Cat, I know you watch sports there are just some guys who don't have it under pressure Luther Head Jeff Bagwell Lidge A-Rod In the NBA finals Lamar Odom was nowhere to be found etc. etc. McNabb in the super bowl it goes on and on Jack Pardee forgot how to coach in the playoffs so it extends past players as well
No one's denying that there is such a thing as clutch (well, I'd take issue with Bagwell and A-Rod, but that's for another thread). The problem is that with a closer, every game is high pressure. And in three of Lidge's five years as a closer (2004, 2005, 2008), he's been arguably the best closer in the NL. As a result, it seems a little silly to accuse a player like that of not performing under pressure, especially when it includes the current season. Furthermore, if Lidge couldn't respond to pressure, wouldn't he fare worse in the postseason than the regular season? Lidge's career regular season ERA: 3.13 Lidge's postseason ERA: 2.52
How you can say "not even debateable" is beyond me. Have a look here: http://www.rekieta.org/asg.jpg Blow up the picture about 400% and you can see that McCann's glove is still a few inches from Morneau's foot. You could argue that the side of his shoe is not touching the plate, but that is a safe call 90+% of the time. If you have a better picture, I'd like to see it.
I'm referring to the video -- I'll try and see if I can find a still. But from the video angle, you can clearly see that when Morneau's foot is where it is in that picture, the side of his shoe isn't touching the plate. The heel of his shoe is the first part to touch home, and by that point McCann's glove is there. With that said, I will agree that it's a safe call a majority of the time.
like the invisi-tag tejada had earlier in the game on the guy trying to steal? he was safe. oh and it's awesome when you debunked lidge's stats continuously the last 2 seasons to just bad luck and they didnt mean anything. NOW that lidge has good stats they are all of a sudden really important.
Kinsler and Navarro would beg to differ. I don't think Tejada tagged Kinsler and even if he did, it appeared Kinsler beat the throw. It also looked like Navarro was safe at home.
OH. MY. GOD. I'm seriously to the point of banging my head against the wall. I never said the statistics "didn't mean anything." I've always been upfront about that. Brad Lidge wasn't an effective closer the past two seasons, and the statistics show that. What the statistics don't show is why, and that's what I've been arguing. I'll quote MadMax from this very thread, because apparently whatever I've said hasn't gotten through: Statistics are always important, in determining whether a player is having a good season. I never denied that. Where they lose their value and become worthless is when you're trying to find one specific cause, because there are lots of reasons why a pitcher might not perform well.
Then why don't you clarify? I'll clarify my positions, with regards to statistics. Statistics are a fair measure of the quality of season a player is having. That's why I've repeatedly shown them in this thread in support of Lidge. Likewise, his statistics were subpar in 2006 and 2007, and they are an accurate reflection that he wasn't an effective closer in those years. You accused me of "debunking" those statistics, and that couldn't be further from the truth. They are what they are. Lidge wasn't good. What I "debunked" was the notion that those numbers prove the cause is mental. It could be a number of factors. It could be mechanics. It could be injury-related. It could be random luck. It could be hitters making adjustments. The list could go on forever. If you want to argue that Lidge performed below average for a closer in those two years, be my guest. I won't dispute it; in fact, I'll support it. But you can't identify one specific cause based on it. That's the difference. All I'm saying is that Lidge has been a great closer this season. If I were trying to prove a cause for that through statistics, then it would be hypocritical -- but I'm not. So, with that said, exactly what is it that you're accusing me of or trying to say?
So what exactly is your problem or disagreement with my argument in this thread? Or are you just here to take random personal shots?
personal shots? Nah, I really don't care at all about Lidge so my interest here is not based on the actual subject matter. I'm just sitting back and laughing at the people who try to argue with you when I was the one who proved in the first place its pretty much a lost cause.
After watching baseball for 45+ years, the conclusion I have come to is that the baserunner rarely gets the call on "bang-bang" plays when the throw beats him and the fielder is in good position.
agree with me or be a dead man walking. your stats are wrong and you are wrong for standing next to them. im right and you know it. now im done playing with kittens. call me when youre ready for a real discussion instead of acting like a kid. Spoiler catch that mouse yet? yep thats what i thought.
