Hunter to Vlad : TRY AND BE SMART!

by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 2, 2008 11:57 AM PDT

Hunter said he was surprised Guerrero tried to go from first to third on the play.

“Vladdy was aggressive. That’s what we’ve been known for, but sometimes you have to be kind of smart,” Hunter said. “Sometimes it’s good to be aggressive, and sometimes it’s bad to be aggressive. But Vladdy is Vladdy. He thought he could make it, but it just didn’t work out.”

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26984593/

No wonder Vlad was tearing up in the dugout, nobody wants to be thrown under the bus. :(

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were those tears?

crap, i thought his sweat was just conveniently placed.

by SCHalo on Oct 2, 2008 12:10 PM PDT reply actions

You could see that Torii was upset

in his reaction at 1st base.

If GA wasn't so Lazy, I'd have something clever here.

by TheTypingFiend on Oct 2, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

thank God he wasn't mic'd up

even non lip readers got his message loud and clear

by SCHalo on Oct 2, 2008 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions

he was pissed

by ladybug on Oct 2, 2008 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds familiar.

I posted this in late August. Torii is quoted as saying something similar to what I wrote a month ago…

Also, agressiveness works better against pooer defensive teams that fell more pressure to make accurate throws. Boston is not a poor defensive team. They tied for the lead in fielding percentage this year.
Vlad is Vlad…this type of base-running is a part of approach to the game. I really doubt it is the last time he will be thrown out by 10-15 feet.

by sothball on Oct 2, 2008 12:38 PM PDT reply actions

if vlad isn't dumb

he is one stubborn dude

by UCIHalo on Oct 2, 2008 12:42 PM PDT reply actions

If the throw is off line

Vlad looks like a genius. It was a good throw, unlucky for Vlad. It’s the same concept as the “contact play” if a runner’s on third that the Halos do all the time.

since 1961

by Chompo on Oct 2, 2008 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

I'm with you there

If the throw is off, he looks like smart, and the momentum really shifts. This team is known for going first to third, and this time it just didn’t work out.

Lamest poster of all-time.

by ineptituderunsamok on Oct 2, 2008 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

If the throw is offline, he's still probably out. That's how far ahead it arrived before he did.

It was dumb play. No reason to kick Vlad about it. He made a decision in a split second and unfortunately it was the wrong one. And if the throw was really bad and he somehow gets to 3rd before they recover it, Vlad would have been lucky rather than a genius.

by snowhor on Oct 2, 2008 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Completely agree

I'm your huckleberry

by autry's cowboys on Oct 3, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Youkilis could have rolled it like a Bocce ball and beaten Vlad.

by Downing Rules on Oct 3, 2008 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

In a post-game interview

Vlad said that he didn’t see the STOP!!!!!! sign that Dino was putting up.

Probably when he turned around to look.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Oct 2, 2008 1:07 PM PDT reply actions

It wasn't from turning to look at the play.

Vlad watched Youkilis going back on the ball until he (Vlad) was about 2/3 of the way to 2B. At that point, it appeared Youkilis would not have a play on the ball and Vlad took off. He didn’t pick up any sign because he was running with his head down until he was about 1/4 of the way to 3B….and by then it was too late to turn back.

Besides, I am not convinced that looking to the 3rd base coach for run/stop decisions is one of Vlad’s higher priorities, based on what I have seen in the past.

by sothball on Oct 2, 2008 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Vladi is a running legend in his own mind

The rest of us know he ain’t Figgy or Willits

by ladybug on Oct 2, 2008 1:20 PM PDT reply actions

One couldnt find 1st base last night and the other wasn't playing

thank god he wasn’t Figgins tdidn’t need another 0-5 in the lineup and if he is Willits well I don’t want to go there because the season would be over

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee

by Angel Aviator on Oct 2, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I meant as far as SPEED. Hence the "running legend"...running...nothing else.

by ladybug on Oct 2, 2008 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I don’t blame Vlad all that much here. Youkilis made a great play, period. There is no first basemen in the league can make that play consistently. Vladdy was totally sold that he had a good chance to make it to 3rd with 1 out. It would be unforgivable with 2 outs.

I really don’t understand the condemnation from Hunter on this one.

by pettis on Oct 2, 2008 2:23 PM PDT reply actions

Youkilis made a good play

But I don’t think it was great. He basically just smothered the ball and made a throw in the general vicinity of third base. The throw was offline and it STILL beat Vlad by 15 feet.

Vlad needs to make up his mind on that play: either take off from the bat and bet Youkilis isn’t going to double him off (which would have been a pretty good bet on Vladdy’s part) or play it conservatively. Trying to do both is what killed him.

I feel the need, the need...for speed!

by Gorbachav5 on Oct 2, 2008 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions

No not great

The Angels may have beat them 8 times in a row, but winning three before they do is all that matters.

by hauldog on Oct 2, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I was sitting in section 243 and had a good view of the bloop and Vlad

He was out from the moment the ball was fielded. Would be nice if the human windmill at 3rd coulda told him to hold up.

Fans were totally dead by the 9th. No energy. What a drag…

If GA wasn't so lazy the Halos woulda won the 2008 WS by now.

by melvintoast on Oct 2, 2008 2:37 PM PDT reply actions

Ebel had the stop sign up

The Angels may have beat them 8 times in a row, but winning three before they do is all that matters.

by hauldog on Oct 2, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Replay on Sportscenter from an upper deck camera

clearly shows Ebel with both arms outstretched as Vlad is between first and second. It was even exaggerated body language. Not Dino’s fault at all.

by Higz on Oct 2, 2008 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions

My bad... I wasn't looking at dino as I was already looking at two other things.

If GA wasn't so lazy the Halos woulda won the 2008 WS by now.

by melvintoast on Oct 2, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you hear the caller on the radio?

Caller to Terry: “Uh, did Vlad’s lack of English skills keep him from getting the "STOP” sign from Ebel?"

Terry Smith: (fighting laugher) “Uh, there like universal signs that even if you speak German or French, you should understand.”

I nearly swerved off the freeway when I heard that question over the air.

by Downing Rules on Oct 3, 2008 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

THE PLAY IS OVER

let’s turn the page and get over it, whatever happened happened, the end result was vlad got out and our rally was killed, and we lost the game in the end.

It’s only game 1. Vlad won’t make that mistake again, we’ll be loving him come friday night and this will all be a distant memory. Haven’t any of you read The Secret (haha)?

by jtkelly86 on Oct 2, 2008 3:09 PM PDT reply actions

he got some hits last night

which was a step in the right direction for him. i bet he wantshis first AB back though…looks like he was tyring to make something happen too quickly. we need an 8-10 run night on Friday.

by SCHalo on Oct 2, 2008 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Sadly, Vlad singles aren't going to mean much to this offense if they don't have rbi attached to them

by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 2, 2008 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions

donnie moore - david henderson was just one pitch.

Tell rambo it’s over….

If GA wasn't so lazy the Halos woulda won the 2008 WS by now.

by melvintoast on Oct 2, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Let's go Hendo on them.

Let’s LOSE on Friday, let them get ONE STRIKE AWAY on Sunday.

AND THEN BEAT THEM INTO THE F—ING GROUND.

FOR THREE STRAIGHT GAMES.

DONE.

See how the Chowds feel about that one happening to them.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Oct 2, 2008 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

The ball took a perfect hop into the glove

Normally a hit like that would bounced around. I say 50/50 on if he should have went.

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Oct 3, 2008 4:51 AM PDT reply actions

The fact is

If Vlad stays at second, he’s guaranteed not to score. If he makes it to third, there’s a chance he scored on a ground out or sac fly. 0-20, folks. That part of the lineup was not going to drive in a runner from second. Staying there and holding onto that out had absolutely zero utility.

If five consecutive spots in the lineup are incapable of getting a hit, then the guys who can get base need to pull out all the stops.

by LA Seitz on Oct 3, 2008 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

It's over, and we gotta look forward to tonight, but...

I dont think making that decision on the base paths is justified by the inability to score in that part of the lineup. Just my two cents…..but, its over, LETS JUST WIN TONIGHT!!!!

I'm your huckleberry

by autry's cowboys on Oct 3, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions