Reds take on the Pads 5/16/07

[lollipopcurve]

As M2 has suggested, this series was full of plays the Reds could have made but didn't. From Giles' line drive off Hatteberg's glove in the first inning of game 1 to Arroyo's poor throw/Freel's poor catch in the 9th last night, we all saw our Reds coming up just short defensively when a nice play could have buoyed the team.

[pedro]

While I don't condone Narron letting Arroyo throw that many pitches as it is very short sighted and potentially damaging I must admit that 1) arroyo didn't look gassed and 2) I did think that Arroyo had a better chance of getting out of the inning than anyone in the bullpen.

Arroyo's really had some tough luck this year. He's pitched well with nothing to really show for it. I feel for him.

[Degenerate39]

When did he take him out too early? The time that Bronson ASKED to come out of the game. That was the only time when Narron's been ripped for taking him out early and it's been well stated that Bronson asked to come out.

I thought that was Harang

[Razor Shines]

I thought that was Harang

Both of them have asked to come out of a game this year.

[RBA]

Bronson messed up. He messed up the throw and he messed around with Kousimoff. As soon as he was 2-2 on him I knew he was going to walk him. On the throw, as a 3rd baseman, you're expecting the throw not only not to bounce but to come there with a little something on it. A 1st baseman might expect a throw like that to bounce and he's used to throws that bounce. You can't kill Freel for that play even though it looked like he should have handled it. Would EE have made the play? I don't know but if he didn't, he sure would have made a convenient scapegoat.

I disagree. As a third baseman you know whoever is fielding a bunt is going to be in a rush. A rush to get to the ball, an awkward pivot to get in throwing position and a rush to getting the throw off.

[Chip R]

I disagree. As a third baseman you know whoever is fielding a bunt is going to be in a rush. A rush to get to the ball, an awkward pivot to get in throwing position and a rush to getting the throw off.

Yes. But you are anticipating a throw that isn't going to bounce. Just like a 2nd baseman expects a throw from SS to be about chest high without a lot of mustard on it. If it's around the knees or above the shoulders they should be able to handle it but they are so used to a perfect throw they mess up the bad throw even though it was a ball they should have caught. On the other hand a first baseman is always anticipating that a throw may go in the dirt or be a bit high or to the left or the right. He's not going to get the same throw every time so he's used to a throw that may be off the mark.

If Bronson had thrown that ball to Freel without a bounce and he drops it, then, yeah, I'm going to kill Freel. But I'm not going to blame him for mishandling a ball that bounced in front of him from 30 feet away.

[Big Klu]

Yes. But you are anticipating a throw that isn't going to bounce. Just like a 2nd baseman expects a throw from SS to be about chest high without a lot of mustard on it. If it's around the knees or above the shoulders they should be able to handle it but they are so used to a perfect throw they mess up the bad throw even though it was a ball they should have caught. On the other hand a first baseman is always anticipating that a throw may go in the dirt or be a bit high or to the left or the right. He's not going to get the same throw every time so he's used to a throw that may be off the mark.

If Bronson had thrown that ball to Freel without a bounce and he drops it, then, yeah, I'm going to kill Freel. But I'm not going to blame him for mishandling a ball that bounced in front of him from 30 feet away.

Also, a first baseman has a big mitt which is well-suited for digging throws out of the dirt. A third baseman has a much smaller glove.