Marlins
Doug Eddings decides the Marlins should win (now with video)
28/08/07 23:02 Filed in: Game Recap
The night looked
hopeless. Smoltz was dealing but he made a couple of
mistakes that had the Braves down a couple runs late
in the game. The Braves were having a hard time
putting hits together (19 strike outs in the game)
and when they did hit the ball late in the game it
was into two double-plays. Things didn't look good...
Chipper stepped up in the eighth and hit a towering two run homer that bounced off the second level. The score was tied and the Braves were back in the game.
Then, in the eleventh inning, Doug Eddings, the home plate umpire, decided that the Marlins should win the game.
Francoeur, already saddled with four strikeouts, gave a checked swing and Eddings signaled that Frenchy committed. There are two accepted tests of a committed swing; "breaking the wrists" or if the bat passes in front of the plate. Francoeur's checked swing was close to the front of the plate but he didn't break his wrists. To be honest, it could have been called either way; it was close. Frenchy gave an incredulous look, said something as he walked away from home plate, and walked to the dugout. Out of nowhere, Doug Eddings tossed Francoeur.
Throwing Francoeur out of the game, actually any player in the eleventh inning, is an incredible hardship on a team. Most benches are usually depleted by that time with usually only a backup infielder or catcher left. It was that way tonight and Pete Orr was the only one left. Orr was put into left and Diaz was moved to right.
There is an old adage in baseball "The ball will find you" and it was true in this case. The Marlins' Hermida hit a ball to deep left center field. There is another adage in baseball "The center fielder catches everything he can reach" and since Orr doesn't usually play the outfield, Andruw Jones called Orr off the ball, that Orr could have caught, and tried to catch it himself. Andruw couldn't reach the ball so it dropped for a double and moved the runner on first to third. Cox then had Treanor walked to load the bases. De Aza hit a sac fly deep to Diaz and that was the game.
Check it out for yourself.
Chipper stepped up in the eighth and hit a towering two run homer that bounced off the second level. The score was tied and the Braves were back in the game.
Then, in the eleventh inning, Doug Eddings, the home plate umpire, decided that the Marlins should win the game.
Francoeur, already saddled with four strikeouts, gave a checked swing and Eddings signaled that Frenchy committed. There are two accepted tests of a committed swing; "breaking the wrists" or if the bat passes in front of the plate. Francoeur's checked swing was close to the front of the plate but he didn't break his wrists. To be honest, it could have been called either way; it was close. Frenchy gave an incredulous look, said something as he walked away from home plate, and walked to the dugout. Out of nowhere, Doug Eddings tossed Francoeur.
Throwing Francoeur out of the game, actually any player in the eleventh inning, is an incredible hardship on a team. Most benches are usually depleted by that time with usually only a backup infielder or catcher left. It was that way tonight and Pete Orr was the only one left. Orr was put into left and Diaz was moved to right.
There is an old adage in baseball "The ball will find you" and it was true in this case. The Marlins' Hermida hit a ball to deep left center field. There is another adage in baseball "The center fielder catches everything he can reach" and since Orr doesn't usually play the outfield, Andruw Jones called Orr off the ball, that Orr could have caught, and tried to catch it himself. Andruw couldn't reach the ball so it dropped for a double and moved the runner on first to third. Cox then had Treanor walked to load the bases. De Aza hit a sac fly deep to Diaz and that was the game.
Check it out for yourself.
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