 hitters Giambi, McGwire, and Canseco. Talk about steroid alley.
ReplyDeleteFrom my favorite Red Sox:
ReplyDelete“I just work here,” Foulke said. “(Francona) is the boss, I’m the employee. When I’m activated, everything will be good.” . . .
Well, I went on record earlier this year saying that Foulke may have pitched his last game for the Sox. I'm sure the Sox are just being guarded, but it is interesting that Foulke has been far more vocal in declaring he is ready to go and Terry was non-commital earlier this week. You have to wonder where its heading. How many people will feel comfortable with Foulke on the mound in a close game in that big series coming up this week (and I'm not talking about the Tigers)