Hunter Simply Hands The A's Game Two
A'S ARE ONE GAME AWAY FROM THE ALCS, AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN
I have a tendency to scream out loud when a players makes a boneheaded play. It doesn't matter whether it's my team or not. When Torii Hunter squandered away Game 2 of the Division Series I yelled, "What are you doing!"
Hunter's misplay of Mark Kotsay's tailing flyball to center is one of the most egregious defensive mistakes you'll ever see; be it the regular series or a postseason pressure cooker.
Let me count the ways the Hunter may have blown the entire series for the Twins:
Aside from the outfield acrobatic, why did Hunter think taking such a risky move as diving for a difficult fly was justified with two outs? Basic baseball fundamentals rationalize it this way: if there's no out or even one, making such a leap might warrant the risk because Oakland had the means of a big inning. With two out, it's different. If Hunter pulls up, the runner scores or holds at third and there's the faith that Dennys Reyes gets the third out.
Hunter's route to the flyball was highly suspect. The angle he had on the ball was not even close to where the ball actually landed. Replays showed that Hunter's glove hand was extended outward towards the centerfield wall illustrating that the ball was way over his head well into his dive.
Worst of all, Hunter kicked the collective Twins Nation in the crotch. You could see it in his face and there were too many Twins players with their heads down to make much of difference when the series moves to Oakland Friday afternoon. They could still bounce back, but in light of the growing list of poorly executed baseball, it seems doubtful, even with a burgeoning A's postseason jinx lurking off 66th Avenue.
ROUND ONE GOES TO THE METS
What a game at Shea today. If Game 1 is any indication, we may be looking at one of the classic Division Series of all-time.
Despite an iffy performance from the Dodgers bullpen, these teams look like two prizefighters pummeling each other for 15 rounds.
TIGERS/YANKS RAINOUT GAME 2
Question: how did it go from 80 degrees in Queens to torrential rain showers in the Bronx within three hours? Might a heavenly oddsmaker be telling us something
I have a tendency to scream out loud when a players makes a boneheaded play. It doesn't matter whether it's my team or not. When Torii Hunter squandered away Game 2 of the Division Series I yelled, "What are you doing!"
Hunter's misplay of Mark Kotsay's tailing flyball to center is one of the most egregious defensive mistakes you'll ever see; be it the regular series or a postseason pressure cooker.
Let me count the ways the Hunter may have blown the entire series for the Twins:
Aside from the outfield acrobatic, why did Hunter think taking such a risky move as diving for a difficult fly was justified with two outs? Basic baseball fundamentals rationalize it this way: if there's no out or even one, making such a leap might warrant the risk because Oakland had the means of a big inning. With two out, it's different. If Hunter pulls up, the runner scores or holds at third and there's the faith that Dennys Reyes gets the third out.
Hunter's route to the flyball was highly suspect. The angle he had on the ball was not even close to where the ball actually landed. Replays showed that Hunter's glove hand was extended outward towards the centerfield wall illustrating that the ball was way over his head well into his dive.
Worst of all, Hunter kicked the collective Twins Nation in the crotch. You could see it in his face and there were too many Twins players with their heads down to make much of difference when the series moves to Oakland Friday afternoon. They could still bounce back, but in light of the growing list of poorly executed baseball, it seems doubtful, even with a burgeoning A's postseason jinx lurking off 66th Avenue.
ROUND ONE GOES TO THE METS
What a game at Shea today. If Game 1 is any indication, we may be looking at one of the classic Division Series of all-time.
Despite an iffy performance from the Dodgers bullpen, these teams look like two prizefighters pummeling each other for 15 rounds.
TIGERS/YANKS RAINOUT GAME 2
Question: how did it go from 80 degrees in Queens to torrential rain showers in the Bronx within three hours? Might a heavenly oddsmaker be telling us something
