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Thursday, February 04, 2010

Baseball Player to the Bench After Failed Home Stealing

Despite leading the game 2-1, Villa Clara manager Eduardo Martin was not too pleased when in the third inning, his first batsman decided to score based only in his speed and the surprise.

Seconds after the umpired had called the out, Martin decreed the very same, sending the risk-taker to warm the bench for the rest of the match.

In an exclusive interview to ACN news agency, Leonys said that: “I was looking at the catcher for several pitches; I thought it was the right time and went for it. If he (the catcher) would have returned the baseball to the pitcher as I had foreseen, I had stolen home even without sliding”

Bet he didn’t get any ice cream after the game, either.

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: February 04, 2010 at 07:40 PM | 19 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. ess eff Posted: February 04, 2010 at 08:26 PM (#3454239)

Glenn Brummer says manager Eduardo Martin just doesn't appreciate genius.

2. Rich Rifkin Posted: February 04, 2010 at 09:04 PM (#3454274)

Two reasons to hate British English:

... not too pleased when in the third inning, his first batsman decided ...

... sending the risk-taker to warm the bench for the rest of the match.

After the pitch the Fleet Streeter had tea time in the dressing room with the lad.

3. bunyon Posted: February 04, 2010 at 09:17 PM (#3454288)

So, was this the thinking: "You know, after every pitch, the catcher just throws the ball back to the pitcher. He never tags anyone. Therefore, he won't tag me." ?

4. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: February 04, 2010 at 09:38 PM (#3454318)

And added that he will keep trying it, despite the possibility of been ousted again.

“I work for the team, and that is enough for me” said the player after expressing his disagreement with the manager. “I am not afraid of the bench”

It's like the script for a hard-boiled cop drama dressed up in the clothes of a sports movie:

A: "This is insubordination! Put your spikes and your cap on my desk, Martin. You're suspended!"

B: "Fine, take my spikes, but I'll never stop running! And none of the pointy heads in the front office can make me!"

5. Joe Mauer Power Hour Posted: February 04, 2010 at 10:01 PM (#3454337)

So, was this the thinking: "You know, after every pitch, the catcher just throws the ball back to the pitcher. He never tags anyone. Therefore, he won't tag me." ?

I'm guessing it was more like, "you know, after every pitch, the catcher has his back to me and never so much as looks my way. I could be halfway home with the ball on the way back to the pitcher before he knows I'm coming."

6. flournoy Posted: February 05, 2010 at 12:24 AM (#3454413)

I guess he forgot that everyone would be screaming to the catcher that the runner was coming, then.

So is the "first batsmen" the leadoff hitter or the first baseman?

7. Frank McCourt's Gold Stars are in bankruptcy court Posted: February 05, 2010 at 12:27 AM (#3454415)

Leonys Martin! He's just like a kid out there!

8. Mr2bits Posted: February 05, 2010 at 01:02 AM (#3454426)

"I guess he forgot that everyone would be screaming to the catcher that the runner was coming, then."

I've stolen home in this manner. The key is to take a non-chalant walking lead down the line so as not to attract any attention, and then run like hell as soon as the catcher is about to release the ball to the pitcher (or be ready to dive back to third). It only works if the catcher makes a normal, lazy throw back to the pitcher...basically you're counting on the defense to fall asleep.

9. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: February 05, 2010 at 01:24 AM (#3454434)

This story reminds me of this classic sequence.

10. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: February 05, 2010 at 01:32 AM (#3454437)

Hell, my best friend in high school once tried to steal second in the top of the ninth with nobody out and with our team three runs behind. Problem was, he ran like Fatty Fothergill and got thrown out by ten feet.

Just before we picked him up and threw him into the Potomac, we asked him if he had an explanation. He said he was just trying to "shake up the pitcher."

11. flournoy Posted: February 05, 2010 at 01:46 AM (#3454442)

I've stolen home in this manner. The key is to take a non-chalant walking lead down the line so as not to attract any attention, and then run like hell as soon as the catcher is about to release the ball to the pitcher (or be ready to dive back to third).

Yeah, I've done that too... when I was in Little League. The old delayed steal. It works a lot better with 75 or 60 foot basepaths and defenders who usually have trouble throwing and catching the ball. I don't think it works well in "real" baseball.

12. Kurt Posted: February 05, 2010 at 02:12 AM (#3454447)

Thanks, David. Those were great.

13. SoSH U at work Posted: February 05, 2010 at 02:47 AM (#3454452)

Didn't someone, perhaps Jayson Werth, steal home that way in the past year or two?

14. Tuque

Posted: February 05, 2010 at 05:50 AM (#3454525)

Some kid did that to me in Little League. I was so pissed off.

15. El Hijo del Ron Santo (Alan Keiper) Posted: February 05, 2010 at 11:39 AM (#3454565)

Jayson Werth did steal home with exactly that method this past season. In the seventh inning he actually stole his way around the bases.

Werth's four stolen base game

16. Tim McCarver's Orange Marmalade Posted: February 05, 2010 at 12:07 PM (#3454569)

... not too pleased when in the third inning, his first batsman decided ...

... sending the risk-taker to warm the bench for the rest of the match.

This is from the Cuban News Agency. Who knew that in Cuba they talk like a bunch of Limeys?

17. Who wants Teixeira dessert? Posted: February 05, 2010 at 01:27 PM (#3454588)

A line like that really bothered me in that Edward Ruthefurd book about New York, he cited the Yankees as having "made" eight runs in an inning towards the end, after going most of the book without being obviously British about things, or at least avoiding phrases like "taking" decisions, and storing luggage in the "boot". Almost bothered me as much as that u in his last name.

18. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: February 05, 2010 at 01:33 PM (#3454591)

"I keek a touchdown."

19. RMc's grumbling has gone far enough Posted: February 05, 2010 at 02:34 PM (#3454621)

"I keek a touchdown."

When I first heard Garo Yepremian say this, I thought he was saying "Kiki Touchdown", and wondered if she was any relation to Kiki Dee.

OK, I was twelve.

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Baseball Player to the Bench After Failed Home Stealing

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