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Post by grackle on May 1, 2018 6:42:51 GMT -8
It's pretty clear that Rutschman's throwing arm is (currently at least) not up to par. Right now 1st base is where he belongs. Nevertheless, last Sunday (vs ASU), PC replaced Claunch at catcher in the critical 9th inning with Adley.
Why?? Claunch at catcher had already thrown out an ASU runner, knocked in 2 rbi's and was playing well. Rutschman at 1B was also doing just fine. With Adley at catcher, we risked an almost sure steal of 2nd base by the ASU runner who had been pretty much intentionally walked to lead off the 9th.
The move made absolutely no sense to me, but then I'm hardly a baseball coach with PC's experience. Any explanation(s) out there??
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Post by ricke71 on May 1, 2018 7:07:19 GMT -8
It's pretty clear that Rutschman's throwing arm is (currently at least) not up to par. Right now 1st base is where he belongs. Nevertheless, last Sunday (vs ASU), PC replaced Claunch at catcher in the critical 9th inning with Adley. Why?? Claunch at catcher had already thrown out an ASU runner, knocked in 2 rbi's and was playing well. Rutschman at 1B was also doing just fine. With Adley at catcher, we risked an almost sure steal of 2nd base by the ASU runner who had been pretty much intentionally walked to lead off the 9th. The move made absolutely no sense to me, but then I'm hardly a baseball coach with PC's experience. Any explanation(s) out there?? . Possible a defensive move... Z Taylor at 1st and Adley at C, maybe considered better overall D than Adley at 1st and Claunch at C...or maybe Adley is the preferred C with Jake M. pitching.
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Post by cageybeav on May 1, 2018 7:21:54 GMT -8
I asked myself the same thing. I was surprised that ASU didn't try to steal. Would like to see that line-up for todays game and against the Cougs, see what happens. I have talked up Preston earlier in the year and would like to see what he could do with 15 or so abs in a row. Great bunt on Sun. and timely hit. Claunch looked good, threw well and hit. Also would take some stress off AR, re hirs arm and the overall duties of catching. Give Adley some "rest" and reward 2 young players for stepping up when called on. Jones and Claunch were the difference in the game Sunday. IMO
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Post by kersting13 on May 1, 2018 7:55:08 GMT -8
I'm going to assume it was more for the 1B defense than the C defense, but in that case, I would think just replacing Adley at 1B should have been the move. I guess they didn't want to take Rutschman's bat out of the line-up in case of a tie.
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Post by mbabeav on May 1, 2018 9:19:45 GMT -8
My thought was that Claunch was unlikely to hit again, and with the relievers coming in, Adley was their preferred backstop.
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mb
Freshman
Posts: 404
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Post by mb on May 1, 2018 9:21:18 GMT -8
From today's Corvallis GT:
"Rutschman did catch the final two innings of the finale with Zak Taylor manning first base and Michael Gretler hopping over to third.
Claunch hadn’t worked much with closer Jake Mulholland and Casey said Taylor is “as good of a defensive first baseman as we have."
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tej
Freshman
Posts: 51
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Post by tej on May 1, 2018 11:25:36 GMT -8
Do not underestimate AR's value as a catcher in regards to pitcher performance. Particularly pitchers that are used to throwing to him, pitchers that he is used to catching. The battery is described as catcher/pitcher, there is a third member of the battery in blue that will respond favorably to a pitcher and catcher that are in sinc with each other. I think AR's consistent work behind the plate lately has been a very very significant factor in our better pitching performance.
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Post by 56chevy on May 1, 2018 12:22:20 GMT -8
There was a play at first, I think in the top of the 9th where the sun devil base runner attempted to apply a forearm shiver to Zach, which did not work out so well for the base runner. Did Zach play football in high school?
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Post by Henry Skrimshander on May 1, 2018 12:29:47 GMT -8
Whenever possible, you put your best defensive team on the field for the closing innings of a close game.
Gretler is an outstanding third baseman, with a longer/higher reach than Armstrong, who is no slouch defensively himself. Taylor is probably our best defensive first baseman. And Adley is great at blocking breaking balls in the dirt, which Mulholland throws, and he and Mulholland have two years of experience together.
Pat played it 100% correctly.
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Post by wilkyisdashiznit on May 1, 2018 12:36:05 GMT -8
There was a play at first, I think in the top of the 9th where the sun devil base runner attempted to apply a forearm shiver to Zach, which did not work out so well for the base runner. Did Zach play football in high school? Zak (not Zach) played tight end and linebacker at Sherwood. Zak also was a catcher at Sherwood. Zak also had a 13-3 record and 1.68 ERA as a pitcher, mostly as a spot starter and reliever his last two years.
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Post by wilkyisdashiznit on May 1, 2018 12:37:17 GMT -8
Whenever possible, you put your best defensive team on the field for the closing innings of a close game. Gretler is an outstanding third baseman, with a longer/higher reach than Armstrong, who is no slouch defensively himself. Taylor is probably our best defensive first baseman. And Adley is great at blocking breaking balls in the dirt, which Mulholland throws, and he and Mulholland have two years of experience together. Pat played it 100% correctly. The other thing to point out is that Adley is phenomenal at framing pitches. If Adley can turn one ball into a strike, it is worth it to have him back there.
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rafer
Sophomore
Posts: 1,640
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Post by rafer on May 1, 2018 15:37:16 GMT -8
There was a play at first, I think in the top of the 9th where the sun devil base runner attempted to apply a forearm shiver to Zach, which did not work out so well for the base runner. Did Zach play football in high school? YES!! Pretty solid too..
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