April | 2017 | Garlicfriesandbaseball's Blog

Monthly Archives: April 2017

The First Baseman’s Stretch…….

Posted on April 29, 2017 | Leave a comment

This has been happening a lot lately. Almost every game in fact. The announcer bellows what a fantastic throw the shortstop has made to 1st base to throw someone out. And it’s usually true. They have. And it doesn’t have to be the shortstop. Could be the 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman catcher. You get the picture.

But the third time it happened tonight in the Giants vs Padres game I was compelled to grab my camera and take a snapshot of the TV screen. It was important to me to validate what a fantastic job the 1st Baseman does in catching (more like salvaging) a ball that, without his outstanding athletic ability, would have ended up in the dugout or worse.

I call it the First Baseman’s Stretch. And if you’ll watch for it, you’ll be surprised how often it happens. That’s probably why it’s a really good idea to get a 6’5″, left-handed guy to handle that base. Even while doing the splits this guy needs the wingspan of a 747 for the reach to make the play.

I just wish the commentators would be more aware of giving credit to the player that’s miraculously avoiding a pulled groin every time he stretches to make that catch while at the same time keeping at least one of his toes on that first base bag.

Above, Michael Morse makes it look easy ….. kinda ….. sort of.

Question for You Boche!

Posted on April 28, 2017 | Leave a comment

Why in the world was Michael Morse warming the bench in the 9th inning Thursday night? Or in the 10th inning? We’re getting used to it really, because there’s always some silly reason you know? Like the DL injuries up the kazoo, just having an off-night, they outplayed us, outpitched us or we just plain stunk up the place.

But Thursday night was different. Michael Morse was a Giant again, something I’ve been waiting for since the day he left. So when he suited up at Spring Training this year there was hope. Hope there wouldn’t be another really, really lousy year like last year. Because now we really didn’t care if we had a really bad bullpen. We had a power hitter. Again.

So the line-up is announced on Opening Day and guess what? Michael Morse isn’t in it. And it’s okay. We’re getting used to it, remember? But Wednesday night was different because he was back wearing a Giants uniform. Ahhh, still hope. And he didn’t let us down.

So Thursday night I would have been really anxious with the score tied bottom of the 9th, but I knew Morse was in the wings and at least this time we had a chance. It would be okay. And we waited and waited and …… still waiting.

So I’m wondering why Michael Morse wasn’t called off the bench in the 9th inning. And I’ll bet there are thousands of other fans wondering the same thing. No big deal. Just curious, that’s all.