Red Sox (Giolito) vs Cubs (Rea): 7/18/25, 1:20pm

[BigbadB]

15 hours ago, Derwood said:

What on earth was that baserunner doing?

Not sure if anyone responded to this, but watch that play again. PCA duped the runner into thinking that ball was going to drop. I don't always catch stuff like that, but this one I saw right away. PCA sorta pulled up as if he was going to play it on a hop and then the runner took off and he then sprinted to the ball and caught it. PCA even seemed surprised that he had a play at 2nd. Pure genius.

[Backtobanks]

50 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

Not sure if anyone responded to this, but watch that play again. PCA duped the runner into thinking that ball was going to drop. I don't always catch stuff like that, but this one I saw right away. PCA sorta pulled up as if he was going to play it on a hop and then the runner took off and he then sprinted to the ball and caught it. PCA even seemed surprised that he had a play at 2nd. Pure genius.

PCA pulled up because the ball was basically hit right to him.  That was a real bone head play by the runner.

[NorthsideAvenger]

7 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

PCA pulled up because the ball was basically hit right to him.  That was a real bone head play by the runner.

Why can't it both? A duped by PCA and a bonehead play by the runnrunner?

[BKHoo]

What the? The Brewers seem to now have the best starting five in baseball. 

[Rcal10]

14 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Why can't it both? A duped by PCA and a bonehead play by the runnrunner?

I tend to side with banks here. It was an easy ball hit to PCA. I was at the game with a view from behind home plate. It was an obvious out. I have no idea what that runner saw. Total boneheaded play. Everyone around us was shocked he ran. Especially the Red Sox fan behind me. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

2 hours ago, BKHoo said:

What the? The Brewers seem to now have the best starting five in baseball. 

I'm not even worry about them I believe August will be chilly for them. Cubs should keep during their thing.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

4 hours ago, BigbadB said:

Not sure if anyone responded to this, but watch that play again. PCA duped the runner into thinking that ball was going to drop. I don't always catch stuff like that, but this one I saw right away. PCA sorta pulled up as if he was going to play it on a hop and then the runner took off and he then sprinted to the ball and caught it. PCA even seemed surprised that he had a play at 2nd. Pure genius.

I like Pete as much as the next guy, but he didn’t dupe anyone. He barely moved for a line drive. That was nothing but a TOOTBLAN.

[Rcal10]

52 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I'm not even worry about them I believe August will be chilly for them. Cubs should keep during their thing.

I do think the Cubs will win the central. But to suggest not even worrying about the Brewers sound like someone in denial. Fact is, they are a very good team. They can pitch and field and do enough offensively to be a scary team. Admitting concern over the Brewers isn’t disrespecting the Cubs or suggesting they are better than the Cubs. It is just acknowledging they have a good team. If this were the first time the Brewers “overachieved” their expectations I would agree that it won’t continue. But they have done the same thing for years. That said, they are not going to continue to play .700 ball, like they have for around 45 games now. But I don’t expect them to go away, either. Cubs might have to win 95 games and the season series to beat the Brewers. Which I think they can. But that doesn’t mean I am not worried about the Brewers. 

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

I like Pete as much as the next guy, but he didn’t dupe anyone. He barely moved for a line drive. That was nothing but a TOOTBLAN.

What Pete did do very well is release the ball very quickly and accurately. I am sure Happ was yelling to throw to second. Pete was very quick to react after catching the ball. 

[BigbadB]

40 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

I like Pete as much as the next guy, but he didn’t dupe anyone. He barely moved for a line drive. That was nothing but a TOOTBLAN.

Not true. He made an impression that he wasn't going to get to that ball, which the runner bought into. Why do you think the runner was so far away from the bag?

[CubinNY]

4 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I tend to side with banks here. It was an easy ball hit to PCA. I was at the game with a view from behind home plate. It was an obvious out. I have no idea what that runner saw. Total boneheaded play. Everyone around us was shocked he ran. Especially the Red Sox fan behind me. 

The runner was watching PCA and not the ball. There is definitely a multiple control of events, but good on PCA. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/colin-rea-in-play-out-s-to-alex-bregman-8iqslk?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

[Rcal10]

21 minutes ago, Ding Dong Johnson said:

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/colin-rea-in-play-out-s-to-alex-bregman-8iqslk?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share

100% with you on this one. PCA didn’t do anything to deceive. Just a bone headed baserunning play. Listened to both the Red Sox announcers and the Cubs announcers, and saw the play live at the game. All agreed it was just a terrible read by the runner. 

[Bobson Dugnutt]

2 hours ago, BigbadB said:

Not true. He made an impression that he wasn't going to get to that ball, which the runner bought into. Why do you think the runner was so far away from the bag?

It looks like PCA adjusted his body a bit right before the catch to set himself up for the throw. Maybe that’s what you’re interpreting as duping the runner? Otherwise I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think PCA somewhat intentionally calmed his movements like the ball was going to drop, but also because he didn't have to move much further.  The runner underestimated how hard the ball was hit, and then misinterpreted that calming as PCA pulling up. One of the replays shows him looking out and then digging harder for 3rd before he realized he misread it and U-turning to 2nd.

[Rcal10]

1 minute ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

I think PCA somewhat intentionally calmed his movements like the ball was going to drop, but also because he didn't have to move much further.  The runner underestimated how hard the ball was hit, and then misinterpreted that calming as PCA pulling up. One of the replays shows him looking out and then digging harder for 3rd before he realized he misread it and U-turning to 2nd.

He definitely stopped and then started heading toward 3rd again. PCA did slow down but that was because he was in position to catch the ball. I really don’t think PCA did anything INTENTIONALLY to fool the guy on second. But for some reason him stopping did give the runner the idea the ball was dropping. Which makes no sense at all to me. I was at the game and my seats were behind home plate. I had the same view as the runner. It was obvious to everyone around us the ball was going to be caught.
As I said, PCA catching the ball in position to throw as quickly as possible was a very nice play by Pete. And he fired a strike to second. But I cannot give him credit for fooling the runner on purpose. 

[sweetpeteman]

27 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

As I said, PCA catching the ball in position to throw as quickly as possible was a very nice play by Pete. And he fired a strike to second.

I'm guessing he's not going to peak at what the runners are doing and is instead getting in position to come up throwing if the runner tries to tag for some reason.

[PeanutPunch33]

So when is Jed getting his extension.  Thought it would happen over the break