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Friday, August 06, 2010

Masato Akamatsu Makes One of the Greatest Catches Ever

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 06, 2010 at 05:20 PM | 65 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: japan

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1. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:12 PM (#3610006)

Why do Japanese teams have their team names written in English on their unis? According to Babelfish, "carp" is ?? in Japanese

2. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:13 PM (#3610007)

He just earned a $50 million deal with the Angels.

3. YR Misses Reggie Bars Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:15 PM (#3610011)

That was one damn impressive catch.

4. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:17 PM (#3610015)

Why do Japanese teams have their team names written in English on their unis? According to Babelfish, "carp" is ?? in Japanese

For the same reason Americans seem to like to get tattoos of words in Japanese characters.

5. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:18 PM (#3610016)

I always hate it when a guy catches a ball that would have hit five feet below the top of the wall and the announcer says " he robbed him of a Home Run!"

THAT was robbing some one of a home run.

6. JJ1986 Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:19 PM (#3610017)

That batter's swing looks like Fernando Tatis.

7. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:26 PM (#3610020)

I wonder if Bud is going to go after Hiroshima for use of the Reds logo like he sic'd the lawyers on Little League teams doing the same.

8. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:29 PM (#3610021)

I dig that centerfielder's grin as he throws the ball back in.

9. hokieneer Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:29 PM (#3610022)

I love how the CF lands and doesn't react at all to what he just did. He's completely nonchalant throwing the ball back in. He's trying to play it off so cool, but he just can't hold back that ear to ear grin.

EDIT: I saw Edmonds make a great HR-robbing catch against the Reds. He just took off in a dead sprint screaming like he just won the lottery. Edmonds' play would be on the opposite end of the celebration spectrum to this.

10. Non-Youkilidian Geometry Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:33 PM (#3610028)

Wow. I'm speechless. Do you remember that fake video that circulated around the Internet a couple of years ago that purported to show a minor league ballgirl make an incredible wall-scaling catch (it turned out to actually be a Gatorade viral ad or something like that)? This catch is better, and real (not to mention that the ball the fake ballgirl caught was foul anyway).

11. The Yankee Clapper Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:34 PM (#3610030)

More ballparks should be designed so outfielders can climb the walls. The Red Sox could put rungs going up the Green Monster.

12. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:34 PM (#3610031)

I wonder if Bud is going to go after Hiroshima for use of the Reds logo like he sic'd the lawyers on Little League teams doing the same.

Apart from statute of limitations type stuff, Hiroshima wouldn't be the only one. The Dragons kinda sweet looking unis copied the Dodgers, the Giants looked like the Giants, etc...

13. Davo Mastroianni Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:35 PM (#3610032)

He just earned a $50 million deal with the Angels.

Winner.

14. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:36 PM (#3610033)

This was pretty cool.

15. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:42 PM (#3610039)

Never saw him... oh, wait, yes I did.

When did scaling the wall become a Thing? Who are the earliest guys known for making this kind of play?
I remember Dave Winfield's cleats digging into the padding, but he didn't do that all the time, did he?

16. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:49 PM (#3610045)

Who are the earliest guys known for making this kind of play?

Bobby Valentine?

17. AndrewJ Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:54 PM (#3610052)

The resolution on that clip was so weak I assumed for a second it was a PlayStation 3 video game highlight.

Who are the earliest guys known for making this kind of play?

Bobby Valentine?

Pete Reiser would have tried, but the walls kept taking him down.

18. TerpNats Posted: August 06, 2010 at 08:59 PM (#3610054)

When did scaling the wall become a Thing? Who are the earliest guys known for making this kind of play?

Joe Rudi, 1972 World Series.

19. Neil Kinnock...Lord Palmerston! (Orinoco) Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:02 PM (#3610058)

Big deal.

Major League 3 did that already. A Japanese guy too.

20. RobertMachemer Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:07 PM (#3610064)

What I don't understand is why the fans aren't on their feet applauding the play. What would that guy have to have done to have gotten a standing ovation from his home crowd?

21. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:10 PM (#3610067)

Right, and Sam Rice made a famous catch over the wall, too.
I really meant, Who are the earliest guys known for regularly making, or even attempting, over-the-wall catches?

22. RobertMachemer Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:21 PM (#3610077)

My earliest memory of a catch going up a wall to rob a home run was Willie McGee (which probably says more about my age than anything else). I feel like I also have a vague memory of Yaz's catching a ball and going over the right field wall in 1983, but that's one that probably wouldn't withstand a James/Neyer tracer.

23. CFiJ Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:36 PM (#3610082)

Why do Japanese teams have their team names written in English on their unis? According to Babelfish, "carp" is ?? in Japanese

Japanese uniforms use English for the same reason Major League Soccer teams have names like DC United, Real Salt Lake, and Toronto FC. Those are the kinds of names that exist in soccer around the world, particularly among successful teams. Baseball is an American game, so the Japanese teams were named in the American style. All NPB names are in English, and so the uniforms are written in English. The name of the Hiroshima team is not koi, it's "Carp", so the team name is in English.

Similarly, J-League soccer team names include English, Italian, or Spanish elements.

There is a practical reason for using English rather than Japanese. For example, koi is commonly written ??, but this is akin to using italics for Latin scientific names. If I'm writing a scholarly article, I'd use ??, but if I was writing a poem or trying to evoke the image of the fish, I'd use the Chinese character: ?. Now imagine trying to read that from a distance, on a uniform. English (particularly the written variety) is compulsory in Japanese schools, so no one really has a problem reading uniforms.

Oh, and that's a fantastic catch! ?????????????

24. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:38 PM (#3610085)

I feel like I also have a vague memory of Yaz's catching a ball and going over the right field wall in 1983, but that's one that probably wouldn't withstand a James/Neyer tracer.

Yeah, it wouldn't unless he had really great range in his 17 innings at first base that year.

25. Guapo Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:43 PM (#3610087)

26. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:43 PM (#3610089)

I really meant, Who are the earliest guys known for regularly making, or even attempting, over-the-wall catches?

Ken Berry of the early-1970s White Sox did it on at least a couple of occasions.

27. Justin T is expanding the aperture of awareness Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:46 PM (#3610090)

I'm sure I'm in the minority, and rightfully so, but I think I prefer Billy Wagner's grab of Renteria's liner last night to this catch. It was more than 50% luck, but it was just cool.

28. AndrewJ Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:49 PM (#3610093)

And Akamatsu's catch for Hiroshima comes on the 65th anniversary of Hiroshima's other claim to fame.

29. TVerik Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:56 PM (#3610096)

Billy Wagner is playing baseball this year? In the majors?

30. CFiJ Posted: August 06, 2010 at 09:57 PM (#3610097)

Check out this picture. The guy on the right is absolutely hilaripus.

31. McCoy Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:00 PM (#3610099)

More ballparks should be designed so outfielders can climb the walls. The Red Sox could put rungs going up the Green Monster.

I'm pretty sure that under MLB rules that ball would have been declared a homer. Well, that is if the umps had the balls to call the rulebook and I'm sure managers like LaRussa would make sure the ump didn't forget the rulebook.

32. Neil Kinnock...Lord Palmerston! (Orinoco) Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:02 PM (#3610100)

I'd use the Chinese character: ?. Now imagine trying to read that from a distance, on a uniform.

Um, a hundred million Chinese people do that everyday.

There are different caligraphic styles to write the character instead of the staid typeface.

33. YR Misses Reggie Bars Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:06 PM (#3610102)

Um, a hundred million Chinese people do that everyday.

So even the Chinese have less than a 10% chance!

34. CFiJ Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:06 PM (#3610104)

Of course, the thread wouldn't be complete without a link to the original fence-scaling catch that has inspired generation after generation of young Japanese baseball lads.

35. God Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:07 PM (#3610105)

I wonder if Bud is going to go after Hiroshima for use of the Reds logo like he sic'd the lawyers on Little League teams doing the same.

If they start doing stuff like that, do the Giants get to go after the Mets? Do the Dodgers get to sue the Royals?

36. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:09 PM (#3610106)

Um, a hundred million Chinese people do that everyday.

There are more baseball fans in China than I realized.

37. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:10 PM (#3610107)

Of course, the thread wouldn't be complete without a link to the original fence-scaling catch that has inspired generation after generation of young Japanese baseball lads.

Suddenly I have this weird memory of Dave Parker (!) making a catch like this -- is that even possible?

38. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:10 PM (#3610108)

Gary Pettis was the first guy I remember who used to make people hold their breath until the ball hit the ground/stands before they were really sure it was a HR. He was very impressive to watch.

39. CFiJ Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:13 PM (#3610110)

Um, a hundred million Chinese people do that everyday.

Didn't say it was impossible (many Japanese high schools use Chinese characters on their uniforms), only that Roman letters lend themselves better to uniform graphic design. On the flip side, kanji/hanzi lend themselves better to hat logos!

40. xdog Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:15 PM (#3610111)

Very odd. The guy who hit the ball could pass for Andruw Jones and the catch wasn't beyond Jones in his mid-20s.

41. Swoboda is freedom Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:17 PM (#3610112)

Who are the earliest guys known for making this kind of play?

Bump Bailey, but it didn't work out too well.

42. Neil Kinnock...Lord Palmerston! (Orinoco) Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:25 PM (#3610113)

(many Japanese high schools use Chinese characters on their uniforms)

Didn't know that. Good to know.

On the flip side, kanji/hanzi lend themselves better to hat logos!

Only the single character team names though. A Chicago Bears hat would kick ass. The Cubs, less so.

43. Gamingboy Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:26 PM (#3610114)

This is the picture of the day. Yes, I know i've been lazy of late.

44. McCoy Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:32 PM (#3610117)

Only the single character team names though. A Chicago Bears hat would kick ass. The Cubs, less so.

Here is what the Bears would look like

and here is what the cubs would look like

45. Bhaakon Posted: August 06, 2010 at 10:53 PM (#3610128)

Only the single character team names though. A Chicago Bears hat would kick ass. The Cubs, less so.

Here is what the Bears would look like

and here is what the cubs would look like

Yes, but how do you write "Duh Bears" in kanji?

46. McCoy Posted: August 06, 2010 at 11:02 PM (#3610131)

You put a Ditka stache at the bottom of it.

47. villageidiom Posted: August 06, 2010 at 11:15 PM (#3610141)

More ballparks should be designed so outfielders can climb the walls. The Red Sox could put rungs going up the Green Monster.

Uh, they already have a ladder there. Oddly, the ladder serves no useful purpose since they put the monster seats in, but it's still there.

I feel like I also have a vague memory of Yaz's catching a ball and going over the right field wall in 1983, but that's one that probably wouldn't withstand a James/Neyer tracer.

Yaz in RF? His last season? Crashing into the stands? I doubt it. I'd thought his only game in the OF that year was his last career game, when they put him in LF.

48. Kiko Sakata

Posted: August 06, 2010 at 11:37 PM (#3610166)

Yaz in RF?

According to BB-Ref, Yaz last played RF in 1980, when he played 4 games, starting 1, 15 innings total, and made 3 catches. Somebody else can try to find his three catches that season to see if any of them might have been home-run robberies in Fenway.

Actually, looking closer, according to BB-Ref, he only played RF 8 times total in his career and only made a grand total of 5 putouts there (he started 2 games each in 1965 and 1977; he had no total chances in the former season, 2 putouts in the latter).

49. OCF Posted: August 06, 2010 at 11:58 PM (#3610202)

I remember hearing that Curt Flood "climbed walls". That was probably a reference to a particular play he made in the mid 1960's, but I never saw a clip and can't pin it down any better than that. Maybe Brock Hanke could tell us?

50. Mefisto Posted: August 07, 2010 at 01:02 AM (#3610257)

Willie Mays made at least one over-the-fence catch, and I suspect he made more.

51. mathesond Posted: August 07, 2010 at 02:34 AM (#3610368)

Wasn't Mickey Rivers noted for making some wall-scaling catches?

52. Bruce Markusen Posted: August 07, 2010 at 02:41 AM (#3610369)

Ron Woods was known for regularly making catches at the old Yankee Stadium in which he would leap and then fall over the right field wall into the bleachers. The old Stadium had a very low fence in right field, making this sort of thing possible, but Woods was particularly good at it--and brave enough to land headfirst in the right field stands.

53. Shinbone Posted: August 07, 2010 at 03:57 AM (#3610391)

Yaz' best fence- climbing catch came when he robbed Johnny Bench in LF at RFK Stadium in the '69 All Star game.

54. Carlo Paz Posted: August 07, 2010 at 04:00 AM (#3610393)

I second the Ken Berry reference. Man, that guy was a fantastic CF in Comiskey and I remember him scaling the center field wall on multiple occasions. (Too bad he hit like a pitcher).

55. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) Posted: August 07, 2010 at 05:25 AM (#3610414)

That was pretty sweet. Helped by the wall that looks like it is maybe 6 feet high? Aren't major league park walls typically higher? 8 feet? Allowed him to get his foot up on the top of it.

56. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: August 07, 2010 at 05:36 AM (#3610419)

That was pretty sweet. Helped by the wall that looks like it is maybe 6 feet high? Aren't major league park walls typically higher? 8 feet? Allowed him to get his foot up on the top of it.

Typically, though a few parks retain the four-foot wall in the corners (Anaheim and Chavez Ravine, and Fenway for the all of right field. There may be a few others. I can't think of any six-footers in MLB, though I can't say for sure.

57. John Reynard Posted: August 07, 2010 at 05:42 AM (#3610426)

The coolest catch I can remember watching live is the one Otis Nixon made in like 1991-92. He just ran up the wall and planted his foot to make the catch. TBS ran that in their lead-in to games for like a decade after that. This one was almost as good if I'd watched it live.

58. Steve Phillips' Hot Cougar (DrStankus) Posted: August 07, 2010 at 06:42 AM (#3610437)

whoa, awesome 1 hour plus lag on the double post.

59. RobertMachemer Posted: August 07, 2010 at 07:05 AM (#3610440)

If the memory is not completely made up, it must be someone's going over the fence to rob (or nearly rob) Yaz of a home run then. I readily acknowledge that memory is a tricky thing. (He didn't have THAT many home runs in 1983 -- how many were at home? Chances are that it was on a Saturday since I saw it on tv and I was young enough for it to have been a day game -- that makes it sound a lot like an NBC Game of the Week).

60. RobertMachemer Posted: August 07, 2010 at 07:10 AM (#3610441)

July 9th, 1983, was a Saturday on which Yaz hit a home run at Fenway. July 30th, same thing.

Any way of looking up how long the home runs were? To what field they were hit?

61. Shredder Posted: August 07, 2010 at 08:18 AM (#3610447)

60 posts in and no one made an Asian Carp joke?

62. Flynn Posted: August 07, 2010 at 11:09 AM (#3610458)

I'm pretty sure the Red Sox player who caught a ball and went over the fence was Dewey.

63. michaelplank Posted: August 07, 2010 at 02:12 PM (#3610504)

I'm pretty sure the Red Sox player who caught a ball and went over the fence was Dewey.

He famously did so in the 1975 WS, going over the low wall in the RF corner to rob Morgan (?) and double up Griffey (?) at first. A great catch at a big moment, but not as "circus" as this one.

The coolest catch I can remember watching live is the one Otis Nixon made in like 1991-92. He just ran up the wall and planted his foot to make the catch. TBS ran that in their lead-in to games for like a decade after that. This one was almost as good if I'd watched it live.

Like Evans' catch and the Devon White shoulda been triple play in the World Series, Nixon's catch was all the more impressive for the context in which it occurred. It was the first year the Braves got good, late in the season, big game against a division rival (Cincinnati, IIRC) and I think it actually ended the game with, at least, the tying run on base.

I still put White's catch at the top of the list.

64. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: August 09, 2010 at 01:02 PM (#3611698)

Nixon's catch was against Pittsburgh, and I'm pretty sure it was an early or mid-season game. The only reason I remember the timing is that I was coaching Little League that year, and one of the other coaches was talking about it at practice. The Braves only had one hit in that game, but won 1-0.

65. Barnaby Jones Posted: August 09, 2010 at 01:27 PM (#3611712)

Nixon's catch was in the ninth inning, and it preserved a 13 game winning streak in 1992, which is the context that made it more dramatic. It wasn't actually game ending; Bonds came up and grounded out.

video

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Masato Akamatsu Makes One of the Greatest Catches Ever

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