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Matsui's fielding...
Topic Started: Apr 5 2006, 11:24 AM (141 Views)
rsj23terp

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I know the Proctor-bashing is in full effect, and deservedly so, if for no other reason than the leadoff four-pitch walk that setup the game-winning rally.

But is there leftfielder in the league worse and going back on the ball than Matsui? Scutaro's fly-ball was certainly catchable. He did a complete 360 going back when it was directly over his head.

Should have been caught, in my opinion.
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PavanosBalls
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Nah, it shouldn't have. Marco Scutaro shouldn't be hitting a linedrive bullet near the wall. Matsui ain't a great fielder, but Proctor's fully to blame. Maybe Carl Crawford catches that, but not many else.
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Mantlemurcer
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rsj23terp
Apr 5 2006, 11:24 AM
I know the Proctor-bashing is in full effect, and deservedly so, if for no other reason than the leadoff four-pitch walk that setup the game-winning rally.

But is there leftfielder in the league worse and going back on the ball than Matsui? Scutaro's fly-ball was certainly catchable. He did a complete 360 going back when it was directly over his head.

Should have been caught, in my opinion.

It wasn't routine, but Matsui definitely has trouble turning on the ball. As PBalls pointed out though, Scutaro shouldn't be smacking one back there. I don't even blame Proctor for this. I put it squarely on Torre.
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rsj23terp

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PavanosBalls
Apr 5 2006, 10:26 AM
Nah, it shouldn't have. Marco Scutaro shouldn't be hitting a linedrive bullet near the wall. Matsui ain't a great fielder, but Proctor's fully to blame. Maybe Carl Crawford catches that, but not many else.

Ball didn't even reach the warning track.
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Mantlemurcer
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I just watched the replay again on the web. I think his playing shallow was why he had so much trouble, plus the heavy rain couldn't have helped. Again, can't put it on Matsui though...Scutaro shouldn't be ripping ya like that.
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PavanosBalls
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The point about Matsui fielding is valid, but this to me was not a good example. A smacked bullet off a batting practice fastball by a little sh*t hitter, MM points out positioning. Who knows what kind of spin it had as well.

By the way, is it me or was Matsui's best season in the field his first?
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Mantlemurcer
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PavanosBalls
Apr 5 2006, 11:33 AM
The point about Matsui fielding is valid, but this to me was not a good example. A smacked bullet off a batting practice fastball by a little sh*t hitter. Who knows what kind of spin it had as well.

By the way, is it me or was Matsui's best season in the field his first?

It was his best.
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PavanosBalls
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A linedrive is bigger bitch than a flyout too, especially with spin. I'm not sure even a guy like Crawford gets that. My recollection was it was a liner/slash flyout. I could be wrong, but I don't recall any real hangtime
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Gategem
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The playing conditions were bad at that time. The outfield was water-logged and it was pouring at that time.

Cliché Time:

It’s only the 2nd game of the season. Torre is still assessing this team, especially the bp, to see what the 2006 Yankees are all about.

Relax the season is a marathon not a sprint.


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PavanosBalls
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Quote:
 
It’s only the 2nd game of the season. Torre is still assessing this team, especially the bp, to see what the 2006 Yankees are all about.

Relax the season is a marathon not a sprint.


I can't buy that on this occassion. We had options out there. You don't just give away games and using Proctor, especially in the situation they did, is giving away the game. We lose with Sturtze or Villone or even Jaret Wright, I'm upset, but I don't feel cheated like I did with Proctor in. We have to feel out what those guys bring to the table as well, and assumedly they will serve a bigger role all year.
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Grandy4MVP
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It certainly wasn't an easy play but one that should have been made. The conditions were bad so we have to keep that in mind, but we've seen this from Matsui before. He takes the scenic route to the ball, 360's, 180's...etc....never the compact direct route. All in all it is only one game, but you know what, I just hate that we lost the game that way with Proctor on the mound. If it was the 14th inning and we were out of pitching options, then I understand. However, in that spot you should have had Farnsworth back out there for the 9th.
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Yanks212
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I can't blame Matsui there. He was playing shallow and the field was sh*t. If he had the ball in his glove and it popped out that's a different story. But when you walk the leadoff guy bad things are going to happen. I honestly wouldn't have been pissed off last night if I hadn't seen this same story with Torre 1,000 times before. Proctor had no business being in that spot. And I'm glad people on the FAN today are calling up and saying that. From the little I've heard today the fans aren't giving Torre a pass on this one..which I must admit has surprised me a little. I figured for sure the spin doctors and Torre defenders would have been out in full force today.
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rsj23terp

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Ok, "should have" is a little strong.

He COULD HAVE caught that ball.

In a playoff game - REGARDLESS OF WHO'S ON THE MOUND - we'd all want that ball caught.

I'm not exonerating Proctor from blame, just saying Matsui is an atrocious fielder particularly on balls hit over his head.
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HomieYank
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I can't stand the way Matsui goes back on the ball. He's a "tweener" in that his best defensive position is Center, but he doesn't have the tools to play it. Since we got Damon I've been saying that in most situations Matsui should be playing deepish unless the situation calls for him to play in. Last night was one of those situations even though Proctor was on the mound so I can't kill Matsui, but I agree with Terps, it bothers me. Torre still gets pretty much all the blame. I'd kill Proctor usually, but its not like its the middle of the season and Joe doesn't have fresh options, Proctor shouldn't have been put in the position to f*ck up so early.
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Yanksfan03
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I actually thought Matsui could've got the ball as well. But we doomed to start that inning. If didn't end there, the next guy would've ended it.
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PavanosBalls
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Matsui's weird in that he plays a fairly solid CF despite his lack of speed. He has good instincts out there. Then, you put him in LF, and he's got sh*t instincts. I will say this though, he has fairly good range when he gets a beat. He's certainly not Manny Ramirez bad.
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HomieYank
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PavanosBalls
Apr 5 2006, 02:10 PM
Matsui's weird in that he plays a fairly solid CF despite his lack of speed. He has good instincts out there. Then, you put him in LF, and he's got sh*t instincts. I will say this though, he has fairly good range when he gets a beat. He's certainly not Manny Ramirez bad.

If Manny didn't have the Monster there is no way he'd be an OFer. Matsui goes in on the ball and side to side fairly well. Like you said he has no instincts in left, he's lost if the ball is hit over his head. I don't hate him in center, but unfortunately for him there are always going to be better options, especially in Yankee stadium. I don't kill him because he'll make some good plays running down the line. I think he's atleast average, although I might be selling other LFers short.
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PavanosBalls
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Yeah, he ranges from average to above average. I don't think much of many defensive LF, so I can't say he's worse than many and I do think he gets to some balls others wouldn't. He also has that quick release when throwing the ball and is fairly accurate and doesn't overthrow cutoff men. I mean, he's not a POS out there.
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HomieYank
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PavanosBalls
Apr 5 2006, 02:33 PM
Yeah, he ranges from average to above average. I don't think much of many defensive LF, so I can't say he's worse than many and I do think he gets to some balls others wouldn't. He also has that quick release when throwing the ball and is fairly accurate and doesn't overthrow cutoff men. I mean, he's not a POS out there.

He's like Jeter in that he doesn't make stupid mistakes. When he can handle a play he always does the right thing. Like Jeter though he has a flaw that will cost us bases and outs here and there. Not neccesarily either guys fault, they do all they can, but are basically above average defensively. LFers are usually #3 out of the OFers anyway.
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KOCUR

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Matsui could have caught that ball....he got a poor job on the liner...

Proctor is not a Major Leaguer...
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