caulfield12

The Angels' announcers were just debating if the balk-off has to be the most boring ending to a game in all the four professional sports. Hard to argue anything else. Wild pitch has to be more exciting. Even a ground rule double scoring a run or the umpires waving in a runner on fan interference would seem better. Walking in a runner with bases loaded would probably be 2nd worst. AJ's play against the Angels in 2005 in the ALCS wasn't boring. It wasn't "walk-off" there, but it felt like it.

Just for you, Hawkeroo. Brandon Inge can: High jump 6'6" Dunk a basketball Kick a sixty-yard field goal Throw a baseball over 100 yards on a football field Hit a scrappy/grindy .199 with 1 homer and still be the fan favorite in Tiger Town

QUOTE (FlySox87 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:04 PM) I've been a baseball fan all my life, and I still don't understand the balk rule. I'll understand women before I understand that. But apparently Crow leaned forward before stepping off the rubber... With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) the rubber, it is a balk[2] when the pitcher: switches his pitching position from the windup to the set (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber; while on the rubber, makes a motion associated with his pitch and does not complete the delivery; when pitching from the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch; throws from the mound to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of) that base; throws or feints a throw from the rubber to an unoccupied base, unless a play is imminent; steps or feints from the rubber to first base without completing the throw; delivers a quick return, a pitch thrown right after receiving the ball back, with intent to catch the batter off-guard; drops the ball while on the rubber, even if by accident, if the ball does not subsequently cross a foul line; while intentionally walking a batter, releases a pitch while the catcher is out of his box with one or both feet (rarely enforced); unnecessarily delays the game (rarely enforced); pitches while facing away from the batter; after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw; stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball; or throws to first when the first baseman, because of his distance from the base, is unable to make a play on the runner there.

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:00 PM) Does Dunn get an RBI there? Nope. Callers to the post-game are actually trying to credit AJ with causing it by his actions on the basepaths, but just a mental breakdown there by Crow. Maybe he was a little shaken up having to face Dunn again after the 8th and was thinking too much after walking Pierre.

Thankfully a Sergio implosion wasn't the story of this game to take away from the "feel good" vibes with Adam. Who knows, maybe he's right when he said "something clicked" the other night in his muscle memory. If he believes it, why not? If he hit a Crow 96 MPH fastball out of the park, there's nothing wrong with his bat or fat. It's all mental, obviously. Like a baseball player's version of "writer's block." The standing ovation should have made him and his family feel relieved. Now we can move on to criticizing Alex Rios. In all seriousness, Buehrle had his typical "battling" quality start, and Santos did get the key outs to limit the damage when it looked like the game was following a familiar script for the Sox this season. Konerko continues to hit well, great approach by AJ there and good patience with Pierre there as well not to get himself out. Need to get Carlos going again, too. He and Alexei have been slumping the last 2-3 weeks.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 07:53 PM) Have a feeling Ozzie wanted Pierre to bat, but figured they IBB Teahen Maybe. And you can't like the odds of scoring AJ on a ball hit on the infield. Nor can Pierre usually execute a bunt in a squeeze/sacrifice situation. It worked out, who cares now? As greg says, just win baby. Just go with the if the White Sox won, "it must have been the right managerial decision" theory. Feel a bit sorry for Royals fans there, even J4L. Joking!

Still don't quite understand why Pierre wasn't the first choice to pinch-hit there. Teahen hasn't been playing, while Juan's been Mr. Clutch for a week and nearly always makes contact. Knocked out their All-Star reliever two innings in a row.

7-11 now in the AL Central. 2-1 KC 0-4 MINN 1-5 DET 4-1 CLE Comeback kids. Well, at least we're recently showing an ability to come back late in games. Sergio will need to change his approach in these situations against FB hitting teams. 31,077 in attendance.

How often has that happened? I don't remember winning a game on a balk in my lifetime.

WINNING UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG.

Walking him to face Dunn?

Why does Teahen have a home run swing there? C'mon. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. No way he was getting a 3-2 fastball. Disappearing slider.

Sale warming up. C'mon Teahen. Let's get the game winner against your former mates. Pierre would hit next.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:36 PM) Maybe if every game is not a high leverage situation. Jenks would definitely be 17/26 because we've had so many 1 or 2 runs leads and very very few 3 runs lead to blow. Although Sergio did blow a 3 runner.

Great job by AJ. The big question is whether we can actually execute to score him.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:34 PM) like to see him race against a guy the dodgers brought up Maybe with Campana of the Cubs and Emmanuel Burriss.

Oh, my, not for the faint of heart.....as Farmio says. Glad we survived with the tie game intact. Keeps Soria out of this game. Maybe.

THE ROYALS ARE A FIRST-PITCH, FASTBALL HITTING TEAM!!!!!!

Getz better not hit a run scoring double...it is what has happened anytime we've faced an ex-Sox this season, something bad.

Get up Thornton or Bruney.

Nothing ever comes easily against the Royals for us. Ugh. Had a great game story ready to go with Dunn and now it might be a footnote.

C'mon Rios. Homer. Ball hit a railing over the yellow padding. Hosmer crushed that ball. Tie ballgame. 3rd blown save of the season.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:14 PM) Flipper down left field line to win a game vs Angels. The funny thing is that there's a puzzle of US Cellular that they sell that is from this game. Against K-Rod, right? For some reason, I remember it being to RF. Who knows.

Did that just happen? Hmmmmm. Ozzie's a genius, Ozzie's a genius. Enshrine him in the manager's wing of the Hall of Fame.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 4, 2011 -> 08:07 PM) So what is the chance that Viciedo gets flipped for a leadoff hitter like Reyes. Where would he play? I doubt they'd move Ramirez to 2B. And taking on another huge salary hit, no way? Remember, Juan Pierre is now back in "good graces" compared to Dunn and Rios.