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Baseball Basics: The Unassisted Triple Play

Posted by on 11 November 2011, 3:47 am

 

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Colorado Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki turned an unassisted triple play back in 2007. Image via Wikipedia

“What is the hardest play in baseball?”

“The unassisted triple play.”

Does this question ring a bell at all? Maybe from a Holiday Inn Express commercial that played a million times throughout the regular season.

The ad wizards behind that one should be ecstatic because I have been asked to explain the unassisted triple play more times than I can count, because of that commercial. And ironically, it has been mostly girl friends and very mild baseball fans that have been so curious about the what, how and why of the unassisted triple play.

So, what is the definition of an unassisted triple play?

An unassisted triple play is when a defensive player gets all three outs on his own, within the same play. No other defensive player can touch the baseball or contribute in any way.

What happens in a “typical” unassisted triple play?

In a “typical” unassisted triple play there would be runners on first and second, and categorically there can be no outs in the inning.

The two base runners’ call for a hit and run, which entails both taking off the moment the ball leaves the pitchers hand. Basically it is like getting a head start.

Then the batter hits a line drive right at the shortstop, or second baseman that happens to be positioned close to second base. The SS or 2B catches the ball on the fly (out #1), then proceeds to touch second base (out #2) and then tags the runner who came from first (out #3).

Why are shortstops and second basemen purposely used in the example? Continue reading ‘Baseball Basics: The Unassisted Triple Play’ »

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MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox + Mets = Screw Yankees

Posted by on 18 July 2011, 5:31 pm
New York Mets SS - José Reyes

Image via Wikipedia

The Boston Globe recently featured a story by Nick Cafardo that suggested the Red Sox should have interest in New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes; as acquiring Reyes talents would put Boston over the top.

Fact is no matter the team, if any, were lucky enough to trade for Reyes, they would without question get better. On a team as skilled as the Red Sox his addition would be lethal.

No doubt the Red Sox’s weakest link is Marcus Scutaro at shortstop. Still, one would think that Boston’s off-season acquisitions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez would suffice when added to a line-up that already has Dustin Pedroia, Big Papi, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsburyto breed enough confidence but I guess Mr. Cafardo doesn’t agree.

The Mets price mid-season for Reyes would and should be huge. So, is it worth it for Boston to cripple their already depleted farm system and possibly plus another significant player?

My guess, if anything the package that could entice the Mets would have to include the likes of a Papelbon and a truckload of prospects. Boston skipper Terry Francona can rotate around Daniel Bard, Dan Wheeler and Alfredo Aceves in the closing role.

Who knows if Paps’ contract has a no-trade because you can bet he will pass on going to queens and wait to hit the free agent market at the end of 2011 instead. He is not the same closer he once was that is for sure.

That is just my thoughts on the situation, but according to Cafardo the Red Sox need for a better shortstop is grave.

Any team with a player as talented as Jose Reyes is getting more than just a good shortstop, as he is a five tool player.

The Globes Cafardo’s idea of the Red Sox obtaining Reyes would defiantly stick it to the Yankees.

Hopefully this was like the idea I had last week, when the Yankees were trading with the Phillies for Roy Halladay. Kidding…..

 

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MLB Trade Rumors: K-Rod Heading To Milwaukee Not The Bronx

Posted by on 13 July 2011, 12:34 am
A picture of Francisco Rodriguez I took Openin...

Image via Wikipedia

Sports Illustrated just confirmed via tweet from writer Jon Heyman, that New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, also known as K-Rod, is starting the second-half in Milwaukee, as a Brewer.

K-rod got traded to the Brewers about five minutes after Brewers Prince Fielder hoisted the All-Star Game’s MVP Award, as the NL beat the AL 5-1 and for the second year in a row.

So, what did the Mets get in return?

Two players to be named later, as they had to send cash to the Brewers to help eat some of K-rod’s remaining

The Mets did not want to be stuck with the $17.5 million option on K-rod’s contract for 2012 if he clocks 55 saves, a road that K-rod was heading down.

How the Mets players will feel about what message this sends with half the season left is how skipper Terry Collins and GM Sandy Alderson handle it in the next few days. What it tells me is that the Mets are vending but are not sellers, so don’t go thinking Jose Reyes or Carlos Beltron are next.

It gives the Mets needed financial flexibility, so cheers to GM Alderson for continuing his cleanup in Queens.

What are the Brewers getting?

A 29-year-old closer who is posting a 3.16 ERA with 23 saves, in just over 41 innings in total.

At one point K-rod had 19 saves in a row, but how the Brew-Crew will use K-rod remains a mystery as John Axford is already well cemented as Milwaukee’s fulltime closer.

Well, guess that means K-rod is not going to be a Yankee, even with his new agent being Scott Boras jamming him down their throats.

Let’s see how well K-rod can handle being a set-up man, as if he does the Brewers will be a tough team down the stretch.

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New York Yankees: Injury Update On Mariano Rivera

Posted by on 5 July 2011, 12:49 am

Following the game, I was driving back to the city from the long July 4th weekend listening to 1010 News for traffic updates.

As the news anchor was going over the sports scores, he was summing up the New York Yankees 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. He said AJ Burnett was perfect through six innings until he gave up a three-run homer to ex-Yankee Austin Kearns; how Curtis Granderson hit his 23rd home-run in the eighth…. this was all true.

Then the one-thing Yankee fans don’t want to hear was uttered; that All-Star closer Mariano Rivera was not available even if skipper Joe Girardi needed him. It was due to a sore left triceps and the newscaster went on to say that no tests were scheduled for Rivera at this point.

AP Sports Writer, Tom Withers confirmed the news after Girardi revealed it following the game in Cleveland. This is not comforting for Yankee fans, as masking the severity of injuries is a Bomber specialty.

The Sporting News is insinuating that this is enough of a reason for the Yankees to really explore obtaining the New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, better known as K-rod.

K-rod has already said that he would happily accept a set-up role if traded to the Yankees.

The question that remains whether the Yankees trade for another possible closer, or just use should-be All-Star David Robertson for the time being, while keeping their fingers crossed down the stretch.

Regardless, the 41-year-old Rivera is the rock of this ball club posting 21 saves and a 1.91 ERA on the season so far.

All fans can do is just pray that the Yankees are not down-playing this one because as of right now, this is not encouraging at all.

All I know is that life without Rivera is no life at all.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Adios Boone Logan Hello Hughes, K-Rod Or Lil Manny

Posted by on 22 June 2011, 3:41 am

MLB’s trade deadline is creeping up fast and the New York Yankees, like most teams need to remedy a few ills before the clock runs out on July 31st.

The Yankees are not in dire need for a starter much to the dismay of the sports media/Yankee-Haters. Even though the Bombers are riddled with injuries they continue to win and hopefully this will avoid any desperate move to deal one of out talented prospects, but don’t hold me to that.

Shockingly the Yankees biggest problem started out as the team’s biggest strength and vice versa. As the bullpen fell apart, while the starting rotation has been unbelievable.

The bullpen still has the greatest closer in MLB history, Mariano Rivera who already has 18 saves and is defying all odds at 41 years old.

Setting up for Mo is David Robertson, who has literally been a savior especially after Joba Chamberlain went down. Robertson is posting 47 strikeouts, with a 1.23 ERA and has isolated 19 of 25 collected base runners, in just shy 30 innings pitched.

These two are obviously not the problem, but lefty Boone Logan is a big one.

Bottom line is Logan not getting the job done as the sole LOOGY (Left Only One Out Guy) in the Yankees bullpen.

Logan is not on the roster by choice, but by chance and he is only getting worse. Logan’s 3.94 ERA is masking how bad he has been this season. He has allowed 16 hits, seven earned runs, one home-run, eight walks, pitching 16 innings and facing 25 batters in total.

In his latest outing, Logan threw just one pitch that plunked Reds Joey Votto in the back, leaving skipper Joe Girardi little choice but remove him.

The last thing any team can afford is a relief pitcher that jeopardizes winning games and that is Logan in a nutshell. He has to go, where doesn’t matter as much as when. As the last thing the Yankees need is Kyle Farnsworth part two.

THE POSSIBILITIES:

Well, the overall trade market looks limited this season, as there are a lot more teams still in playoff contention. Even the long shots that are flirting with collapse are not throwing in the towel just yet.

The go-to teams of the last two seasons, like the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals are all still in contention in the race for October.

The New York Mets are listening to offers, as they have the talent and need to slice some money off their high payroll but my guess is that they would rather pay-up than help the Yankees get better.

Mets fans have redefined being out through the ringer, and I trust the new Mets brass is well aware of this. So, don’t totally get your hopes up for K-rod, but removing the $18 million he is owed in 2010 is going to make it tempting for GM Sandy Alderson to move him. Continue reading ‘MLB Trade Rumors: Adios Boone Logan Hello Hughes, K-Rod Or Lil Manny’ »

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MLB Trade Rumors: Could The Yankees New Pitching Project Be Scott Kazmir

Posted by on 17 June 2011, 4:08 am
Scott Kazmir

Image by essny via Flickr

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman is planning to take a look at Los Angeles Angels outcast and ex-Tampa Bay Ray pitcher Scott Kazmir.

On June 16 2011, Kazmir was officially released by the Halos following a disastrous start in Tripe-A where he was 0-5, with an ERA north of 17.

Kazmir only made one start for the club this season before being demoted to Triple-A, but since arriving in Anaheim via trade back in 2009, Kazmir has been on a steady decline.

He first surfaced back in 2004 as part of the Devil Rays where he remained until the Angels traded for him in 2009.

In his five plus seasons in Tampa Bay, Kazmir had a 55-44 record, posting a 3.92 ERA in 144 starts. Kazmir was good, named to two All-Star Teams in 2006 and 2008; and in 2007 he lead the majors in strikeouts, fanning 239 batters that season.

Since the beginning, Kazmir had continuously agonized from strains in his elbow and shoulder due to lacking a consistent release point. My guess is the Angels thought his mechanics were fixable, as Kazmir was only 6 feet tall, short by MLB pitching standards but easier to tweak. Also, being 25-years old at the time and a lefty didn’t hurt either.

Well, the relationship between Kazmir and the Halos resembled an arranged marriage that seemed doomed from the start.

Incoming with hurt feelings that the Rays let him go, Kazmir hasn’t been able to recover and has been so ineffective it is mind-boggling.

First Kazmir’s velocity went south; then he lost total command of his pitches and was accused for his lack of work ethic.

Who really knows, but fact remains that in 2010 things got ugly. As Kazmir finished with a 9-15 record in 28 starts, posting a 5.94 ERA, giving up a career high 99 earned runs, 25 home-runs and he only pitched 150 innings in total.

This season, the Halos gave him another shot to get it together. Kazmir imploded in his first outing and was sent down to Triple-A immediately, where he as been up until a few days ago.

Kazmir is now only 27-year-old, and without question has exhibited consistent dominance for long enough periods that will leave him with options, but it is now or never.

So, presumably you can bet the Yankees are not the only team thinking about inking him to minor league deal.

Dan Martin from the NY Post reports the New York Mets have shown interest, ironically the team drafted Kazmir before handing him over to the Devil Rays. Maybe a welcome homecoming of familiarity would work?

No doubt all the factors of a good comeback story are certainly here.

Whether Kazmir wants to pitch for the remainder of 2011 on a Minor League contract is what no one can verify. The Halos still owe him a $9 million dollar paycheck for the remainder of the season, so if he does sign somewhere it is not cause he needs the money.

As for what I think regarding the Yankees signing Kazmir on as their new project?

Well, whether Kazmir can get better depends on whether he can turn his bitterness into motivation.

So, my opinion is that I don’t really care because Kazmir would only be seen in the Bronx if he righted himself, and who doesn’t love a good bargain buy.

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New York Yankees: CC Sabathia Is Actually Right On Track

Posted by on 19 May 2011, 1:35 pm

Since 2009, the anchor of the New York Yankees starting rotation is CC Sabathia.

Sabathia is one of the best pitchers in the game and known to have a personality to match.

So far, it has seemed that 2011 has not been the best start for the 30-year-old Sabathia, but he has always been a second-half pitcher. This is evident looking at his career splits, as his numbers are lower post-All-Star break almost across the board in hits, earned runs, home-runs, walks and strikeouts.

(chart from BASEBALLREFERENCE.COM)

(click on chart if it is hard to read to go to direct page)

Sabathia has made nine starts this season, posting a 3.47 ERA, while giving up 50 hits, 23 earned runs, three home-runs and has walked 21 batters in 53 inning pitched. He does lead the team in strikeouts with 50.

When you look at Sabathia’s first nine starts from 2009-2011, the similarities are comforting but it also clearly shows a pattern. Look at the chart I made below, from stats courtesy of BASEBALLREFERNCE.COM.

IP=innings pitcher; ER=earned runs; HR=home-runs; SO=strikeouts; BB=base on balls or walks; ERA=earned run average

Sabathia’s 2011 starts seem a lot worse than they read because he took two losses that he could have won, but the Yankees bats or the bullpen stumbled. Also, his last start against the Boston Red Sox was his poorest thus far, pitching just over 6 innings and giving up six earned runs, a home-run and three walks.

My prediction is to expect a big night for Sabathia tonight down in Baltimore against the Orioles.

Let’s just hope this game will go the standard nine innings, as the Yankees host their home team rival New York Mets in the first half of the Subway Series, in the Bronx just 24-hours later.

 

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