Diamondbacks Bullpen

[stu]

Got me there.

[TAP]

[foulpole]

[stu]

First, I don't think it is ever OK for a player to stroll. Just as I assume you agree that it is not wise to hustle to the point of running into walls on a regular basis. So we are talking about the plays in between.

I tried to distinguish between hustling and running all out all the time. I don't think any player (even Byrnes) runs all out all the time. On routine grounders, players will run at 80-90%. On singles they will do the same unless they see a posibility of a double. How many times do you see a player "turn it on" going from first to second or from second to third. If he was already running full out, he could not turn it on.

Head first slides when the player could come in standing up are unnecessary "hustle" to me. Same for running as hard as you can to get right next to the person catching the ball. Turning cartwheels after the throw.. Running yourself into outs. Overthrowing the cutoff man because you are throwing the ball too hard and too fast. These are some examples.

Byrnes is is a funny example for me. I hated his style when he played for Oakland. He was a bonehead player. Throwing to the wrong base. Missing cutoff men. In the worst example, running so hard that he missed home in the playoff game and was so caught up in the moment that he didn't go back and touch it.

Here, for some reason, I find his play enjoyable. Not sure why. It may be I don't have any real expectations for this team and am being pleasantly surpised. It may be that after last year, he is such a breath of fresh air. It may be that he is playing better here.

[Robert S.]

[B. O. N. D.]

[Robert S.]

Dibs on the second! I want one with a strong back to work mah land.

[levski]

I meant to write "Callaspo at SS"... thanks for the reports.

[moviegeekjn]

[stu]

Good point mG.

Another aspect of the run all the time school is the ability to relax when at the plate. Hitting a baseball requires a certain amount of calmness and abililty to be relaxed. Sort of like the biathlon where the skiers want to lower their heart rates for shooting. Golf is another example. You don't want to be running up to the and swinging in the normal course.

Byrnes always seemed ancy at the plate to me. He'd get so would up, he would swing at anything. I've seen him swing at pitchers over his head. I don't know if turning it down a notch would help, but it couldn't hurt in this area.

Pete Rose was an exceptional athlete and ball player. He had a sense for the game that allowed him to go all out most of the time and still keep his head in the game. He had an ability to relax at the plate and either think or instinctively know the situation and what to do when hitting. Eric Byrnes is no Pete Rose. Truth be told most ball players are not the equal of the Out King.

[shoewizard]

[stu]

Let me add, I'm glad there are some players like Byrnes. They are fun for me to watch. I wouldn't want a whole team of them, but one or two makes the game interesting if frustrating at times.

[Robert S.]

[Dangerfield]