The Mariners did a very interesting and bizarre thing yesterday. Actually, the Marlins did most of the work and the M's happily capitalized. But, just to be clear, scoring what would become the winning run on an attempted intentional walk doesn't happen all that often. Nearly never.
The play again, until MLB makes me take it down for some reason.
First of all, I love it when an intentional walk (or at least an attempted one) backfires. The IBB may be strategically and statistically sound, but it's also lazy and boring. And it is so very gratifying when the next batter hits a home run. It is infinitely more gratifying when the pitcher can't even hit his catcher.
And that brings me to this sub-thought: you'd be inclined to think that somebody receiving yearly paychecks worth more than the average human earns in a lifetime FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THROWING A BALL would, in fact, be able to throw a ball. But something happens when pitchers leave their comfort zones. When they're on the mound, in their stretch, in their windup, in their delivery, they are locked in. But when they have to throw it to a base, or even when they have to soft-toss it to their catcher, they're a little bit out of their element. Most guys can keep their crap together. But sometimes, every once in a while, HILARITY ENSUES.
An odd thing about this particular oddity, had Seattle batted last in the inning instead of first, the ballgame would have instantly ended. This was Seattle's ballpark. Seattle should have batted second. I'm sure there was a reason why everybody pretended this was a Marlins home game, but I wasn't paying attention. So the Marlins actually had a chance to redeem themselves. They didn't, of course. Although there was some Florida vindication in the fact that the hitter, Carlos Paguero, struck out once the intentional walk was deemed unnecessary.
My favorite thing about this incident -- about the video, really -- is angry frustrated curmudgeonly cussy Jack McKeon at the :24 second mark. At 80-years-old McKeon is the second-oldest manager in MLB history (Connie Mack managed until he was 88, but he also owned the team, so he could do whatever he wanted as old as he wanted to). McKeon is OLD BEANS, and his team falls apart sometimes, and he behaves exactly like the salty dog he is. Maybe I'm just too easily amused by the elderly.
For the record, Jack McKeon could probably beat me up.
I've seen this happen before, where a pitcher tries to intentionally walk a batter and ends up throwing the ball into outer space, and subsequently loses the game. I recall seeing it happen in some sort of college game that occurred a few years ago. But it's rare. Cherish the absurdity. And don't expect to see it happen again tomorrow. Although this is baseball, and the same thing could be happening right now as we speak.
Shoot, I'm missing baseball, aren't I?
The play again, until MLB makes me take it down for some reason.
First of all, I love it when an intentional walk (or at least an attempted one) backfires. The IBB may be strategically and statistically sound, but it's also lazy and boring. And it is so very gratifying when the next batter hits a home run. It is infinitely more gratifying when the pitcher can't even hit his catcher.
And that brings me to this sub-thought: you'd be inclined to think that somebody receiving yearly paychecks worth more than the average human earns in a lifetime FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THROWING A BALL would, in fact, be able to throw a ball. But something happens when pitchers leave their comfort zones. When they're on the mound, in their stretch, in their windup, in their delivery, they are locked in. But when they have to throw it to a base, or even when they have to soft-toss it to their catcher, they're a little bit out of their element. Most guys can keep their crap together. But sometimes, every once in a while, HILARITY ENSUES.
An odd thing about this particular oddity, had Seattle batted last in the inning instead of first, the ballgame would have instantly ended. This was Seattle's ballpark. Seattle should have batted second. I'm sure there was a reason why everybody pretended this was a Marlins home game, but I wasn't paying attention. So the Marlins actually had a chance to redeem themselves. They didn't, of course. Although there was some Florida vindication in the fact that the hitter, Carlos Paguero, struck out once the intentional walk was deemed unnecessary.
My favorite thing about this incident -- about the video, really -- is angry frustrated curmudgeonly cussy Jack McKeon at the :24 second mark. At 80-years-old McKeon is the second-oldest manager in MLB history (Connie Mack managed until he was 88, but he also owned the team, so he could do whatever he wanted as old as he wanted to). McKeon is OLD BEANS, and his team falls apart sometimes, and he behaves exactly like the salty dog he is. Maybe I'm just too easily amused by the elderly.
For the record, Jack McKeon could probably beat me up.
I've seen this happen before, where a pitcher tries to intentionally walk a batter and ends up throwing the ball into outer space, and subsequently loses the game. I recall seeing it happen in some sort of college game that occurred a few years ago. But it's rare. Cherish the absurdity. And don't expect to see it happen again tomorrow. Although this is baseball, and the same thing could be happening right now as we speak.
Shoot, I'm missing baseball, aren't I?
