Rizzo strikes out and LeMahieu was thrown out stealing second. LMHU started his slide 10-15 feet too soon. He stopped a couple feet short of the bag. Something is not right with LeMahieu's running game!!!
It wasn't a straight steal...it was a hit and run...Rizzo's job there was to make contact at all costs, ...he didn't.
Cole continues to roll averaging 2 plus strikeouts per inning. King Cole makes hitters look sick. He has reset the bar for all Pitchers. What a treat I would venture to say only mad Max Scherzer comes close. Mad Max is on the mound tonight for the Dodgers Following this game Both Pitchers put on clinics as to what to throw when, and both have incredible arsenals of numerous pitches. 116 Pitches, 78 for strikes 15 strikeouts Zero walks Only four hits One earned run through seven. Here comes the 8th, Boone needs to let Cole finish this one.
It just doesn't look like he's running all out like he normally would. Maybe it's just me, a broken up hit and run I get that. I think He thought he was going to be able to keep running, and the option of sliding caught him off guard. But still I can't help but wonder if he's nursing say a sore hamstring or something? Maybe he's just deeking? He's the type of player, he doesn't give in to minor ailments. The type of advanced skills player, who would have the wherewithal to decoy teams. In fact I wouldn't be shocked if he gets another base hit and runs like he's Ricky Henderson.
I saw the Yankees playing the angels in '86 in Anaheim. Rickey Henderson let off the game with a routine single to George Hendricks in right field. As Hendrix went down to glove the ball his cleats kicked it. Henderson with afterburner's full-blown, wound up with a stand-up triple!
You could be right, Matts...hard to tell with players nowadays...never know if/when they might have some nagging injury...a sprained vagina is now commonplace in MLB.
Here's a story of one of the better games I attended in Anaheim 1986, I took my Wife, Son, Brother and Father to see the Angels play the Red Sox, and Yankees one month later. In the Red Sox game, Roger Clemens pitched, and it was one month after he set the 20 strikeout record vs the Mariners. Versus Clemens, Reggie Jackson hit a screaming line drive over the CF wall, and the ball bounced off of the camera. Reggie's 537th HR broke his tie with Mickey Mantle. Mantle would return a month later at the Yankees game we attended, to give Reggie a small trophy commemorating his tie-breaker. In the 1987 Donruss highlights set there is a card commemorating that evening, i.e., Reggie's breaking Mantle's home run, in the card has a picture of Mantle handing Reggie a small trophy. Card is attached below. Clemens didn't look so sharp that night, tho' he was throwing flames. Three wild pitches, five walks and a hit batsman for the normally controlled Clemens, who had just 12 walks in the previous 49 innings. I have always stayed over 1 hour after a game is over to let the crowds thin out. 45 minutes after the game was over, and walked through the lobby in Anaheim. I looked to my right and there was Mantle 10 ft away walking alongside us. He smiled, and we all said hello. I had just obtained his autograph twice just months prior at a Sports Memorabilia show. I saw no reason to disturb him. As he slowly with obvious sore knees and legs walked outside the lobby doors, ... a pack of approximately 50 fans gathered around him. He eventually made it to his limousine,not that far away. He sat inside the back of the limo for about 5 minutes, then he rolled the window down just far enough to stick his hand out. In his hand he had a stack of autographed pieces of paper. One guy grabbed the entire stack and ran like the devil. It only takes one person to ruin it for several.
Chapman made some changes in his pitching posture...and he looked like a different pitcher...good to see.
Chapman look phenomenal unlike I have ever seen Him since through April and half of May. I would love to see him return to that form Cole served up 32 swings and misses tonight. The best part was three strikeouts of Over-rated Ohtani
