MLB '11

[Moonliner]

It's late July, the Nats are comfortably below .500, dead last in the NL-East and have lost their last three in a row.


All is right with the world.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It looks like the upside of the McCourt divorce is that the Dodgers will at least finish the season with the stars in place and perhaps make it through one more. Between not having the cash around to pay for decent replacements if they do trade away big talent, and the realization that getting rid of Kemp or Ethier or Kershaw would destroy the scrap of good will Dodgers fans have left, I think everyone involved realizes leaving things the eff alone is the best choice right now.

[Alex]

Also, I haven't seen any high def replays. But was that last call in the 19-inning Pirates/Braves game as awful as it looks on my phone?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

Also, I haven't seen any high def replays. But was that last call in the 19-inning Pirates/Braves game as awful as it looks on my phone?

CNN has already added it to their list of MLB's worst blown calls, so umm yeah.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's an interesting one.

From the angle that most closely matches the angle the umpire had...completely blown. Absolutely likes like he got him on the leg 3 feet before the plate.

From the 2 angles on the other side, though? I have my doubts. If he did get him, he JUST brushed his leg with the fingertips of the mitt. It's shocking how much closer the call looks from that angle. I honestly think that, with those other 2 angles, neither a safe nor an out call would have been overturned with replay.

ETA: Nah, just took another look at the original angle (and a 4th one I had not seen). He blew it. From the first base angle it still looks like he might have missed it, but from behind the 3rd base angle, and from behind the plate (the ump's angle), it's clear.

[Strangler Lewis]

You know the catcher made the tag because he didn't go, "Whoops. Good thing this guy's still three feet from home plate so I can try again."

And now, some time travel:

2005: When did the Mets become Al Davis, signing people because they produced great post-seasons? Guy's gotta be juicing.

2011: We got Beltran!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

You know the catcher made the tag because he didn't go, "Whoops. Good thing this guy's still three feet from home plate so I can try again."

Now that I've seen it, the runner also didn't make sure he'd touched home until after being called safe.

That was just as bad as it looked on my phone.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'll be sad to see Furcal go. He's a solid player, with an awesome attitude. But it's the right move. He's near the end of his career and Dee Gordon deserves a shot and has the raw talent to become the kind of player that Furcal was in his prime.

Enjoy St. Louis, Raf.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I'll be sad to see Furcal go. He's a solid player, with an awesome attitude. But it's the right move. He's near the end of his career and Dee Gordon deserves a shot and has the raw talent to become the kind of player that Furcal was in his prime.

Enjoy St. Louis, Raf.

I've been sad ever since I woke up yesterday morning to check the trade news. Not a shock, probably a good move, still completely bummed.

I hope Dee pans out. He's exciting to watch, no doubt. But, from what I've seen so far, he's not ready from a hitting perspective.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

I hope Dee pans out. He's exciting to watch, no doubt. But, from what I've seen so far, he's not ready from a hitting perspective.

Nope. But the only thing that will help that is experience, and now is the perfect time go gain that experience. Maybe he never will get there. The only way to know is experience.

Furcal was going to be needed to be replaced sooner rather than later. So the sooner they find out of Dee can be that replacement, the better.