Rockies/Padres

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Heck of a baseball game, BUT did you catch the replay of the final play? Runner never tagged home plate.

I don't think it would have changed the outcome of the game though, even if he had been called out.

[JavaBrewer]

The Padres have been struggling the whole season. Trevor has had a magnificent career but a steady diet of 75mph changeups is not going to win the big game. CY has lost his confidence and I feel is ready for trade. Late season injuries did not help. Padres have a solid defense but it's time to invest some money in consistent bats and another 1 or 2 young arms. Bell is the next SD closer.

Go Angels...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Sorry, Sox fan here. And not a fair weather one either - I've been a Red Sox fan since I could walk. I suffered through '75, through '86, through '03, etc. I don't hate the Angels, but I'll be looking to try and get to one of the games in the next week or so over in Anaheim.

Hoping for Red Sox/Cubs. Oh wouldn't that be just poetic?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

...Hoping for Red Sox/Cubs. Oh wouldn't that be just poetic?

YOu can hope and I agree that a Cubs/Sox Series would be a huge draw, but I don;think it is going to happen. In my opinion (and I am a dyed-in-the-wool NL fan) the Cubs aren't good enough to get all the way to the Series. On another thread I was predicting to watch out for the ROckies. They are for real, though they are young. Plus they have been surging for about 10 days.

As for that play? Agree it is highly doubtful that Holliday touched the bag. I saw the replay over and over and the ump initially knew that, which is why he delayed his call. Not sure why he then made the call as the catcher was picking up the dropped ball and going for the tag. Holliday should have reached over and touched the bag but apparently he thought he had touched it and the ump may have used that as a little confirmantion of his safe call. Not sure but the other lousy call in that game was the homerun off the TOP of the upper rail that was ruled a double. Clearly it was above the yellow homerun line. That call if made correctly gives the Rockies (perhaps) the game oiutright in 9 innings.

I look for a Rockies/Sox or possibly a Rockies/Angels Series. I hope I am wrong for Sox fans...but it'll be interesting to see!

[Drago]

Hoffman, even with all his sucess, has never been a big game closer.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Drago

Hoffman, even with all his sucess, has never been a big game closer.

I was at Dodger Stadium last September, the night the Padres gave us FOUR homeruns back-to-back-to-back-to-back, then we ultimately won with a Nomar walk off in the 10th. At the time the lead in the West was hanging on that game. Hoffman was right in the thick of those homers. So I agree that he somehow doesn't quite have it in an ultimate pressure situation.

[CJFusco]

What an INCREDIBLE game! I was pulling for the Rockies (I had both Holliday and Helton on my fantasy team this year, and you tend to get attached to players... trust me, I've had Carl Crawford and Jeff Kent for just about four years in a row now). Thought the game was O-V-A when SD scored two in the top of the 13th... never thought Hoffman would melt down THAT BADLY in a huge spot. Definitely think his career is winding down.

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Hoping for Red Sox/Cubs. Oh wouldn't that be just poetic?

It would be poetic... but, come on, it would be VERY hard to root against the Cubs. I hope they do cruise through the NL series though...

Nice to see Don Orsillo (Sox announcer) getting national airtime on TBS, eh?

[KevinG]

I'm a huge Padres fan, and am still trying to get over it.

I look at the home run / double issue as:
The rail behind the yellow padding is the HR fence
The padding is there to protect the players
ergo - the ricochet off the railing is still a double - it didn't clear the fence

It would be helpful if they painted the railing yellow.

Holliday's slide:
I agree that it appeared he didn't touch the base
Should have been tie game, two outs, runner at 2nd or 3rd
I could only tell from the slo-mo replay, real time would have been real tough
I don't hold anything against the Ump, it was a really tough call and he probably holds it against himself.

Trevor hasn't got the fastball to support that nasty change anymore. Throwing FB's at mid 80's allows the batters too much wait time to really ID the pitch.

Only thing I didn't like during the game was the Rockies mascot spending all that time directly trying to distract the Padres pitchers. If it was a fan, that's one thing but when it is done by the home team that's unfair advantage. It also cheapens the game and loses my respect for a very good team that doesn't need to it to succeed. The Rocks are going to be a very, very good team with a touch more pitching.

Guess I'll have to root for the dB's now.

[911boost]

Not really a huge baseball fan here, but I did watch the game, and it was good. The Rockies have played well (wining 14 of their last 15), so I hope they continue on playing as well.

With regards to the call at home, it happens. I think they double was actually a HR, but its just how it goes.

Bill

[tcar]

It's my understanding that if the catcher blocks the runner without possesion of the ball, the runner is safe.

Homer run? If the ball hits the yellow line and bounces into the park, it's in play. If it bounces out of the park, it's a HR.

Both of these items from a radio show here in Denver that called MLB on the phone.

[bivenator]

got to agree with kevinG. the railing/wall was struck by the ball, which would be a correct double call. the runner did not touch the plate and the ump was star struck watching the play. if the runner touched the plate, the safe call should have immediately been made. the umpire waited for some unknown reason to make the call. the runner, judging by his body language thought he was out. great game, in the end I wanted the rocks to win because they are the better team.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Damn, I shouldn't have fallen asleep in the 12th.

Cubs vs Sox would be great to see. I'd like to see the Cubs have some success, gotta root for the underdog.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

True - the baseline is supposed to belong to the runner.

[Granite]

Go Rockies!

Went to the game Sunday and thought that was great. Went to the game on Monday and I am still in shock. The Rockies are pulling rabbits out there hats and should prove to be a tough team to beat. I didn't get to see the replays of the slide into home until this morning. Tough call for sure. Can't block the plate!!!! and you have to hold onto it to score the out. Did he touch it? Doesn't really matter now! Maybe some instant replay should be available for certain situations.

Glad to see Helton get to the post season for the first time.

[Dan in Pasadena]

kevinG - Condolences. I am a Dodgers fan and I still felt bad for you guys. I'd be about heart broken after a full season if it had happened to us.

I think Holliday's NOT reaching back to attempt to touch the plate indicated he thought he had touched it. In reality, he was slightly whoozy from his face plant on the slide but it worked out in his/Rockies favor because the catcher dropped the ball. Umps don't get "star struck" Certainly not in the 163rd game of the season. Yes, the plate belongs to the runner unless the catcher had possession but in a bang-bang play like that there is a millisecond between not having possession and having possession. That's why catchers are allowed to blcok the plate. The ump saw the ball come loose so he made no immediate signal. Then he had about 3/4 of a second to decide while the catcher grabbedthe ball and started to go for hte tag. Holliday didn't react, judgement call, ump says SAFE. I don't think Holliday touched it either but so are great baseball stories made. Tough, tough, tough for a Padres fan.