The Yankees made three huge, and potentially fatal, baserunning errors in tonight’s 4-2 loss to the Tigers but Jorge Posada’s ill-fated decision to try to steal second with two out in the sixth inning and Andruw Jones at the plate particularly irked the manager, a reaction Joe Girardi didn’t even attempt to conceal.
“Jorgie’s play? It just can’t happen,’’ Girardi said. “It just can’t happen. How does it affect the game? None of us will really know. But you hate to make foolish outs.’‘
Posada decided to take off on a 1-2 pitch to Jones, but Tigers starter Brad Penny spotted his move, stepped off the rubber and easily threw him out about 20 feet short of second base. “They weren’t paying attention to me and I was just trying to get into scoring position for Andruw,’’ Posada said. “I thought I could sneak in there. I messed up, you know? Completely. I messed up. What can I tell you?’’
Asked if he had spoken to Posada about the mistake, Girardi tersely said, “We talked about it. Just leave it at that. You can’t go there. Bottom line is, you can’t go there.’‘
Repoz
Posted: May 04, 2011 at 10:48 AM |
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1. xdog Posted: May 04, 2011 at 11:24 AM (#3817619)Wrong.
The article says "Penny spotted his move", which is incorrect except in a very generous reading. Penny spotted Posada after his catcher stood up and yelled at him that Posada was stealing second.
According to what I've read, Cano also did something extremely stupid right before Posada got thrown out, although I'm not entirely sure what that was.
Video here (mlb.com)
EDIT: Weirdly, Posada has stolen 4 bases since 2008-2011. One of them was the back end of a double steal, so that doesn't really count. Of the remaining three, two were off the Tigers. I wonder if Jorge has it in his head that's a team he can run on.
I actually thought that was (partially) Posada's fault as well - it looked like he was waving Cano over even though the ball didn't get very far. I can't watch the replay here, so someone tell me if I'm wrong.
When I saw this in the Hot Topics, I wondered if it was a bumped thread, because it seems like this same story is written virtually every year. You and NJ have confirmed my suspicions.
Was Posada part of the baserunning merriment during the blown call in the ALCS?
I have to disagree with Erik, Bernie had his moments, but he could also go first-to-third as well as anyone I've ever seen, and did a huge majority of the time. Posada runs the bases like he just did five shots and never really understood the rules that well to begin with.
I don't remember too many "crazy" decisions, but Bernie did have pretty bad instincts on the bases. He was tentative, and like you said, it took him a few steps to get up to speed.
How do you pronounce "Jorgie" and how could it differ from the actual Spanish pronounciation of "Jorge" ?
The man must believe he's actually a decent runner, that's the only way to explain his otherwise inexplicable aggressiveness on the bases. Only complete self delusion could generate the decisions he's made.
Speaking of self delusion, is Andruw Jones always that stupid or was he just itching to make contact with someone in catcher's gear?
Whore-gee. Kind of like orgy with an h sound in front of it.
However, I would point out that since the "Posada is toast" article, he has been hitting the ball well.
a soft "g" = like in "gurgle".
YANKEES 8TH: OKAJIMA REPLACED BARD (PITCHING); Posada doubled;
Swisher grounded out (shortstop to first); Gardner singled to
left [Posada stayed at second]; Granderson flied to left; Jeter
reached on an error by Scutaro [Posada to third, Gardner to
second]; Johnson walked [Posada scored (unearned), Gardner to
third, Jeter to second];
This is particularly amusing if you know what 'Gee' is slang for in Ireland.
Google suggests it's slang for vajayjay; is correct?
Shawon Dunston could run like he was shot out of a gun... and ended lots of innings getting thrown out trying to steal.
But it was a short walk over to his position and then Dwight Smith would bring him his glove and hat.
I think most of Bernie's "crazy" base running decisions were a matter of not reading the ball well off the bat - not being able to judge whether it was going to be caught. Bernie was pretty good in other situations, and very good on going 1st to 3rd, as noted by #18.
[12] Yeah, Cano said as much in the papers.
Posada very, very clearly holds his hand up in the universally understood 'hold/stop/go no further' position. If Cano actually intimated that he went because Posada waived him over then Cano is an ####### for blaming Posada.
Somebody should explain this to Don Zimmer. He's been hanging Denny Doyle out to dry for 35 years now.
then again, at 39 maybe Posada simply taken one too many pitches to the nuggin over the years.
It appears that Cano was just explaining his own indecision, at least according to another article that offers this account:
I'm pretty sure I'm reading this right - ironically, Po's first ML appearance was as a pinch-runner.
Yup, in one of the greatest baseball games ever played. Alex Rodriguez also made his first playoff appearance as a pinch runner in that game.
What a frustrating player to watch. So much talent and so little savvy.
He did, however, steal at a relatively decent 72% career rate, which surprises me, including years of 12/15, 30/39, 25/30, 8/8, and 32/40 (and, of course, 3/11, 13/24, 19/30...).
I had forgotten about this but I agree 100%.
Yup, in one of the greatest baseball games ever played. Alex Rodriguez also made his first playoff appearance as a pinch runner in that game.
Huh? Are you talking about a different game?
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