That was one of the worst plays in center I have ever seen. Should have ended the inning with no runs scored.
A 4 run error is not that easy to overcome. It's a shame that Backe got charged with those runs on a play that a little leaguer should have made.
Agreed. I want to have faith, and I know we scored 14 last night, but when you have one of your lower starters like Backe pitching, you have to expect him to give up a few runs. Now, in addition to that, we essentially tacked on four more because of one of the worst defensive plays I've seen from us all season. If Roger or Roy were pitching, I'd be somewhat optimistic... but it's hard to recover from spotting a team four free runs with someone like Backe pitching.
In our last six games, we've scored 51 runs, including scoring at least 8 in four of those six games. It's not at all unreasonable for this team to get to 6 or 7 runs in this game. Even with the likes of Wandy, Astacio, and Backe pitching, we've given up 11 runs in those six games. There's no reason to assume that winning 7-5 or 8-6 or whatever is out of reach based on four runs in the <I>first inning</I>.
If we stick Taveras in left, who the hell plays center? He's a better centerfielder than any of our other options - even with his brain cramps - by virtue of his pure speed.
I believe Lane played some CF last season, maybe Burke could be an option. I wouldn't go with Berkman because of his knee. Bottom line is it would be better to have someone that doesn't cover as much ground as long as he can make the simple play. Hell, even Biggio would look better in CF than Taveras.
Lane gets better reads on the ball, but he's significantly slower than Taveras,in a big centerfield. Burke is a natural middle infielder, and is being forced into an unfamiliar position - and we can't really move him into an even tougher, more unfamiliar position and expect him to play smarter in center than Willy. And Biggio's defense is pretty much past it. He has the benifit of veteran knowledge, but he's lost about half a dozen steps, and his arm is poor from second to first.
haha, honestly - Willy does some dumb things in center - but after seeing Roger Cedeno and his Bambi-on-Ice defense, Lance Berkman, who was fighting against his own genetics to be an average centerfielder, and Craig Biggio and the ravages of Father Time and a decade of jumping around on Astroturf in recent years - I can put up with Taveras. The only way he's going to learn is experience, which is a painful process at times.
Half way there. (4-2 nats) 1 hitter so far for the Nats. 7th inning. Man....come on bats, where are you!!!!
We are being a little hard on Taveras. Has everybody forgotten that series when he threw out like three runners. Taveras makes a lot of mistakes in center with his route running and reading the ball, but he also makes some great plays with his speed and arm. Lane has played center before and was adequate, I can remember him throwing out a runner in the first game I ever saw him in and he was playing center. The only way we would switch Willy from Center is if we made a deal for Ken Griffey, Jr., but that doesn't seem likely unless we could get done also and have the Reds pick up a large part of Griffey's salary.
Garner was just tossed. 2nd time this week Garner has been ejected. That call was total BS! TOTALLY!!!! Biggio was safe. BS. WOW, GARNER IS REALLY LIT! NOW cooper is talking to the ch-umps! Lets hope this altercation lites a fire under the Stro's a$$'s. GO STROS! Come on Berkman! EDIT: ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!
Ugh. 0-2 count and he hits the batter! EDIT: It hit the end of the bat, not his hands! ch-umps screwing us again.
It sucks that Taveras' play is likely going to be the difference between losing and winning this game. I guess the good news is that it takes that sort of total mornoic gaffe to beat us nowadays.
DAMNIT! Now why couldn't their center fielder pull a Taveras and not catch that one?!!!! Instead, Viz strands 2 and game is over on an easy fly out.....just like what should of happened in the first!
