8/4 Mets(Maine) @ Cubs(Lilly) 2:55 P.M.(CT) FOX

[Brian]

how did that miss him

[UMFan83]

I still want to know some someone what is the strategy behind trying a takeout slide of the 3Bman on a bunt

 

Lilly is slow, and the ball was bunted hard enough for it to be a double play possibility.

 

Didn't Maine double clutch before throwing to third? I guess Jones might not have had time to think about that

[Soul]

Damn, almost want him to let it hit him

[Flames24Rulz]

Ramirez with an RBI walk!

[Rusch33]

Maine's struggling.

[Friendly Confines]

I still want to know some someone what is the strategy behind trying a takeout slide of the 3Bman on a bunt

 

Lilly is slow, and the ball was bunted hard enough for it to be a double play possibility.

 

Didn't Maine double clutch before throwing to third? I guess Jones might not have had time to think about that

 

Delgado threw it

[Fred Hornkohl]

Ramirez walked , Lilly scored, Theriot to third, D Lee to second

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'll take a run that way.

[Brian]

YES!!

 

This is a Cubbish inning by Maine. Cruise through 2 then just lose it.

 

How about one of you awesome singles Cliffy?

[Soul]

Come on old man, harken back to your younger, better days.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I still want to know some someone what is the strategy behind trying a takeout slide of the 3Bman on a bunt

 

Lilly is slow, and the ball was bunted hard enough for it to be a double play possibility.

 

Didn't Maine double clutch before throwing to third? I guess Jones might not have had time to think about that

 

No, Delgado fielded it and went straight to 3rd.

 

Ramirez's sneer after he took the walk is awesome.

[Keener98]

come on guys - jones was dead to rights on the force, and the throw beat him. Jones knew he was out.

 

edit: it was a bad slide though

 

Well, hell, then he should've just walked into the dugout and not bothered sliding. It doesn't matter what Jones "knows" because the umpire evidently didn't know it.

 

it was an easy play. simple throw to third to get him on the force. like I said, JOnes knew he was out. should players fake it everytime it's a close call just to fool an ump (who the vast majority of the tme, will get the call right)?

 

I think yes, they should. Play until it's over. Why wouldn't you -- is it not smart to attempt to get every advantage you can?

 

every advantage? i guess so. but all I keep thinking is that jumping on Jones for his reaction is unfair -- what is running through his head is expected and fine. i just don't expect a player to be that quick when the natural reaction is, "I'm out, and it was obvious." He's not going to think "I'm out, it was obvious, and now I'm going to take the chance that the ump didn't see it and make a jackass out of myself by 'cheating' i

n front of everybody..."

 

you are taught as a little leaguer to stay on the base till the umpire calls you out. jones made no attempt to stay on the base or even get back on the bag

[CyHawk_Cub]

Damn, almost want him to let it hit him

 

I'd rather he not take one off the ribs myself... This game isn't worth potentially losing Rammy for a few games, IMO.

[cjbucks]

OK Cliffy time to find your HR power!!!

[CubColtPacer]

I still want to know some someone what is the strategy behind trying a takeout slide of the 3Bman on a bunt

 

Lilly is slow, and the ball was bunted hard enough for it to be a double play possibility.

 

Yup-I also just looked back at the Jones play. If Jones reacts instantly and dives back to the bag, Wright may have tagged him anyway (it would have been close). So there are no assurances that even if he knew he was safe, that he could have gotten back to the bag in time.

[Mizzou]

Theriot's foot was about an inch above the bag when Delgado caught the ball, get over it and move on.

[Guancous]

There's no way an umpire could tell Theriot was out in real time. No way.

[Soul]

Looks like Riot was out. It was incredibly close though

[Rusch33]

Maine having trouble finding the strike zone.

[Brian]

Is it just me or did Cliff used to stand a lot closer to the plate?

[Soul]

Cliffy just missed his pitch.

[FergieJ31]

I love how McCarver can't repeat often enough how the Cubs (Theriot) caught a break at first. Denkinger's call must still be hurting him.

[Radar3454]

come on guys - jones was dead to rights on the force, and the throw beat him. Jones knew he was out.

 

edit: it was a bad slide though

 

Well, hell, then he should've just walked into the dugout and not bothered sliding. It doesn't matter what Jones "knows" because the umpire evidently didn't know it.

 

it was an easy play. simple throw to third to get him on the force. like I said, JOnes knew he was out. should players fake it everytime it's a close call just to fool an ump (who the vast majority of the tme, will get the call right)?

 

There was no way possible for him to stay on the base w/ that slide - w/out that slide the ump gets the call right.

 

I think yes, they should. Play until it's over. Why wouldn't you -- is it not smart to attempt to get every advantage you can?

 

every advantage? i guess so. but all I keep thinking is that jumping on Jones for his reaction is unfair -- what is running through his head is expected and fine. i just don't expect a player to be that quick when the natural reaction is, "I'm out, and it was obvious." He's not going to think "I'm out, it was obvious, and now I'm going to take the chance that the ump didn't see it and make a jackass out of myself by 'cheating' i

n front of everybody..."

 

you are taught as a little leaguer to stay on the base till the umpire calls you out. jones made no attempt to stay on the base or even get back on the bag

[Electron Blue]

come on guys - jones was dead to rights on the force, and the throw beat him. Jones knew he was out.

 

edit: it was a bad slide though

 

Well, hell, then he should've just walked into the dugout and not bothered sliding. It doesn't matter what Jones "knows" because the umpire evidently didn't know it.

 

it was an easy play. simple throw to third to get him on the force. like I said, JOnes knew he was out. should players fake it everytime it's a close call just to fool an ump (who the vast majority of the tme, will get the call right)?

 

Hitters certainly don't decline walks on clear strikeouts. Pitchers don't decline strikeouts on clear balls. While I understand (and somewhat agree) with the honor and sportsmanship you are talking about, it clearly does not work that way. A player must accept the umpires call, beneficial or not, correct or not. Therefore, Jones should've attempted to get back on the bag and hoped for a blown call.

 

we're finding some middle ground here. But when you see players show up the umpire by starting to walk to first when they think they've earned the walk, what do you think? The ump delays his strike call and the player has to walk back... He ends up looking dishonest (for whatever that's worth) and, more importantly, you just showed up the umpire. Good luck getting the next close call. I think that's pretty comarable. Sure, that kind of thing happens, but it's not a good idea for sportsmanship and competitive reasons.

[Soul]

I feel like 5 years ago Cliff would have crushed 2 of those pitches.