Postgame - 34-34 and 3.5 back

=== Could We Not Chop-Block THIS Glove Man, Please ===

F-Goot, the night after Endy's horrific injury, played "500 Popup" with Frenchy again.  Both men were literally fighting for the ball until Betancourt came away with it and looked back, at which point Gutierrez pulled off of it.

I was amused to see him swing his left leg back and forth in the air after the play, as though subconsciously making sure that a Great White hadn't taken it off.

Matty didn't appreciate the play.  Silentpadna, like Spock, then throws a temper tantrum comprised of raising his eyebrow.

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=== Wind In Yer Sails, Dept. ===

Nothing unusual for a young player, whose role is in flux, to go on a tear when an opportunity opens up for him.  Why wouldn't it?  The engine of the human heart runs on a fuel called "hope.  BOOM, Wlad is now a big-league player with a job for the rest of the year.*  The dreams, positive visuals, and all that good stuff are now locked in for him.  Where's that High School Musical dance team when you need them?   School's out, summer's heeeeere... it's our va-caaaa-tion...

Wlad celebrated with a tiebreaking home run, another base knock, and an aggressive, assured leap into the stands to catch the game-clinching fly ball.

Eyes slideways.

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=== Well, At Least They Can't PREDICT Dumb Moves, Dept. ===

Bases loaded, nobody out, 7th? and Cedeno pinch-hits for Beltre.  (Haven't yet read what the injury was.) 

I go to my son, "Weird place to bunt here."   Alarmed that pops might be right, he at first scoffs, and then his eyes get wide... no way!  no way!  no way!  They can't be that stupid!

Camera pans out:  the Arizona infielders are drawn in past the pitcher for the bunt.  Apparently the D-Backs have heard that Cedeno can't hit big-league pitching.

Cedeno bunts.  Arizona, moving in leisurely spring-training-practice fashion, gleefully accepts the force at home.  Fortunately, Cedeno's bunt was perfect, which was precisely what was needed to stay out of the 1-2-3 double play.

I'm a Wok fan.  I'm sure he can explain the inexplicable, and I'm looking forward to hearing it.   (My own guess:  Cedeno must pinch-whiff because he's the only one who can stay in the game for Beltre, and since Cedeno is now a lost blinkin' cause, the bunt cuts the losses.)

.................

Then, in the 8th (?) in two absolutely forced bunt situations -- Johnson up, 0 out, man on 1st, slight lead .... and Frenchy up, 0 out, 2 men on -- Wok has them swing away.

Blowers, on TV, was as flabbergasted as I was.  "Usually you might try something else when the runners are slow or the guy at the plate can't bunt, but that's not the case here."

Wok pushes the swing-away button and the M's have one of their most exciting innings ever.  Rather be lucky than good, but am still looking forward to hearing the rationale.

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=== A Picture's Worth 1,000 Words Dept. ===

9th inning.

Cedeno 2B and Woodward 3B are competing for the right to stay in Seattle.

Man on first, hot shot to 3b, Woodward turns a super-slick grab into a wonderful throw to Cedeno that hits him shoulder-high and on his way to first.  Cedeno whiffs on the catch like he lost the ball in my forehead over the 3B dugout.

Stuff like this used to happen to me when I was trying out for teams.  :- )

Comments

1

Cedeno is a really bad parody of himself these days...he's going to be DFA'ed very soon...perhaps when Lopez comes off the berievement list considering Chris Woodward practically hung his jock-strap from the centerfield flagpole the last two days.
Betancourt, despite his double today, and Cedeno are utterly lost causes.  They need to go away.  Soon.  If this team is going to win the west, it ain't gonna happen with those two around.

2
OBF's picture

It seems like everytime I am ready to give up on him and finally be done with him he goes on a little hot streak and reels me back in!
 
The last five games he has been great with the bat AND the glove.  He has been hustling and showing 9 full innings of effot while hitting .421 .450 .526.  The Yuni of 10 days ago needs to be jettisoned ASAP, the light hitting no glove version is a waste of roster space, but the Yni of the past five days is an all star in the making.  High effort in the field while OPSing ~.975 is just NOT something a guy like Cedeno could do, even for just 5 days, and that is why Yuni is so frustratingly tantalizing, because he will put on the short displays of all star ability and then retreat back into his hole for a couple weeks.  If Wak can get in Yuni's head an get him to put together more and longer good streaks and turn Yuni from waste of space to a decent player then Wak deserves the Noble peace prize!  
Woodward has also proven that he deserves to stay on this team.  Cedeno just need to go away!

3
Muddy's picture

I've mentioned before that Yuni is a ball hog and plays balls too deep. People talk about Ichiro padding his stats. Start watching Yuni. I'm sure he knows his defense is under scrutiny.

4
Muddy's picture

I've said it before. Yuni is a ball hog. He plays balls too deep. It has been said that Ichiro pads his stats, well keep an eye on Bentancourt. I'm sure he knows that his defense is under scrutiny. Also, I've always thought he would make a better outfielder than a short stop. I've heard that he's a good sprinter although it dosen't reflect on the base paths very well.

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