O/T Scherzer - Almost a Vandermeer

[frankbmd]

Today's no-no, was almost perfect save for hitting the 27th batter with a pitch.
Last week's one hitter was almost a no-no save for Carlos Gomez' bloop single that was almost caught. His next start will be well covered.

[ooo-ribay]

I think Tabata leaned into it and I find that weak.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I think Tabata leaned into it and I find that weak.

At the very least he made no effort to get out of the way.

[t206hound]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I think Tabata leaned into it and I find that weak.

exactly... earn it; don't lean into it.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by t206hound

exactly... earn it; don't lean into it.

Yes, Yes- but I still feel more sympathy for Armando Galarraga.

That was a BIG shame...but both he and the ump were real men about it.

...and Galarraga never got another chance at history.


On the other hand, I'll bet Scherzer will have at least two more no-hitters in his career. Now, of course there is no way to predict such a thing, but when he's on, not many can touch him.

[mark evans]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Yes, Yes- but I still feel more sympathy for Armando Galarraga.

That was a BIG shame...but both he and the ump were real men about it.

...and Galarraga never got another chance at history.


On the other hand, I'll bet Scherzer will have at least two more no-hitters in his career. Now, of course there is no way to predict such a thing, but when he's on, not many can touch him.

I agree that Galarraga more sympathetic and have always thought that Selig should have corrected the record.

I'm a fairly serious Nats fan (share season tix) and watched today's game on tv. Scherzer lost his perfect game on a legitimate HBP in my view. Just a damn shame he was only one strike away from history.

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by mark evans

I agree that Galarraga more sympathetic and have always thought that Selig should have corrected the record.

I'm a fairly serious Nats fan (share season tix) and watched today's game on tv. Scherzer lost his perfect game on a legitimate HBP in my view. Just a damn shame he was only one strike away from history.

Agree, Way too much vitriol being spewed at Tabata. The ball was inside and a legit HBP. That being said I think there is an argument to be made that if the only thing being contacted on the batter is an inch thick piece of plastic on the elbow and doesn't hurt the player that it shouldn't be a HBP.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Yes, Yes- but I still feel more sympathy for Armando Galarraga.

That was a BIG shame...but both he and the ump were real men about it.

...and Galarraga never got another chance at history.


On the other hand, I'll bet Scherzer will have at least two more no-hitters in his career. Now, of course there is no way to predict such a thing, but when he's on, not many can touch him.

In the Detroit area, Galarraga is noted for having pitched the longest perfect game, retiring beyond a shadow of a doubt 28 men in a row.

Best to all,

Larry

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

In the Detroit area, Galarraga is noted for having pitched the longest perfect game, retiring beyond a shadow of a doubt 28 men in a row.

Best to all,

Larry

In the Pittsburgh area that honor belongs to Harvey Haddix.

Tom C

[Danny Smith]

Dude is so good right now. If only the rest of the nats could step it up.

[t206blogcom]

I was at the no hitter today. Was also at Zimmermann's no hitter last year. Love my Nats!

Agree, the batter leaned into it or at the very least made no effort to get out of the way. What a shame and a cheap shot by the batter.

[GregMitch34]

There are so many no-hitters today than in Vander Meer's time I can't get too excited about it, sorry.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

I was at the no hitter today. Was also at Zimmermann's no hitter last year. Love my Nats!

Agree, the batter leaned into it or at the very least made no effort to get out of the way. What a shame and a cheap shot by the batter.

Hi Jason,
The wife and I were also at today's game, but you are one up on me, having also witnessed J Zim's no-hitter last year. I agree with those that feel Tabata didn't really try to avoid the pitch. As the game wore on, I was concerned that the major thunderstorms heading toward DC might interrupt the game before it was completed, possibly resulting in a rain delay that would last too long for Scherzer to be able to resume pitching. But, Scherzer is a fast worker on the mound, and fortunately, the storms held off until shortly after the game ended. However, the coming storms did prompt the Nats' management to cancel the scheduled seniors-stroll-the-bases after the game, which the wife and I were looking forward to. And, driving home after the game to where we live in a distant VA suburb was no picnic.
Val

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Hi Jason,
The wife and I were also at today's game, but you are one up on me, having also witnessed J Zim's no-hitter last year. I agree with those that feel Tabata didn't really try to avoid the pitch. As the game wore on, I was concerned that the major thunderstorms heading toward DC might interrupt the game before it was completed, possibly resulting in a rain delay that would last too long for Scherzer to be able to resume pitching. But, Scherzer is a fast worker on the mound, and fortunately, the storms held off until shortly after the game ended. However, the coming storms did prompt the Nats' management to cancel the scheduled seniors-stroll-the-bases after the game, which the wife and I were looking forward to. And, driving home after the game to where we live in a distant VA suburb was no picnic.
Val

Hey Val - Glad you were able to witness history! I felt the crowd was more into Zimmermann's no hitter, especially with the fantastic final catch. I too was closely watching the weather. My drive home is further west than yours on 66 and it was a tough one. My neighbor's house was struck by lightening during the storm; scary stuff. See you at the next Chantilly show.

Jason

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by t206blogcom

I was at the no hitter today. Was also at Zimmermann's no hitter last year. Love my Nats!

Agree, the batter leaned into it or at the very least made no effort to get out of the way. What a shame and a cheap shot by the batter.

Bull.

Scherzer needs to not miss his spot by 18 or more inches on the biggest pitch of his career. End.of story. ALL responsibility for that is squarely on Scherzer. Execute your pitch and BS like this doesn't come into play.

Tom C

[Joshchisox08]

That's too damn bad too bad the mad German pitches in the National League now.

[arc2q]

For all the constant sqwaking from players these days about respecting the game and understanding the unwritten rules, there needs to be more condemnation of Tabata. He leaned into it to try to get hit. It would have been less pathetic if he had bunted to try to break up the no hitter.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by arc2q

For all the constant sqwaking from players these days about respecting the game and understanding the unwritten rules, there needs to be more condemnation of Tabata. He leaned into it to try to get hit. It would have been less pathetic if he had bunted to try to break up the no hitter.

I think the opposite. It's the old school way of breaking up the perfect game, if you can get away with it why not.

[brass_rat]

Originally Posted by Joshchisox08

I think the opposite. It's the old school way of breaking up the perfect game, if you can get away with it why not.

I respectfully disagree. If you want to have pride, so be it. Have pride, beat the guy, leg out the hit.

The umpire should have invoked rule 6.08b.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info...s/batter_6.jsp

[arc2q]

Originally Posted by Joshchisox08

I think the opposite. It's the old school way of breaking up the perfect game, if you can get away with it why not.

You can't be serious? It's happened once before in history and that was 1908. So clearly there is no baseball code saying, "to break up perfect game one ought to try to get hit by pitch."

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by arc2q

For all the constant sqwaking from players these days about respecting the game and understanding the unwritten rules, there needs to be more condemnation of Tabata. He leaned into it to try to get hit. It would have been less pathetic if he had bunted to try to break up the no hitter.

I'm sorry but this is laughable. Don't put him in that position by missing your spot by almost two feet on the biggest pitch of his life.

Tabata is supposed to roll over and play dead just because of the situation?

Respecting the game means playing all 27 outs. Would it really respect that amazingly pitched game to play out 27 any different than out 1? Scherzer deserved more than that.

What's more, Scherzer fully understands that. He gets that he made the terrible pitch. Good for him.

Tom C

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Bull.

Scherzer needs to not miss his spot by 18 or more inches on the biggest pitch of his career. End.of story. ALL responsibility for that is squarely on Scherzer. Execute your pitch and BS like this doesn't come into play.

Tom C

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

I'm sorry but this is laughable. Don't put him in that position by missing your spot by almost two feet on the biggest pitch of his life.

Tabata is supposed to roll over and play dead just because of the situation?

Respecting the game means playing all 27 outs. Would it really respect that amazingly pitched game to play out 27 any different than out 1? Scherzer deserved more than that.

What's more, Scherzer fully understands that. He gets that he made the terrible pitch. Good for him.

Tom C

Right on, bro.

[nolemmings]

Well, the rule is there that would have disallowed that HBP. As most here know, it saved Drysdale's shutout streak when the ump ruled Dick Dietz could not take first after failing to make an effort to get out of the way of an inside pitch that hit him on the elbow with the bases loaded. Here, Tabata not only only failed to make an effort to avoid contact, he actually moved to get hit. So it quite easily could have been ruled that he had to stay in the box--that would have been not only in the spirit, but also the written rules of the game.

And no, Scherzer did not miss the zone by a foot. The chalk for the batter's box is only six inches off the plate and that's about where the pitch was thrown--the catcher did not even have to leave his squat to catch it. It was an 86 mph slider that did not slide, but was not sailing into him--what little bend it had would have taken it toward the plate. No way he tries that with a 97 mph fastball. Speaking of which, hats off to Scherzer for the way he handled it, but I wouldn't mind or be surprised if he drilled Tabata in the ribs next time he faces him, if not multiple times. And it won't be a slider.

[tjb1952tjb]

Still waiting for my San Diego Padres to have its FIRST no-hitter...........sigh.

[brass_rat]

Tabata should be embarrassed for himself. Actually, years down the line, he will be embarrassed for himself on the inside.

He fought off many good pitches, and he wasn't going down without a fight...but then he dropped his elbow because he couldn't get the hit.

He will tell himself that he fought with pride to have a real at-bat rather than just rolling over, because that's good baseball. But in the end, he took the coward's way out.

Congrats on the no-hitter,
Steve

[Joshchisox08]

Actually happened he leaned into the pitch though I'm a Sox fan so I'm a bit biased.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

His next start will be well covered.

He is scheduled to face the Phillies. Their offense has been dreadful this season. We very well may see back to back no-hitters.

[kcohen]

As a Nats fan, it is certainly disappointing to lose a perfect game like that. However, I choose to look at the bright side for two reasons:

1) The Nats got a much needed win, which have been few and far between lately, and;

2) The possible uptick in value of my Hooks Wiltze cards.


PS - Also ecstatic with my Wahoos advancing to the CWS World Series, even though I don't give us much more than a puncher's of a chance of getting by Vandy.

[Orioles1954]

No harm. No foul. Scherzer threw the ball inside and missed the zone by about a foot. Bad things happen when you miss the zone by a foot. IMHO, perfect games and no-hitters are more impressive when thrown in the American League where there isn't a free out 2-3 times a game.