Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Post-Game 33 Thread: Rick Monday Is Driving Me Nuts (Marlins 6, Dodgers 5)

There were a lot of things about which to be angry during yesterday's game. For starters:

  • That the Dodgers had a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, only to give up four runs in the bottom of the same inning.
  • That Mark Hendrickson grooved fastball after fastball to Miguel Cabrera, who eventually connected on one for a 447-foot home run that tied the game at four. Given the Marlins' free-swinging ways and league-leading runs scored, one would think he would mix it up a bit against arguably the Marlins' best hitter.
  • That the only reason we were in that situation to begin with was Rafael Furcal's error in the infield, following Jeff Kent's error which helped score the Marlins' second run.
  • That Andre Ethier's game-tying run (5-5) in the eighth came with Olmedo Saenz at bat--and when Saenz struck out, the mlb.com's "scoring plays" link lists the vague terms that "Saenz strikes out. Ethier scores from third." (Huh?).
  • That Garciaparra's 0-for-4 outing makes the third straight 0-fer game (and is now on an 0-for-15 streak).
  • That Luis Gonzalez is developing a nice 0-fer streak of his own, with two straight 0-fer games (now 0-for-7). Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
  • That Jonathan Broxton could only get one of four batters out in the ninth inning, losing the game with Cabrera's walkoff single.

But no, we're going to take this opportunity to lament Rick Monday, who had no idea what was going on in the booth yesterday during the fateful bottom of the fifth inning. With the score tied at four, Aaron Boone on second and Miguel Olivo on first, two out, and Chin-Hui Tsao in to relieve Mark Hendrickson, Rick Monday decided to absolutely lose it. Joe Borchard raps a double, Boone scores from second, and Olivo gets tagged out by Martin to end the inning. Easy enough play to call, right?

Monday was all over the board on his call, which went something like this (and I'm paraphrasing): Here comes Boone to score the first run. Here comes Olivo to score the second run. And Martin takes the throw to tag out the runner...and the inning is over, and the Marlins have a 5-4 lead."

Which runner was tagged out to end the inning? How can two runs score in a 4-4 game and it only be 5-4? What the hell is going on here? Why am I listening to a Panda Express commercial?

Monday, who spent an entire half-inning explaining Florida state politics and how remote the Marlins' stadium is from the Dodgers' hotel (Dolphin Stadium is a twenty-minute drive from Miami Airport. Get a closer hotel, Rick.), had no idea how to call the play, leaving the radio listener completely confused. When a broadcaster is more comfortable waxing philosophically about Florida zip codes (no joke), it seems to me that that is NOT the person you want on play-by-play. Please, someone give the man some lessons, or tell Jerry Reuss to switch seats with Monday in the booth.

In the meantime, I guess I've gotta buy me one of those television things. Please, click on the google ads, people.

9 comments:

Lasorda said...

Regarding the Saenz strikeout/Ethier scoring from 3d to tie the game, the third stike was on a wild pitch from Punto which got past Olivo (allowing Ethier to score). This led to another rambling story from Monday about Steve Yeager, Yeager's hospitalization from a car accident over the weekend, and, I believe, a recipe for shortbread cookies that he got from a bakery in Solvang. Sigh.

Don't want to pile on the guy, but THAT was the Hendy we came to know and love last season. Maybe he just shouldn't be allowed to pitch in the State of Florida?

Orel said...

Amen! Hallelujah! Preach!

Unknown said...

I was watching on "one of those television things" and was just as confused. My memory is hazy - just like the stadium from wildfire smoke, which Steiner mentioned about a hundred times - but I remember KCAL also cutting to a quick commercial and waiting until after the break to show what actually happened. (Like I said, my memory's hazy, so I may be wrong.)

In case you still haven't seen the play, Ethier short-hopped the throw to Kent, who decided he couldn't field it cleanly (maybe he was nervous after the botched Ramirez play) and let it go past him. Nomar wasn't in position to back him up, so it rolled all the way to Martin, who turned to try to tag Olivo before he scored the second run. Olivo was actually closer to the plate than Martin, but he stopped for no reason and let Martin tag him instead of scoring another run... inning over.

Lasorda said...

Is it just me, or are the Dodgers being haunted by the Ghosts of Baserunning Mistakes Past (Drew and Kent's gaffe in lasy year's NLDS Game 1)?

Remember, fundamentals start with "FUN."

Steve Sax said...

Lasorda: Actually, fundamentals starts with FUND, which is what McCourt needs to do to BUY A FRICKIN' POWER BAT.

Steve Sax said...

Steve, thanks for the recap. For what it's worth, Monday talked about the smoke about five times as well. Given our own Griffith Park blaze (about which I am sure Monday was unaware), it was strange.

Steve Sax said...

PS. Steve: when do you get your PhD?

Unknown said...

The one and only Steve Sax interested in my life! Wow! I was a big fan growing up (I think it had to do with the name).

Anyway, I'm finishing up year one of five... still have a long way to go.

Steve Sax said...

Go get 'em, Steve! And thanks again for stopping by. Keep the comments coming.