He missed the plate, but...

quote:

Originally posted by Racab:
The umpire hesitates because he was behim the catcher ( Reason why he doesn't saw the runner never touched home), and was checking if the catcher holded the ball to make the call.

The catcher was no where near trying to tag the runner on the original play. The only reason to hesitate is to wait for the runner to tag the base or the catcher to tag the runner.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
There is a school of thought on umpiring that you hesitate, replay the call in your mind, then make your call. It's meant to give that extra beat to call the play as it happened, not as you anticipated; it can also give an extra moment to allow for dropped balls and the like. It's your own, private 'instant replay'.

It's also a double-edged sword. Slow calls can be frustrating, but we also want the calls to be right. On the whole, I'd rather have the guy who waits and thinks than the guy who's got his hand signal half-formed before the ball gets there.

That's a great point Orlando, and I'd admit that an over eager umpire is at least equally maddening. But I'm talking balls and strikes, and Tim McClellen gives himself enough time to replay the entire first half of "Gone With the Wind," still somehow leaving himself plenty of time to prepare a full-length rebuttal for the batter, who helplessly looks on in dismay (while slowly becoming medicare eligible) as he waits for the call. Tom Petty had it right, the waiting IS the hardest part.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
OS, I think it has more to do with the emphasis on O in favor of a balance with D. You can see some shakey defense from corner OFers with serious slugging percentages.

The Bill James Sabermetrics model favors an offensive player over defensive ability. More and more GM's are buying into it. The slick fielding, weak hitting middle infielder is becoming a thing of the past.

Fast forward Ozzie Smith's career twenty years. Julio Lugo would beat him out at short on offensive potential. Yuck! However, in this situation I believe the Padres were down a couple of starting outfielders due to injuries.

I have seen too many speedsters ranked higher than polished hitters, who happen to have above average speed and better overall tools, but many scouts are enamored by the speed.

I asked a supervisory scout about this. He said they could teach hitting(bunting/slapping) and help improve arm strength.

I laughed, and never was a 1980 STL fan.

Now I am on the verge of angering folks here on this site, so lets just say I favor a hitter much more than a jackrabbit.

Unfortunately, I am considered WRONG in this assessment of talent?

Actually, you're absolutely correct. Prince Fielder wasn't a first round pick because of his running or fielding ability.

The draft always tells what the MLB clubs are thinking is most important.

In order the top picks out of high school this past year…

Pick # 2 overall HS 3B who can hit and throw, but doesn’t run well
Pick #3 overall HS 3B who can hit and runs around average
Pick #9 overall HS RHP who can run but that is not why he was drafted
Pick #11 and #12 both HS pitchers
Pick #13 overall HS 3B who can hit and field, run is his worst tool
Pick #14 overall HS OF who runs well, but it’s his other tools that got him drafted
Pick #15 overall HS C Wasn’t picked because of speed
Pick #16 overall HS SS/3B good bat, good player worst tool is running
Pick #17 HS RHP
Pick #18 HS SS, good player, runs just OK, not a burner at all.
Pick #20 overall, HS RHP
Pick #22 overall HS RHP
Pick #24 overall, here’s your burner, but he was drafted as a RHP, not because of running speed.
Pick #27 overall HS RHP
Pick #28 overall HS OF with real good speed and everything else too, except power
Pick #29 overall HS OF overall athlete who can really run
Pick #31 overall HS LHP
Pick #32 overall HS SS with run being his weakest tool
Pick #33 overall HS 3B who can hit and throw but below average runner
Pick #37 overall HS catcher not drafted for running ability
Pick #44 overall HS RHP
Pick #45 overall HS SS who can run, throw and hit
Pick #46 overall HS SS, same as above
Pick #47 overall HS LHP
Pick #49 overall HS OF who can hit and hit with power and power arm, but doesn’t run better than average.
Pick #51 overall HS SS with average running speed
Pick #53 overall HS RHP
Picks 58, 60 both HS RHP
Pick #63 overall HS SS, who has all the tools including run

There are all the first and supplemental first round picks drafted out of high school last year. Hitters always go before the runners, unless the runners can hit at the same level.

quote:

Originally posted by TG:

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
OS, I think it has more to do with the emphasis on O in favor of a balance with D. You can see some shakey defense from corner OFers with serious slugging percentages.

The Bill James Sabermetrics model favors an offensive player over defensive ability. More and more GM's are buying into it. The slick fielding, weak hitting middle infielder is becoming a thing of the past.

Fast forward Ozzie Smith's career twenty years. Julio Lugo would beat him out at short on offensive potential. Yuck! However, in this situation I believe the Padres were down a couple of starting outfielders due to injuries.

I know....but I'm old and I don't have to like it (and I've always been a Cardinals fan, OS, so I was raised on D!)

I figure a corner OFer gets arguably more chances to misplay (not just errors) over the course of a season than he does to drive in runs. And that a robbed hr makes the same difference in the score as hitting one. A critical fly ball sailing into Chris Duncan's territory...is a Rolaid's moment .

But those GM's have NEVER called to ask my opinion; yet another thing I just don't understand .

Yes, the Pads were thin -- they couldn't stand up to a couple of injuries at this time of year. Being down a quality CFer most notably.