Author Topic: Couple of thoughts... (Read 5695 times)

Dobro · « **on:** October 23, 2005, 12:36:02 am »

Couple of thoughts after a game that was very winnable:

1. Have the Astros completely forgot how to defend against a stolen base attempt?

2. Why hasn't Ensberg been moved down in the order?

3. Why does Willy no longer steal bases?

HurricaneDavid · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2005, 01:14:47 am »

Quote:

3. Why does Willy no longer steal bases?

Ummmmm, both times he got on base were the result of doubles. You want him stealing third?

Tralfaz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2005, 01:30:28 am »

Ashby was pining about not defending against the SB late in the game. Pierzynski, double clutched taking second in the 8th, and may have been thrown out with a descent throw. That put the insurance run in scoring position and it ultimatly stung us.

Tralfaz · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2005, 01:37:48 am »

Ensberg is so due. He hit the crap out of the ball that Crede snared. 0 for 4 tonight, but looked more agressive and wasn't doing as much eye balling pitches into the catchers mit. He went down swinging in the 8th, with Willy on third and that was probably the pivital point of the game, but at least he gave it a good rip. It's coming, be patient.

Tralfaz · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2005, 01:51:51 am »

Agreed, but what he showed tonight was a more agressive approach then what we saw during the St Louis series. Seemed like then, he was watching to many pitches sail by, just like earlier this season. Displaying his "supperior eye" a bit much, only to be rung up time after time.

Tonight he was airing it out a little more. Of course there is still the hand injury he picked up late in the year that may be playing into this.

Tralfaz · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2005, 02:07:39 am »

Good points as usual HH. I still stand by Morgan getting a big rip to get him going before all is said and done. Come to a decision on that tat?

Greg · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2005, 02:33:15 am »

Stop me if im wrong, but didnt morgan hit two really hard shots down to 3b?

Greg · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2005, 02:34:12 am »

...Thats not saying he hasn't been choking... because he has.

Desperado · « **Reply #17 on:** October 23, 2005, 11:27:27 am »

He hit the ball hard. If that ball in the 8th is a few inches to the left, he wouldn't have "choked."

JimR · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2005, 01:47:01 pm »

what is "choking" to you, Greg? define it.

Matt · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2005, 02:42:38 pm »

No player in the major leagues chokes. Have you ever choked Greg? Did you choke in little league? Or did you choke at Dungeons and Dragons? Not level up your elven archer quick enough?

Bench · « **Reply #23 on:** October 23, 2005, 04:39:45 pm »

"Choke" is a term thrown around a lot, but I've never really seen it defined.

Choking isn't just losing, which seems to be how most people use it. But what is a proper definition? Is being up 3-0 in the LCS against your most bitter enemy, who you always beat and humiliate, and then losing the next four games "choking"?

Andyzipp · « **Reply #24 on:** October 23, 2005, 04:53:18 pm »

I think the closest thing to a choke would be the Oilers in Buffalo.

Getting beat or making a mistake isn't choking. It isn't close to choking, even though the results are the same.

Greg · « **Reply #25 on:** October 23, 2005, 06:10:45 pm »

Woah, slow down there. Choking is a word that shouldn't of been used there, its too harsh, I know that. I was drunk and biter after getting a call from my family in the south side of Chicago rubbing in their victory and I got ahead of myself.

However, since we are on the subject and I'm being criticized, allow me to retort.

Choking, to me, is not doing your job in a clutch situation. With that definition, in my eyes, choking happens all the time. That definition also depends alot on expectations. If you expect a player to get a clutch hit and he doesn't it hurts more than say, a player with lower expectations not getting a clutch hit.

I expect Moberg to do alot more than he has been doing with the bat. A .233 post season average is not choking, but its nothing to jump to his defense about (not that any of you guys were). I consider Mobergs job at the plate is, primarily, to drive in runs when possible (I expect him to be the #2 man in this department next to Berkman). During the season, Morgan drove in 15.44% of the teams RBIs. During the postseason he has actually driven in 19.47% of the teams RBIs. However, that number is inflated because of the 5 RBI CLUTCH performance in game one of the NLDS. In the NLDS he hit 29.17% of the teams RBIs. Since then he has hit only 9.52% of the teams RBIs, 10.53% in the NLCS.*

Now, can you kind of see what I was expecting and how it doesn't match up? After starting out with 29.17% of the team RBIs his numbers continued to drop to the current 9.52% state. This isn't choking, but I think its close.

* i know these stats don't tell the whole story, but i do believe it gives you an idea of where we are headed....

Greg · « **Reply #27 on:** October 23, 2005, 06:24:05 pm »

Yeah, I see what you are saying. Besides the postseason, i dont consider every situation to be a clutch situation. Also, I think clutch situations vary from player to player.

I know my definition is flawed, but its my shot at trying to describe what I think choking is.

UpTooLate · « **Reply #30 on:** October 23, 2005, 06:47:23 pm »

Choking as it relates to sports is impossible to define. Same as trying to define God. Most people believe that it exists but good luck on finding two people agreeing as to exactly what it is.

What cannot be denied is that some people react better in pressure situations than others.

Greg · « **Reply #31 on:** October 23, 2005, 07:01:01 pm »

I guess everyone thinks choking is much more of a rare occurrence than I make it out to be?

Does anyone think that we didn't choke when we had runners in scoring position and didn't knock any in last night?

I would argue our batters did choke. Its the World Series, I consider ever chance to get an RBI a clutch situation, especially if they are RBI batters up to bat (I understand you may not). If it were the regular season, ehh, I don't think I would classify it as a clutch situation.

UpTooLate · « **Reply #32 on:** October 23, 2005, 07:07:23 pm »

I don't think that last night was a choke job. Garner wanted his guys out there to take good hacks. If he didn't, then they would have tried a sacrafice. They took their hacks and missed. You have to give some credit to the Sox pitchers for doing what good pitchers do.

UpTooLate · « **Reply #35 on:** October 23, 2005, 07:15:30 pm »

I had meant to say squeeze instead of sacrafice. My bad.

Author Topic: Couple of thoughts... (Read 5695 times)

Andyzipp