Our Washington Nationals had apparently stolen a victory. A come from behind win over The Houston Astros tonight at Minute Maid Park that, if you watched the first eight innings, Washington really had no right to win. They had not played well. Then after Houston Closer Matt Lindstrom blew up on the mound and gave up the lead in the top of the 9th by allowing two runs--D.C.'s Closer, Matt Capps, returned the favor in the bottom of the 9th allowing a two out, two strike single to left field with the bases loaded to Lance Berkman that ended this game.
Another evening in which Washington committed a key error at the most inopportune time when Ryan Zimmerman, for some reason, attempted an Ole' scoop of a Pedro Feliz routine ground ball leading off the bottom of the final frame. An unusual miscue for The Z-Man in that he did not get his body in front of the ground ball. A mistake that put everything in motion for Washington's latest defeat.
Now you could argue later that Lance Berkman should have struck out on a checked swing moments before he singled home those game winning runs off Capps in the bottom of the 9th. A potential game ending "K" that 3rd Base Umpire Bill Hohn would not call. But you could also argue that "Cardiac" Capps should not have come right back with the exact same pitch, in the exact same location on his next toss. The perfect spot for Berkman to fling his bat at and lace into left field to win this game.
The saying goes: "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." Well Washington did and it cost them--dearly.
Final Score from Minute Maid Park where games don't get much more frustrating than this one: The Houston Astros 8 and Our Washington Nationals 7. This was the most deflating loss of the year to watch because Our Washington Nationals had been handed a victory they had no right to win. Then promptly gave The Curly "W" gift right back to The Houston Astros thanks to some more poor game execution. And to think, Washington even got lucky in the bottom of the 9th when Houston's Corey Sullivan pinch hit and drove a double off the left-centerfield wall. A sure game tying drive that somehow found Pedro Feliz not scoring from second base.
The Gift Horse Was There For The Taking in the 9th frame and Our Washington Nationals didn't take full advantage to win. One of those losses that you just lose sleep over--that haunt you--knowing the outcome should have been so much better.
Tonight's In Game Photo--David J. Phillip (AP)
Ryan Zimmerman, for some reason, attempted an Ole' scoop of a Pedro Feliz routine ground ball leading off the bottom of the final frame. An unusual miscue for The Z-Man in that he did not get his body in front of the ground ball.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you haven't noticed, but Zimmerman rarely gets his body in front of a grounder. The scoop to his left hand (glove) side is SOP for him. Normally it works, but if it doesn't there's no margin for error, as we saw last night.
Desmond is adopting the same move, BTW. Is this a good idea or not? On the one hand, it probably allows them to make some plays they normally wouldn't. But on the other hand, it can backfire spectacularly, as it did last night.
SBF...
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree that Zim's "ole" move was rare. I've seen him more often than not this year, field from the side, not getting in front of the ball. And he's side-arming...flipping that ball across the diamond.
I wish he'd get in front of the ball and get over the top on his throws.
Jim
Zimmerman's first move on that play was to step backwards--that's where he got in trouble. He didn't attack the ball as he normally does. The ball played him. If he had moved forward first, he probably would have made that play on the short hop.
ReplyDeleteDesmond is being taught to catch with one hand as he's more comfortable with that more athletic style of play. It gives him more range. But as you said, it's also more risky.
Re Zim's sidearming of throws, I heard/read somewhere that coaches started him doing that on all throws as a means of dealing with his throwing problems last year, which always occurred when he had plenty of time to set up and not on bang-bang plays. I guess the theory was to try to capitalize on his accuracy on bang-bang throws by incorporating that technique into all his throws instead of having him set up and throw overhand. I'm not sure it's working, though. Now many of his sidearm throws are seriously off target.
ReplyDelete