Championship Defense

[Guest AG/DC]

It's an empty cliche to say that defense wins championships, but it sure was the difference tonight against a team that could stand in the way of one. Wright, Endy, Evans X 2.

Meanwhile, the Brews ran the bases like a team made up of a bunch of big galoop hitters. They looked like the Cincinnati Reds West out there.

Your heart may not feel it, but what our defense has brought may be bringing us close to even when measured against what our bullpen is failing to do.

A stretch. Yeah, probably. But it sure is heartening that the confindence-draining bullpen performances aren't affecting the gloves.

The only defensive play I can recall being particularly upset by the last few weeks was Schneider fanning on catchng a throw to the plate.

New York Mets defense. Night in, night out.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I agree completely, the D is the one thing that this team brings every night even though they're not especially afraid of potential butchery in RF and LF and 1B. It;'s the one area of their game that's been encouraging even as they try to make me throw in the towel over and over with these awful losses.

And if I had to guess at the 2 guys who were motivated by Randolph the least it would be Reyes and Delgado.

[Guest AG/DC]

Forgot to send love out to Beltran in this regard.

[Guest AG/DC]

I also want to add my concern that any success Ayala has had seeems to be largely an illusion produced by (1) hard hit balls going at his defenders and (2) his defenders making unlikely outs on balls not hit right at them. Look it at his ninth inning pitch data on Gameday, and his fastballs were middling (89-92, mostly 91) and his breaking pitches weren't breaking.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_09_02_nynmlb_milmlb_1&mode=gameday

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm not thrilled with Ayala either. Of the potential closers, right now I'd prefer Stokes.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You're welcome to the alternative of relievers who don't throw strikes.

[Guest AG/DC]

Ouch.

That post just kicked me in the face.

[Frayed Knot]

Fortunately for Ayala the corners are deep in Miller Park (344).
I was sure the shot by that big galoot was gone when he first hit it.