So you'd rather have a guy on second than first. That makes a lot of sense.

 

No. You need to re-read my post. I said that by deploying that defense, you turn an out into a single late in the game. The basic groundball to third is much more likely to happen than the screamer right down the line. Outs are precious. You need to maximize them on both sides of the ball. This thinking prolongs innings.

I must admit as a Cincinnati fan that I am getting tired of taking shots from national pundits about how much we as fans do not appreciate Griffey. I appreciated his talents in the 90s. He was the best player in the game - in the 90s.

 

Today, his contract kills this team and we're not getting back what we're paying for. Why is that so hard for the pundits to grasp?

 

I love Griffey. I loved him in Seattle and I still love to watch him play as a Red. He has a great passion for the game and you can see that if you pay attention. Had he avoided the injury bug, we'd be talking about him possibly being the best player of all time. I wish him the best but I think his ride as a Red is coming to an end.

No. You need to re-read my post. I said that by deploying that defense, you turn an out into a single late in the game. The basic groundball to third is much more likely to happen than the screamer right down the line. Outs are precious. You need to maximize them on both sides of the ball. This thinking prolongs innings.

 

If someone hits a routine ground ball to third a Major League Third Baseman will get to it even if he is guarding the line. When guarding the lines, you take maybe 2 steps toward the line. Any routine ball to third will still be caught by a decent fielder.

I love Griffey. I loved him in Seattle and I still love to watch him play as a Red. He has a great passion for the game and you can see that if you pay attention. Had he avoided the injury bug, we'd be talking about him possibly being the best player of all time. I wish him the best but I think his ride as a Red is coming to an end.

 

No argument with anything you post. However, that doesn't address the issue of Reds fans being unfairly criticized for not "appreciating" him.

If someone hits a routine ground ball to third a Major League Third Baseman will get to it even if he is guarding the line. When guarding the lines, you take maybe 2 steps toward the line. Any routine ball to third will still be caught by a decent fielder.

 

He won't get to the ball that he would normally get to (and much more likely to occur) had he not been "guarding the line." Secondly, your guy is not going to catch a hard hit groundball that my guy would already be in front of.

 

Why give them an extra out?

No argument with anything you post. However, that doesn't address the issue of Reds fans being unfairly criticized for not "appreciating" him.

 

They should be criticized for not "appreciating" him. He has gone about life the right way and would be a great role model for any kid. I want his contract off the books as much as the next guy but I still appreciate everything he brings to the Reds, or lackthereof, because he has gone about baseball and life the right way and deserves better than what he's got.

He won't get to the ball that he would normally get to (and much more likely to occur) had he not been "guarding the line." Secondly, your guy is not going to catch a hard hit groundball that my guy would already be in front of.

 

Why give them an extra out?

 

 

I think you're underestimitating the ability of the Professional Athlete. Why let a guy get a double when by limiting him to a single, a ground ball can get you out of the inning?

because he has gone about baseball and life the right way and deserves better than what he's got.

 

Meaning?

 

He's partly to blame in this. His general inability to be accessible to the media (a result of shyness in my opinion) doesn't allow fans to get to know him. If fans don't get to know you and if you don't seem to be part of the city, you had better outdo your contract.

 

He has not.

Back-to-back games, and I don't think I can handle a 3rd. There are too many bandwagon Sox fans in the area. They're really easy to spot too. They're the ones with the crisp, clean hats and shirts that they just bought at the store or from one of the outside vendors specifically for this series.

I think you're underestimitating the ability of the Professional Athlete. Why let a guy get a double when by limiting him to a single, a ground ball can get you out of the inning?

 

I guess its simply a matter of percentages. I don't like to "give" a team baserunners. Too many bad things can happen. Of course, if I KNEW a guy was going to hit a screamer down the line, I'd of course "guard the corners." But, as a matter of percentages, the smart thing to do in my "book" is to not allow the gun on first base when I could have gotten him out.

 

Besides, by your own logic, a MLB third baseman or Professional Athlete could just as easily "take two steps" to his right to catch the potential double, right?

Meaning?

 

He's partly to blame in this. His general inability to be accessible to the media (a result of shyness in my opinion) doesn't allow fans to get to know him. If fans don't get to know you and if you don't seem to be part of the city, you had better outdo your contract.

 

He has not.

 

I was talking more about his injuries. He didn't deserve them. How can you say he is to blame? I've seen plenty of interviews done by Griffey in the media. He's a quiet guy but he still talk to the media and he always cracks jokes when he's doing it. Whats not to like about the guy? I lost respect for a lot of fans when they would Boo him when he laid in the outfield grass after suffering an injury.

Basically you can't get a save as the pitcher of record...

 

Correct, but he wanted to know if, in a situation where the same pitcher gave up the lead twice, that the team (but not the individual pitcher) get charged with a blown save. I guess it boils down to you can't get a save if you are the pitcher of record and there is no such thing as a "team" save or blown save. :thumb:

I was talking more about his injuries. He didn't deserve them. How can you say he is to blame? I've seen plenty of interviews done by Griffey in the media. He's a quiet guy but he still talk to the media and he always cracks jokes when he's doing it. Whats not to like about the guy? I lost respect for a lot of fans when they would Boo him when he laid in the outfield grass after suffering an injury.

 

He's not accessible in the sense that he's very guarded. Heck, I might too. However, as I said, he seems distant and that affects fans perception.

 

The jackballs that boo him are not fans. They're trash.

I guess its simply a matter of percentages. I don't like to "give" a team baserunners. Too many bad things can happen. Of course, if I KNEW a guy was going to hit a screamer down the line, I'd of course "guard the corners." But, as a matter of percentages, the smart thing to do in my "book" is to not allow the gun on first base when I could have gotten him out.

 

Besides, by your own logic, a MLB third baseman or Professional Athlete could just as easily "take two steps" to his right to catch the potential double, right?

 

Yes they do take two steps toward the line and catch the ball all the time. But thats not all the way to the line. By guarding the lines, you play closer to the lines to get the the ball right on the line that they couldn't get to by playing in their normal position. Most doubles are hit right down the line. Not two steps off of it because they can get to that ball.

He's not accessible in the sense that he's very guarded. Heck, I might too. However, as I said, he seems distant and that affects fans perception.

 

The jackballs that boo him are not fans. They're trash.

 

I wouldn't want the media all up in my business either. Any fan who has a problem with that needs to get on with their life.