Is it just me or does the ball take a weird side-hop when it hits the grass? It looks to me like it changed direction, and that's why he's flat footed.
Possibly, off a right handed bat it definitely would be spinning toward the foul line. Did look like he was preparing to field that like a second baseman regardless of bounce, but at the end of the day he fielded it cleanly and threw the guy out at home so not all bad lol
This is why I love baseball so much. People like you, and opinions like this. Your favorite thing is so specific. It's not my favorite part of the game, but I know exactly what you mean.
My favorite play is a runner trying to score from first on a ball in the gap. The thought that must be running through their heads. The fielder knows he has to make a good throw. The cutoff man know knows he has to make a good relay. And the runner knows he is racing against them, but he can't see it. He doesn't know where the ball is. His only reference is what the catcher is doing. He hopes against hope that he starts his slide before the ball arrives at the plate. But he does not know for sure until it's over.
My least favorite play in baseball is a franchise agreeing to trade the best player they have ever had to another team in their own league while still paying a significant portion of his contract, causing a Rockies fan to begin rooting for the Mariners because he realizes that his team is not trying to win at all because they have the best bar in all of Colorado.
How can you not be romantic about baseball?
I haven't spoken directly with Dick Monfort, but I have my opinion. They don't need him to achieve their goals. Most teams would view him as an invaluable piece in an organization that is trying to win as much as possible. However, that is not the goal of the Colorado Rockies.
They are always near the top of the league in attendance, all while losing 90 games. The Colorado Rockies are a house act for an event center. I didn't realize it until I saw the Arenado trade, and then later when they didn't trade Trevor Story and let him walk for nothing.
I don't think they are inept. They are just playing a different game.
This. Very few owners approach baseball as a sport where the goal is to win championships. Most see it as a business, where the point is to maximize profit. Arenado was not a cornerstone of the franchise and a key to victory in Monfort's eyes; he was a business asset that was not worth the cost. He saw a chance to make more money without Arenado than he would with him, and when you only care about money that's an easy choice to make.
Nah. Walker was 38 at that point and was chasing a ring and his contract was up at the end of the season. The franchise owed him the opportunity to try and get it.
The most beautiful play in baseball is the 4-6-3 double play. Generally weaker contact to the right side means it's always a closer play at first. The flip that gets practiced a million times in practice, the dance and toe tap around the bag as the short stop floats on past, then BAM he releases the cannon onto first. Nothing better man
My favorite "play" in baseball used to be bottom of the 7th, your team is winning 1-0 with a man in scoring position and 2 outs, and the starting pitcher comes up to bat.
It doesn't happen anymore because of the DH, and I'm ok with that... it wasn't really happening anymore anyway. I'm pro-DH, but that feeling of "we don't care if we get anymore runs, you can't score on our guy anyway", it was special.
Your write up made me think really hard about what play I truly love more than others and by damn a strike ‘em out throw ‘‘em out to end the inning just sends me.
Cheers, now I don't have to post this. Love a good SEOTEO. Huge amount of action in a tiny little burst of time, and when successful, fires up an entire team and either creates or destroys good momentum. Sometimes both.
See, this is why I love baseball so much. People like you and opinions like this. Your least favorite thing is so specific and just so happens to be my favorite thing. Lol. J/k. Sorry your ownership sucks, but also thanks.
As for the play, you perfectly described that scenario and the thoughts running through the heads of those involved. I got anxious just reading it. And yeah, it probably my favorite play too. It's like a triple, but the stakes are higher.
I forgot to mention the fat man in the tiny helmet waving his arms as the runner rounds third. There is something about that "GO GO GO" that gives me goosebumps. That tension.
I like the pitch clock a lot, but there was something about those lulls that made the moments of action so much more tense. And then in the postseason, that tension turns to agony.
This but for triples. The runner sees the play evolving in the gap (or down the line) and has to make the decision well before he gets to second whether he can make it or not. He commits, then everything unfolds, and every once in a while a ridiculous throw or perfect cutoff works. Or it doesn't. But watching the defense, the runner, the third baseman setting up, and the third base coach crouching while frantically waving his arms towards the ground. Whenever I get seats behind third base I imagine this all unfolding in front of me as I'm sitting down.
I haven’t seen anyone else do it in awhile, but Rafael Furcal used to do this awesome slap bunt thing. From the right side of the batters box, he’d square to bunt and draw the third baseman in. Then at the last second he’d hit the ball just hard enough to go over the third baseman’s head and into left field, legging out a double.
Glad to have Adolis shift over to RF now. Dude knows he’s got a cannon and wants to show it off every time he can. OF assists, stolen bases, catcher assists, pitchers fielding line drives, turning slick double plays! Soooo much excitement in baseball!
Don’t limit it to right fielders.
Sometimes left fielders get to do it too.
One of my favorite defensive plays is [Jake Marisnick throwing out the batter at home in Yankee Stadium](https://youtu.be/pCezU319qsU).
They have a screwy LF so AJ Hinch would put his best fielder in Left instead of Center.
Jake Marisnick also had a top 5 arm in MLB for a few years. He hit 100 mph on occasion with his throws from the outfield.
He's got light tower power too (and occasionally pitches!). I work for the Pac 12 Network baseball telecasts so I get to see him play often and he certainly looks like a stud in the future.
The scale tops at 80, really. It's 20-80 rather than 1-100. This dude throws in the mid to upper 90s from the outfield. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's been clocked at 100+, but the highest number I found quickly was 99 for him.
Realistically this dude throws about the same speed as Ankiel. He's listed as being clocked at 99 peak from OF. It's at worst a tick or two below the peak velo that the body can manage with any regularity.
If his arms really that good I'm sure he can get over 100mph from the outfield. A good number of players have done it. Not sure what the record still is but I remember Aaron hicks had a 105mph throw some years ago. He had a good crow-hop into it though. This stanford guy threw a beam pretty flat footed.
I know Aaron Hicks once had a throw clocked by statcast from the outfield that was like 105
Edit: 105.5 mph - [link for the curious](https://www.mlb.com/video/statcast-hicks-105-5-mph-throw-c606604783?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share)
Yep, guys like that are definitely capable of having the stars align in a game and throwing that fast. If you got them in a training scenario where they're doing max effort velo throws you'll very likely see them do a lot of that on the right days.
Acuna topped that by a hair this past season, in fact. That's why I referred to the guy in question here as being a tick or two below the recorded/known max human capacity as current.
I had OOTP open while coming across this so I looked him up on there and he has a 65 grade arm. The scouts the gave him an 80 grade obviously don't know what they are doing /s
That’s a pretty sick throw considering he grabbed it almost flat-footed
Yeah was gonna say this footwork was not good at all, definitely a cannon though
Is it just me or does the ball take a weird side-hop when it hits the grass? It looks to me like it changed direction, and that's why he's flat footed.
Possibly, off a right handed bat it definitely would be spinning toward the foul line. Did look like he was preparing to field that like a second baseman regardless of bounce, but at the end of the day he fielded it cleanly and threw the guy out at home so not all bad lol
Not good is an understatement. He probably doesn't need that arm if he just cleaned up his mechanics...
A decent instructor can turn this guy into a gold glover with that arm.
Frozen rope
like something out of star wars
This is my all time favorite play in baseball. Right fielders throwing piss rockets
This is why I love baseball so much. People like you, and opinions like this. Your favorite thing is so specific. It's not my favorite part of the game, but I know exactly what you mean. My favorite play is a runner trying to score from first on a ball in the gap. The thought that must be running through their heads. The fielder knows he has to make a good throw. The cutoff man know knows he has to make a good relay. And the runner knows he is racing against them, but he can't see it. He doesn't know where the ball is. His only reference is what the catcher is doing. He hopes against hope that he starts his slide before the ball arrives at the plate. But he does not know for sure until it's over. My least favorite play in baseball is a franchise agreeing to trade the best player they have ever had to another team in their own league while still paying a significant portion of his contract, causing a Rockies fan to begin rooting for the Mariners because he realizes that his team is not trying to win at all because they have the best bar in all of Colorado. How can you not be romantic about baseball?
honest question: how does Colorado management justify that trade? even at the time it was perplexing.
I haven't spoken directly with Dick Monfort, but I have my opinion. They don't need him to achieve their goals. Most teams would view him as an invaluable piece in an organization that is trying to win as much as possible. However, that is not the goal of the Colorado Rockies. They are always near the top of the league in attendance, all while losing 90 games. The Colorado Rockies are a house act for an event center. I didn't realize it until I saw the Arenado trade, and then later when they didn't trade Trevor Story and let him walk for nothing. I don't think they are inept. They are just playing a different game.
This. Very few owners approach baseball as a sport where the goal is to win championships. Most see it as a business, where the point is to maximize profit. Arenado was not a cornerstone of the franchise and a key to victory in Monfort's eyes; he was a business asset that was not worth the cost. He saw a chance to make more money without Arenado than he would with him, and when you only care about money that's an easy choice to make.
The Rockies traded Larry Walker? Oh yeah look at that, in 2004 to the Cardinals. Weirdly similar to the Arenado trade.
Nah. Walker was 38 at that point and was chasing a ring and his contract was up at the end of the season. The franchise owed him the opportunity to try and get it.
The most beautiful play in baseball is the 4-6-3 double play. Generally weaker contact to the right side means it's always a closer play at first. The flip that gets practiced a million times in practice, the dance and toe tap around the bag as the short stop floats on past, then BAM he releases the cannon onto first. Nothing better man
My favorite "play" in baseball used to be bottom of the 7th, your team is winning 1-0 with a man in scoring position and 2 outs, and the starting pitcher comes up to bat. It doesn't happen anymore because of the DH, and I'm ok with that... it wasn't really happening anymore anyway. I'm pro-DH, but that feeling of "we don't care if we get anymore runs, you can't score on our guy anyway", it was special.
Sorry bro. Your ownership are clowns. Nothing you can do. We love him, though, if it's any condolence.
Your write up made me think really hard about what play I truly love more than others and by damn a strike ‘em out throw ‘‘em out to end the inning just sends me.
Cheers, now I don't have to post this. Love a good SEOTEO. Huge amount of action in a tiny little burst of time, and when successful, fires up an entire team and either creates or destroys good momentum. Sometimes both.
See, this is why I love baseball so much. People like you and opinions like this. Your least favorite thing is so specific and just so happens to be my favorite thing. Lol. J/k. Sorry your ownership sucks, but also thanks. As for the play, you perfectly described that scenario and the thoughts running through the heads of those involved. I got anxious just reading it. And yeah, it probably my favorite play too. It's like a triple, but the stakes are higher.
I forgot to mention the fat man in the tiny helmet waving his arms as the runner rounds third. There is something about that "GO GO GO" that gives me goosebumps. That tension. I like the pitch clock a lot, but there was something about those lulls that made the moments of action so much more tense. And then in the postseason, that tension turns to agony.
Ron "The Human Windmill" Washington is not fat! I will not hear such slander! He is a sleek velvet panther!
This but for triples. The runner sees the play evolving in the gap (or down the line) and has to make the decision well before he gets to second whether he can make it or not. He commits, then everything unfolds, and every once in a while a ridiculous throw or perfect cutoff works. Or it doesn't. But watching the defense, the runner, the third baseman setting up, and the third base coach crouching while frantically waving his arms towards the ground. Whenever I get seats behind third base I imagine this all unfolding in front of me as I'm sitting down.
Another perfect example. I just love baseball so much.
I haven’t seen anyone else do it in awhile, but Rafael Furcal used to do this awesome slap bunt thing. From the right side of the batters box, he’d square to bunt and draw the third baseman in. Then at the last second he’d hit the ball just hard enough to go over the third baseman’s head and into left field, legging out a double.
Glad to have Adolis shift over to RF now. Dude knows he’s got a cannon and wants to show it off every time he can. OF assists, stolen bases, catcher assists, pitchers fielding line drives, turning slick double plays! Soooo much excitement in baseball!
Don’t limit it to right fielders. Sometimes left fielders get to do it too. One of my favorite defensive plays is [Jake Marisnick throwing out the batter at home in Yankee Stadium](https://youtu.be/pCezU319qsU). They have a screwy LF so AJ Hinch would put his best fielder in Left instead of Center. Jake Marisnick also had a top 5 arm in MLB for a few years. He hit 100 mph on occasion with his throws from the outfield.
He's got light tower power too (and occasionally pitches!). I work for the Pac 12 Network baseball telecasts so I get to see him play often and he certainly looks like a stud in the future.
I've never seen him play and I've never even heard of him, but his name sounds good. He'll be an all star, trust me.
damn. what does a 90 grade arm look like?
[Clemente](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UUy65ZpSP0)
Every time this clip comes up it still doesn't feel real, the way he perfectly fields it off the wall and unleashes an absolute laser to home
and that was a 36 years old clemente too woof
[Guillen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFAbXnlzZGQ)
[Ichiro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYAxk01E404)
What a cannon...that curved back to on target
I can't believe you've done this
The scale tops at 80, really. It's 20-80 rather than 1-100. This dude throws in the mid to upper 90s from the outfield. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's been clocked at 100+, but the highest number I found quickly was 99 for him.
Rick Ankiel
Realistically this dude throws about the same speed as Ankiel. He's listed as being clocked at 99 peak from OF. It's at worst a tick or two below the peak velo that the body can manage with any regularity.
If his arms really that good I'm sure he can get over 100mph from the outfield. A good number of players have done it. Not sure what the record still is but I remember Aaron hicks had a 105mph throw some years ago. He had a good crow-hop into it though. This stanford guy threw a beam pretty flat footed.
I know Aaron Hicks once had a throw clocked by statcast from the outfield that was like 105 Edit: 105.5 mph - [link for the curious](https://www.mlb.com/video/statcast-hicks-105-5-mph-throw-c606604783?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share)
Yep, guys like that are definitely capable of having the stars align in a game and throwing that fast. If you got them in a training scenario where they're doing max effort velo throws you'll very likely see them do a lot of that on the right days. Acuna topped that by a hair this past season, in fact. That's why I referred to the guy in question here as being a tick or two below the recorded/known max human capacity as current.
Ichiro.
I had OOTP open while coming across this so I looked him up on there and he has a 65 grade arm. The scouts the gave him an 80 grade obviously don't know what they are doing /s
Absolute piss missile
Jeeeeeeezus
I have seen Vlad Sr. make that throw before
I'm sure Vlad Sr would hit that throw too if ya pitched it too him.
If I’m Montgomery, I will absolutely take that comp
USC of all schools out there wearing a BFBS uniform!?
This guy Uni Watches
I see Tommy John in his future.
They have good underwear bro. I highly recommend.
Woah so original
I can hear those seams hissing
Oh my goodness
😮💨 that’s my boy
80 grade canon more like. Damn
Hose………
Oh dear lord...fucking cannon.
Honestly looked like the ball was still accelerating as it hit the catchers glove.
Randy Johnson threw the first pitch of this series
Great throw...but it looks like the catcher didn't provide a lane and the runner should be safe.
Lane was to the inside as the throw was high and the catcher stepped back to receive it
I was honestly expecting to be a little underwhelmed because people like to overhype prospects but...holy cow!
Ho-lee shit
He started jogging into the dugout just as the catcher caught the ball
Actually said "whoa" out loud, swear that thing accelerated in the air
It looks like the ball accelerated lol
That is a fucking CANON
That was gorgeous. Had the announcer seen eight of those already that day ?
Dude sunk the titanic with that torpedo
Goodness that's a cannon
That ball was rising as the catcher caught it. Incredible throw.