Nick Markakis pleading his case for a Gold Glove...

[Blzer]

Re: Nick Markakis pleading his case for a Gold Glove...

eesh...

Okay, again... pretend that there wasn't a wall there. It's yet another running (or possibly diving) catch. I'm not even sure if he robbed him. That's why I said that the greatness of the play was him sacrificing his knee to get that out and save two runs. There was nothing in the catch that wowed me.

Again, don't want to take anything away from it... probably #1 on the Web Gem list for that day. But if this catch deserves its own thread, then this forum should be cluttered with defensive plays videos.

[skitch]

Re: Nick Markakis pleading his case for a Gold Glove...

Okay, again... pretend that there wasn't a wall there. It's yet another running (or possibly diving) catch. I'm not even sure if he robbed him. That's why I said that the greatness of the play was him sacrificing his knee to get that out and save two runs. There was nothing in the catch that wowed me.

Again, don't want to take anything away from it... probably #1 on the Web Gem list for that day. But if this catch deserves its own thread, then this forum should be cluttered with defensive plays videos.

We don't agree often, but this post was spot on. Exactly the point I've been trying to make.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Nick Markakis pleading his case for a Gold Glove...

Okay, again... pretend that there wasn't a wall there. It's yet another running (or possibly diving) catch. I'm not even sure if he robbed him. That's why I said that the greatness of the play was him sacrificing his knee to get that out and save two runs. There was nothing in the catch that wowed me.

Again, don't want to take anything away from it... probably #1 on the Web Gem list for that day. But if this catch deserves its own thread, then this forum should be cluttered with defensive plays videos.

You could make the same case for Derek Jeter's catch in foul territory. If the wall wasn't there, it would have been a running catch, nothing we haven't seen before, but it still gets praised by everybody because he was the one that made it.

[Blzer]

Re: Nick Markakis pleading his case for a Gold Glove...

You could make the same case for Derek Jeter's catch in foul territory. If the wall wasn't there, it would have been a running catch, nothing we haven't seen before, but it still gets praised by everybody because he was the one that made it.

I never praised that catch, and I thought that it was an even worse catch than this one. If he had to make the stands an obstacle to MAKE said catch, than it's a different stoy. But the fact that the wall was not an actual part of the catch itself, and rather conceived as an afterthought, the overall effect and play is very nice, but the catch itself is nothing spectacular. Like I said... I don't want to take anything away from these plays. They are risking a season-long injury doing what they do to make the catch. But plays like these give these athletes way too much promotion for their work thereafter.

It's like the Phillies getting so many outfield assists. Do you know why? Yes, their arms can be a reason... but it's also because the baserunners and baserunning coaches forget which stadium they are playing in, and the tiny dimensions means the outfielders are closer.

Players like Mark Kotsay don't get any noticeable recognition for their great defense in the outfield because he doesn't make the diving plays in the gaps like everyone else. The only reason he doesn't is because his first jump is so quick, that he gets to the ball before he even needs to dive. Instead, Hunter steals his thunder because Minnesota has a soft 7 foot center field tarp at the Metrodome for his plays to look more stellar than they actually are.


Nick Markakis... GREAT CATCH! Now carry on. Fred Lewis made a great catch last night. Let's talk about that one.

I'm sorry for terminating the thread like I am, I really am. I just wanted to make sure that this catch doesn't get more praise than it should (yes, much like Jeter's). Jeter's only really great play that I remember was the short cut-off and backhand flip to home in the playoffs, and even then I think he was safe.