Friday, July 12, 2019

Down on the Farm: 7/11/2010

AAA  Sacramento River Cats Tamed the Fresno Grizzlies 8-5:

Steven Duggar CF- 3 for 4, 2B, BB, SB(2).  BA= .367.
Abiatal Avelino SS- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .288.
Levi Michael 2B- 2 for 4, SB(3).  BA= .245.
Williams Jerez LHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.07.
Jandel Gustave RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(6).  ERA= 5.40.

Busy line for Steven Duggar who is acing his rehab assignment.

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AA  Harrisburg Senators shut down the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-2:

Jalen Miller 2B- 1 for 3, 3B, BB, SB(19).  BA= .219.
Bryce Johnson RF- 1 for 3, HR(2).  BA= .300.
Johneshwy Fargas CF- 1 for 3, SB(35).  BA= .247.

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A+  Rancho Cucamonga Quakes battered the San Jose Giants 8-4:

Heliot Ramos CF- 3 for 4, HBP.  BA= .304.
Joey Bart DH- 2 for 5.  BA= .239.
Dalton Combs 1B- 2 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .286.
Fabian Pena C- 2 for 4, 2B, SB(1).  BA= .189.
Kyle McPherson 2B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .265.
Jake Wong RHP- 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.53.

No power from Ramos and Bart, but their hit tools were on display.

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A  Columbia Fireflies defeated the Augusta Greenjackets 5-2:

Gregory Santos RHP- 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.86.
Preston White RHP- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, GO/AO= 6/1.  ERA= 3.79.
Ryan Walker RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's. ERA= 3.38.

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Short Season  Eugene Emeralds topped the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 5-4:

Tyler Fitzgerald SS- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .353.
Jacob Lopez LHP- 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.95.
Israel Cruz RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.74.

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Rookie AZL  Giants Orange and Giants Black were both idle.

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DSL Pirates2 outscored the Giants 9-8:

Rayner Santana C(16 yo)- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .300.
Luis Matos CF(17 yo)- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .339.
Jose Peralta 2B(17 yo)- 2 for 4, BB.   BA= .285.
Samuel Jorge 3B(19 yo)- 2 for 4.  BA= .250.

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I'll weigh in on the collision between Jake Marisnek and Jonathan Lucroy.  I've seen the video a couple of times and read the commentary on both sides.  Just my opinion, but Marisnek blew up Lucroy on purpose and should have been suspended for the remainder of the season if not for life.  And yes, the Posey Rule is a good rule and has worked well to prevent these types of injuries without harming the game.

11 comments:

  1. The collision discussion is an important one, because if such things continue to happen we will see a truly horrific collision with a truly horrific result - like a player permanently disabled. Then, everyone will claim they warned MLB baseball.

    My take is a bit less negative than yours Doc, but I totally agree that Marisnek appeared blow up Lucroy when he had an open route to the plate. The back side of the plate opened up and Marisnek never made any kind of move take that route and avoid contact. Things happen fast on the base paths, but not too fast for world class athletes to adjust.

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  2. Marisnek got off very light considering there was a path to the plate and he crashed into Lucroy shoulder first well inside.
    It might have been worse than Buster's collision.

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  3. The River Cats lineup:
    Duggar .367
    Rickard .383
    Gerber .316
    Green .318
    Shaw .270
    Garcia .270
    Avelino .288

    The sillyball slugging is even more prodigious, and Sacramento is not one of the sillier places, like the PCL Pacific Southern

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  4. One correction. Duggar completed his rehab and was optioned to AAA, to work on skills.

    He's been great, thus far.

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  5. Rule 7.13:

    "A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate). If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) in such a manner, the Umpire shall declare the runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of the ball).

    Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the Umpire, the catcher, without possession of the ball, blocks the pathway of the runner, the Umpire shall call or signal the runner safe."

    Maybe altering the rule to specifically call out that catcher must provide a foul territory lane to the runner and the runner must stay out of fair territory.

    By the rule, it was correct to call Marisnick. And because of the ferocity of the hit, a two game suspension seems appropriate.

    Suspend Marisnick for the rest of the year? Lifetime ban? C'mon Doc. Jake made a very bad decision. Maybe he thought the throw and the anticipated sweep tag was going to carry Lucroy into foul territory and he felt that a lane would open up in fair territory. As the play developed another split second, when it became clear that the fair territory lane was definitely not opening up, and he lowered the shoulder. Again, bad choice choosing that lane.

    Further clarification of rule 7.13 would probably help preventing this type of thing in the future.

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  6. Had Marisnick run on the foul side of the baseline he would not have been blocked from the plate although Lucroy's foot may have been at the side edge of the plate in fair territory. At worst Marisnick would have slid into Lucroy's foot or ankle.
    If Lucroy was blocking the plate without the ball, Marisnick would be safe no matter what else happens -- even if he never touches the plate.
    And it is reviewable.
    Safe or out can be determined by replay -- there is no excuse for running full speed shoulder first into the catcher.
    Ban for life? No, but how about the length of the concussion protocol?

    Posted by Houston Astros
    4 days ago
    [Jake Marisnick] Through my eyes I thought the play was going to end up on the outside of the plate. I made a split second decision at full speed to slide head first on the inside part of the plate. That decision got another player hurt and I feel awful. I hope nothing but the best for @JLucroy20

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  7. The punishment must fit the crime. Runner had open lane. He chose a center or inside the field path and on impact he looked like a bowling ball hitting sitting pins for a strike.

    Lucroy went flying. Knocked on his back. Concussion. Broken nose.

    None of this was unexpected and the natural consequence of a vicious hit.

    A two game suspension (and he appealed!!) is a slap on the wrist.

    No catcher should be maimed or suffer career altering injuries via a plate collision.

    Verdict - one year suspension at the minimum.

    I don't cut the runner any slack at all - he bowled over a defenseless opponent and seriously injured him.

    Every team needs to have meetings on avoiding this type of injury. I thought all of baseball observed Posey
    suffering what was it a broken leg?

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    Replies
    1. Marisnick was trying to score in the 8th inning of a tie game. Based on info from Anon above, it sounds like he (erroneously) did think the inside lane would open up. That thinking is not out-of-line. Catchers set up in fair territory and, knowing that the runner almost certainly will take the foul territory lane, sweep tag over there. If the catchers anticipation, momentum and tag are all moving foul, yeah, taking the inside line could have worked.

      This should not be punitive process. He made a last split second decision at full speed. One that unfortunately took him right at Lucroy. If Lucroy had been able to move to foul territory, Marisnick would not have followed him over there. That's the intent of not allowing the running to change his direction to impact the catcher. Marisnick was changing his direction because he thought he could avoid the catcher He was trying score. Not hurt Lucroy.

      If the rule had been adapted so that it's illegal for the runner that fair territory lane, Marisnick would not be tempted to out-think where the Lucroy would be.

      The rule more than anything allows for this type of collision. Fix the rule. Don't be outlandishly punative to a player who is trying to win the game.

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    2. The runner did not slide. Aside from the lane issue (and was the catcher not set up inside the foul lines) how was the inside lane supposed to open up when the catcher is squatting to accept a throw?
      Mid throw the catcher would go in foul territory to catch the ball?

      The runner did not slide but tried to blast ball and catcher to smithereens.

      Here is the video - contact at 7:04

      I just re-watched the video. Check this out, The runner is not even trying for the plate - he is not trying to slide and touch the base with foot or hand.

      Runner is taking out the catcher. He is "aiming" for the catcher and not the plate.

      As another poster here observed the runner has lowered his shoulder - his aim is to dislodge the ball from the catcher's glove.

      Intentional infliction of injury? no

      gross negligence!!

      sloppy technique to the extreme

      stupid play / dumb / thoughtless

      there is no precedent for a long suspension and player's union would protest

      this is new ground for imposition of penalty on a runner

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    3. I forgot to post the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kim0Fck3CjY

      One more link and commentary from Antonelli baseball. Matt Antonelli was a former no. 1 pick,
      top college player who had a cup of coffee in the Bigs. His videos are entertaining.

      Here is his take on the collision. VG comments posted following.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3pYbxX7i6s

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    4. Don't know if Doc's going to let this comment through, or if you'll even see it Halter. I did watch the Antonelli video (I'd seen his stuff before, and he is awesome). I thought it was well-thought out, balanced, and has a ton of credibility coming from a former player. I basically agree everything he said. Thanks for posting it. Much appreciated.

      I also appreciate Doc's reassessing the play taking different points of view into consideration. (My position didn't sway him of course!) :) We're all trying to figure out how to be sure that this type of collision doesn't happen again.

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