NLCS Game 4
How the heck did that happen? Morales looked RIGHT AT Chris Young, who then started running - and got picked off. Um, little tip - don't try to steal ANYTHING - a base, a car, a freaking stick of gum - when the owner's LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU.
These announcers LOOOOOVE Micah Owings - but there's a reason why he's the #4 pitcher, and maybe he can hit, but really, Doug Davis' double yesterday in Game 2 was much more impressive.
And then the wheels fall off the Dbacks bus... I know they're already 3 games down, and it's almost impossible to come back from that, but I think that little Seth Smith bloop double was the real backbreaker of the whole series.
And then an error, and then Matt Holliday caps it off.
Now, it's a whole different game. The Dbacks' pitcher's lines look really great, but it's because every Rockie - #1 to the pitcher - is swinging for the seats with every at bat. No more small ball, no more productive outs.
And the Dbacks almost come back - almost make the Rockies totally eat all those out-of-their-shoes swings.
But it becomes almost clinical how the Diamondbacks lost this game: somebody teaching baseball could use the end of this game as an example of how NOT to act when it's close and late, especially when you've just stormed back and ought to have all the momentum. Let's look at it an at bat at a time:
Bottom of the 8th, man on third: Corpas comes in. Now, Corpas NEVER comes in before the ninth. So this is a gutsy move by Hurdle, and if you're Arizona, you've got to see it as an opportunity. Corpas, really, has about twenty pitches in him, then he's in unknown territory, way out of his comfort zone, and with the game on the line. Arizona strategy: MAKE HIM THROW PITCHES.
Tony Clark knows it: He loads the count, then strikes out. Leaves that runner on third, but at least he made Corpas throw 6 pitches. He's got about 14 left.
Top of the ninth. Jeff Salazar pinch hits for the pitcher, and SWINGS AT THE FIRST PITCH. Just dumb. Now Corpas has 13 pitches left to get two outs.
Chris Young almost saves the day with a double. Now, we've got a man in scoring position, tying run at the plate, and Corpas is nearing the end - maybe 10 pitches left. Things are looking up for the Dbacks.
Then Stephen Young takes, takes takes...and then swings. It is an absolutely freaking mystery to me why ANYONE would swing at a 3-0 pitch in the bottom of the ninth. Let alone that you're the tying run. Never mind that you're the #2 hitter, and if you get on base, your best hitter comes up with the tying runs on base. A complete mystery.
So Corpas gets to face Byrnes with two outs and about 6 pitches left in him. Which is plenty. But Byrnes is just unlucky in this situation, as the ball bounces off his check swing and is an easy out - even as he headfirst dives into first base.
I know I sound like a Dbacks fan, commiserating his team's loss. Really, I was rooting for the Rockies the whole time, and was very, very excited when they won. They won! The look on Todd Helton's face after that final out will be in my head a long, long time.
I immediately jumped online and looked for World Series tickets - the World Series, in Colorado! But they started at $400. Yes, I love baseball - but not that much.
So I'll be watching it at home, like everyone else.