Saturday Night Open Thread

by 47 Comments

Update: Kevin Youkilis leaves game with stiff lower back
Yanks bounce back for 11th inning win over Jays

Not sure if you saw that play last night, but Jean Segura stole first base. As in he was standing on second, then he stole first. The rules allow runners to go backwards around the bases as long as it isn’t intended to make a mockery of the game, so … heads up play by Segura I guess? Definitely not something you see everyday. Or basically ever.

Anyway, here is tonight’s open thread. The Mets, Islanders, and Knicks are all playing as of right now (5pm ET). MLB Network is showing a game (who you see depends on where you live) plus the Nets are playing a little later on, otherwise you’re on your own in terms of entertainment. You folks know how this works, so have at it.

Update: Kevin Youkilis leaves game with stiff lower back
Yanks bounce back for 11th inning win over Jays
  • hogsmog

    I’m not sure if I understand- they both occupied 2nd base at the same time, and were both tagged while standing on it. Shouldn’t one of them be out in this situation?

    I also thought players weren’t allowed to ‘switch order’ on the basepaths- as in, if Gardner’s on first and Posada’s on second and somebody hits a double, Gardner has to trot behind Posada if he wants to try and score from first. It seems like Segura did this- am I wrong here?

    • lightSABR

      You’re right. If the a runner passes another runner on the base paths, the runner that used to be behind and now is in front is out.

      So in this case, what the umps thought happened was that Segura ran backward past his teammate, so the teammate was out but Segura wasn’t. Then, to escape the tag after he left second, Segura ran back to first.

      Of course, he didn’t really escape the tag, and he should have just stayed on second. But running to first to escape the tag is what the umpires thought happened.

      • lightSABR

        Also: #TooManyHomers! We can’t win a game without a home-run, you know, and you just can’t rely on them. ;)

      • CP

        That’s not the rule that applies. It’s rule 7.03:

        7.03
        Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged. The preceding runner is entitled to the base.

        • lightSABR

          Oops, you’re right. My mistake.

          The rest of my analysis holds, though. Segura was entitled to second and should have stayed there.

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

      Braun was called out at second, but Segura was allowed to go back to first.

    • RetroRob

      Segura’s mistake was on the retreat to first. When he was caught in a rundown between 2nd and 3rd, Braun was basically correct in moving to second base, ensuring that the Brewers one way or another would have a runner at second. Either Segura would get back and he would be there, or if not, then Braun would be at second if Segura was tagged out in the run down.

      When Segura made it back to second untagged, Braun was out. In the heat of the moment, Segura was probably unsure who had rights to the bag, or perhaps because he became dislodged from second (most likely the former) then decided to “steal” first (was he actually credited with a steal?). He should have just stayed, but no matter. Looking at the replay, it’s clear he was tagged out at second when he was in the process of going back to first. The umpire missed the tag.

    • hogsmog

      Ah, ok, I see now. I didn’t realize that Braun was called out, and this whole thing was ultimately a screwup by Segura.

    • forensic
  • trr

    wait…what?

  • trr

    LOL, damn I love this game! :)

  • Eddard

    They should have both been out. Was Laz Diaz umpiring that game, too?

  • Eddard

    I thought the decision to remove Kuroda was the wrong one. The decision to remove Joba was the wrong one. It ended up working out but Girardi acted like he had an endless supply of good arms in his pen.

    The decision to let Frankie hit instead of bunt was the right one and the winning one. Leiter and Kenny were shocked Frankie wasn’t bunting. Why bunt a hot hitter with the matchup advantage to set up two cold hitters, Ichiro being at a disadvantage vs the LHP. Kenny thought it was because they would walk Ichiro which is laughable.

    • CountryClub

      Kuroda and Pettitte are old men. I’d much rather the yanks remove them an out or two too early than adding an extra 10 innings on their total over the course of the season. Especially if they’ll be handing the ball to Robertson or Mo.

      To e honest, they should start being careful with CC too.

    • Robinson Tilapia

      Perhaps. I can’t worry too much about decisions made in a game the team ultimately won. Every reliever will have outings like what DRob had at some point during a season.

      • RetroRob

        Agreed. D-Rob is there for that very situation. Just didn’t have it today, but fortunately the Yankees came back to win. The other option of leaving Kuroda in to get the last two outs and potentially run his pitch count up to near 120 would not have been the right choice taking into account that it’s early in the season, the season length, and age of the pitcher.

    • Steve (different one)

      Kuroda was at 108 pitches. The yanks were up 3-0 with Robertson ready to go.

      This is hindsight, pure and simple.

    • WhittakerWalt

      It was the right decision, DRob just did EVERYTHING wrong.

  • hey now

    “Why didn’t I think of that?” – Ruben Rivera

  • Wydallis

    I know a win is the most important, but i still think it sucks that Shawn Kelley gets the win insted of Kuroda. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the W looks better with Kuroda’s name on it, and not some mediocor middle reliever.

    • jjyank

      Normally I don’t care much, but my fantasy team absolutely agrees with you.

    • Laz

      I’d rather Kuroda gets it sure, just because he was so good, but a win is a win.

      • Cool Lester Smooth

        Is a win.

    • FIPster Doofus

      Story of Kuroda’s career. He’s obviously much better than his all-time record of 59-58 indicates.

  • CountryClub

    Hey, the yanks are on pace to win 100!!, #SSS

    • ClusterDuck

      Also thru 16 games, they’re on a 260 HR pace and a 840 runs scored pace.

      • Cool Lester Smooth

        Shit. Too many homers!

        • ClusterDuck

          The argument shouldn’t be “too many homers”.

          The argument should be too much swinging for homer runs at the expense of making contact and scoring runs.

          • Evan3457

            No, it shouldn’t. Hitters should hit the way they hit until it doesn’t work. When it doesn’t work anymore (I’m talking about Teixeira), then the hitter must make adjustments and can’t hide behind the “I gotta be me” defense.

            • WhittakerWalt

              Might as well put Ichiro on that list.

    • lightSABR

      101, actually. Totally freaking awesome. They won’t pull that off, of course, but for a team that was supposed to be crap in April, April’s looking pretty good right now.

    • Steve (different one)

      And Vernon wells is on pace to hit 50 HRs….

  • Bob Buttons
  • Cool Lester Smooth

    So, Bryce Harper is a complete stud.

    Thank God A-Rod’s contract is ending the same offseason Harper’s a Free Agent.

    • Havok9120

      A year after the current CBA expires too. Tax threshold will almost certainly be going up.

      • Cool Lester Smooth

        Can you say 12/$360 million?

        I sure as hell can.

  • RetroRob

    Segura had the right to second. He should have stayed.

  • tmoney

    Wang looking strong going into 4th

    • Robinson Tilapia

      Good to hear.

    • CountryClub

      My expectations are very low. But at least i can dream about Wang and Pineda filling out the rotation come July. Although I’m a Hughes fan. If he follows his normal progression he should be pitching well at that point. So maybe they would only need one of the rehabbing guys to pan out.

      • The Big City of Dreams

        Things always have a way of working out when it comes to having too many pitchers.

  • Robinson Tilapia

    I’ll gladly take that win. There will be a handful of game every season where the other team beats themselves. We don’t need no stinkin style points.

    • RetroRob

      …and the better teams win more of those games.

  • saf

    a

  • bonzo

    This kid refsnyder sure can hit is he a legit 1b prospect?

    • saf

      See how he does against the higher levels. He was originally put at 2B because his bat profiles there, but there are questions if he has enough power for 1B.

  • Guns

    Such a laughable swing by Ichiro (bottom of the page).

    http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-worst-of-the-best-the-weeks-wildest-swings-3/

    I love these “Worst of the Best” articles at Fangraphs.