Juan Rivera Should Be Appologizing

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 8:58 AM PDT Comment 74 comments

After last nights pathetic effort by Juan Rivera with a tie game in the bottom of the 9th and the bags juiced Juan appears to slow up with a disguested look on his face, as if to shout out his own pouty frustration with the umps blown calls at the plate. However that ball was absolutely catchable ! I don't give a damn how frustrated he might have been with the blown calls, he is a professional athelete who gave up on his team much more than he did the ball. That to me is even more inexcuseable than what the ump did.

Sosh needs to sit this little girl down and not tolerate that again and hold Juan accountable for his lack of effort. And I believe that Juan owes his teammates and the fans an appology as well. This also, is not the first time Juan has failed to give full effort in attempting to make an out for fear of getting a little dirty.

Moving forward and turning the page, this leads to something even bigger. If last night's game does not serve as a very fresh motivating factor for this team to nut up and quit losing to the Red Sox, than nothing will. The obviously blown calls should be laughed off, because really there is nothing else that can be done by the team about it. If Sosh wants to go out and publicly berate the Ump , then let him do his managerial job by doing just that. However, inside the locker room, I hope he reminds the players of what they didn't do that could have kept them out of this situation.

This team does have and has had the talent to beat these chowdah eatin' punks. They need to look themselves in the mirror and empty their heads of any negative expectations they may have when they play these fools. Last nights game has such a huge potential to be a positive rallying point to launch this team straight to the World Series. Let us all hope this team realizes it, captures it, and enjoys the ride.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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Great teams win when the ups suck.

Period, after the blown call the batter was still 1-2 and Fuentes walked him. We got Juan back and it seems like it is just a younger G A, has Juan ever dove for a ball? I might have missed it. While I would rather have Juan it just seems that he hustles a little less then everyone else. Or maybe an injury? I don’t know.

"F@&* it, lets pitch"
-Ervin Santana

by pendletonmike on Sep 17, 2009 9:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

concur....great teams find ways to win the majority of the time.

and I am not making any excuses for last nights L .

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

absolutely

the umps didn’t blow those double plays. The umps didn’t choke with bases loaded. Teams that complain about umps are essentially losers. That doesn’t mean an ump can’t blow the game, but we have to perform.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Sep 17, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

After the blown call, Fuentes still had him 1-2

so Fuentes decided to throw another strike, and the umpire still didn’t give it.

How many strikes does Fuentes have to throw before it’s no longer his fault again?

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Sep 17, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

thank you

that play by juan rivera was PATHETIC! Dive for the ball, if you miss it game over, if you lazily go to it (like last night) it is over. I was more mad at rivera than the umps from that game (the third strike was very close).

meanwhile I loved how espn said ortiz screamed like a little girl after they won, priceless.

I agree with pendletonmike as well, you win no matter the calls (remember last year’s world series, TERRIBLE umps [talking about moyer’s diving flip to first base] (I am a Phils fan as well)).

can’t sarge jr play the corner outfields?

by Halos in DE on Sep 17, 2009 9:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No no

Sarge is worse out there than Juan. The play was far from routine, and its true, Juan never dives for balls. Some players simply don’t have the ability to do that (successfully). My initial reaction was the same, that he could have had that ball. But thinking about it more, maybe it was positioning. Maybe he got a bad read off the bat. Lots of outfielders don’t catch that ball. There are far more areas of blame to go around in the game to call out Juan for not catching up to a jam-shot to shallow left. Wanna talk about luck in baseball? Tonight the Sux got LUCKY. Not worried.

by dmhead on Sep 17, 2009 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not talking about blaming Juan for the loss

but at least he needs to make some effort to appear that he want’s to do his job and catch the ball. Otherwise this guy has just exposed himself for liability that he is. Who, by the way, appears to look lazy and unmotivated to make the OCCASSIONAL big play when it’s needed.

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you mean like

when he caught that home run ball to end the game against tampa bay? Or when he cuts a ball off down the line and guns someone out at 2nd?

by dmhead on Sep 17, 2009 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and we are talking about Juan because of...

ME !

Seriously, watch the effort last night .

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

imo...

i think gmj would have got that ball, or at least try to slide or dive for it. if you ever watch juan go for a ball hit down the line into the corner, he usually picks it up, takes a second, then throws it in. Sosh should put gmj as a late inning DR for rivera

whatevs said juan….

Nick Adenhart- Forever a true Angel in Heaven. RIP 1986-2009

by AnaheimHalos61 on Sep 18, 2009 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

was a reply to dmhead

Nick Adenhart- Forever a true Angel in Heaven. RIP 1986-2009

by AnaheimHalos61 on Sep 18, 2009 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too lazy to put his helmet in the helmet rack

Don't call me Desmond!

by highlandhalo on Sep 22, 2009 2:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Rivera were not so lazy...

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch

by Stirrups on Sep 17, 2009 9:23 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Rec

by BruinHalo on Sep 17, 2009 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like GA

Rivera plays too deep in left at Fenway. Hunter and Abreu were playing shallow, Rivera was not, and he has that giant wall 7 feet behind him.
He broke slow and without a sense of urgency, then pulled up without even stretching his arm out.
As if to say, Aybar can’t get to that, game over f you bri-bri, I got a few hits tonight I’m back baby.
If he goes hard the whole way, I think that ball gets caught without a dive, maybe just a tumble from being off balanced at the end.
Wouldn’t mind seeing GMJ in there today, just to see if he can use this as an opportunity to remind me why we should be happyto have Juan out there instead of his no hit no catch circus act.

by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Sep 17, 2009 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

First of all...

from the camera angle in the video included below – which was the ONLY view we saw on TV, there was no way for you to know where Juan was playing when the ball was struck. While most LFers in Fenway play shallower, they also usually cheat a little toward CF, because of the deep triangle out there. The wall goes out at a sharp angle towards that triangle. ( I’ve seen MANY games at Fenway, and have personally seen both Yaz and Ted play that OF.)

When I see Juan running full tilt in the video, I see an OFer who made a decision that he couldn’t possibly have gotten to the ball, and he started to pull up. Aybar made the same decision a second or two earlier, and pulled up also. As someone with some OF experience, I can state clearly that all OFers learn to tell which balls you can get to.

Could Willits have gotten to that ball? Probably. Would I want Reggie in the OF? Hell No!

by R.Munkee on Sep 17, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

he could have at least PRETENDED to give a damn

by ladybug on Sep 17, 2009 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

apologize and apologizing...

has one p just to give you the heads up, Dono.

Otherwise, awesome post. I think it really is becoming a psychological issue with this team when they play the Red Sux. Everyone gets super emotional which equals less cohesion in the dugout and stupid decisions…

Do it for Nick '09

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Sep 17, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrracias Amigo !

extra emphasis on the “r’s” for effect.

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So I was ready to defend JR here...

And I put together this graphic and realized that he really does need to start explaining.

The circle is about where the ball landed. The red lines are the distances covered by Aybar and Rivera in the three seconds between this frame of the video and when the ball hits the ground. Keep in mind that the perspective here is off, so Juan’s line is longer than it seems, but still - the thing is that Aybar is in a full on sprint off the bat while Rivera is practically jogging after the ball. JR, I need an explanation.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Sep 17, 2009 10:32 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

this is the best

use of evidence of anyone who has ever complained or had an opinion here

Quit Bitching about Wood not playing, The guy does deserve his shot but quit pretending that we have Willie Mays riding the pine

by Sinatrasratpack on Sep 17, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Back and to the left, back and to the left..

Captain, there are doubt's...

by Match Day 5 on Sep 17, 2009 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Effective picture, but not applicable.

According to your argument using this picture, it’s only about 180’ down the left field line…….approximately two times the distance from home plate to 3B. I think they claim it to be 306’, or something like that.

True, Aybar was sprinting. True, Rivera doesn’t and didn’t run as fast. Yes, I wanted him to dive for the ball, but he didn’t. I’m not as sure as many of you that he could have gotten to it anyway. I rationalize it as playing not to get hurt three weeks before the playoffs. Rivera didn’t lose this game.

Oh, it’s called parallax.

by wumbug on Sep 17, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep in mind that the perspective here is off, so Juan’s line is longer than it seems.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Sep 17, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah. Angles are everything.

Here are those positions as I can best approximate them using a Google Earth closeup of Fenway.

Google Earth calls Aybar’s distance to ball at about 75 feet, whereas Rivera’s distance to ball is 98 feet.

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch

by Stirrups on Sep 17, 2009 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But...

is THAT image at an angle. Does Google’s satellites cross directly over Fenway???

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beware!

I have a son who is an astro-physicist!!! He can precisely calculate the angle of incidence and the distortion factor behind this photo!

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch

by Stirrups on Sep 17, 2009 9:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But... the Angels weren't playing Houston!

<ducks>

Witty .sig goes here.

by scareduck on Sep 18, 2009 7:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

!!

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch

by Stirrups on Sep 18, 2009 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

JR, thanks for the explanation.

“I was about 90 feet in from the line, and I was trying to get to the ball,” Rivera said Thursday. “On TV, it looks very different than in person. Everything looks really close, but from where I was, the ball hit farther in front of me. If I dive, I wouldn’t have gotten it.”

(source)

This is totally what I wanted after watching this replay. An explanation. Thanks, Juan.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Sep 18, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I lost a ton of respect for Juan last night

If that’s the way he’s gonna play the filed in that situation, then put Gary Poppins out there and let Juan DH.

His lack of effort on that play was INEXCUSABLE!

RIP Nick. We will miss you!

by KingF15h on Sep 17, 2009 10:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have thought for a while

That Juan doesn’t give it his best in left. I don’t know if he is scared to break his leg again or if he just doesn’t care. He always trots to routine plays and he just nonchalant’s the catch. It has driven me crazy for a while. I thought he could have caught that ball last night too. That was just a hard game to watch last night, we had many chances to put them away and didn’t.

by AngelKeith on Sep 17, 2009 11:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How will he break his leg if he dives head first for the ball?

It would be the first time ever…

I understand the risk if he tries a sliding catch. But a sliding catch wouldn’t have helped with that blooper.

I expected a better effort in that situation…it was the friggin’ ballgame!

by sothball on Sep 17, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK

not break his leg but maybe he is playing scared. He doesn’t want to re-injure his leg. That was a major broken leg he had.

by AngelKeith on Sep 17, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

suppose that is true

and logic would go you way on this one for sure. So what does that say about our option in RF and/or how Scioscia is managing that particular position. Really, up until last night (WHEN IT COUNTED AND WAS GLARINGLY OBVIOUS) we have gotten by with Juan doing a pretty damn good job offensively for us and firing some lazer shots for assists here and there.

Again, when it counted, where was Juan. And given the emotional state of the team, and is definitely appeared to show on your face Juan, just how do we know what to expect from this guy in the future when we play them in the playoffs???
Juan set a BAD EXAMPLE last night and his desire to win and make plays when he gets his feelings hurt should be questioned. That’s the only mental excuse he has.

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea it was a very emotially charged game and you could see it on everyones face in the dugout they wanted it badly, but the blame can go all around. Lackey, Tori, Figgy, Naps, Aybar, Kendrick all had problems.

Sure it looked like JR made the least effort on his play, but it was just a mental error. We gotta take the advice of Sosc : " Just turn the page"

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Sep 17, 2009 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Passionate post

I’d like to see how Rivera reacted to the whole play. Did he misread it and start in rather than to the right? Did he sprint from the crack of the bat? He was kinda doggin’ it at the end which makes me think he gave up on it before the camera cut to him. Pull that stuff in the playoffs and he’d be out of job the next day…or worse

Captain, there are doubt's...

by Match Day 5 on Sep 17, 2009 11:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

From the Angels website

To all the knuckle-headed Monday morning outfielders on this website, a little article from the Angels website:

Roenicke defends Rivera’s defense
Today at 3:26pm
The insiders and media sharks were swirling around Angels left fielder Juan Rivera on Thursday, taking him to task for not diving full-tilt for the pop fly by Alex Gonzalez that dropped in fair territory in shallow left field on Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

Gonzalez’s bases-loaded single gave the Red Sox a controversy-riddled 9-8 win, coming after Nick Green had walked on a full-count, forcing home the tying run, after the Angels felt Brian Fuentes had him struck out twice, on a checked swing and again on a 3-2 fastball at the knees and over the middle of the plate.

Rivera didn’t have much to say about it, other than, “I didn’t think I could catch it.” He went to a few teammates to see what they thought and found support.

Emphatic, unyielding affirmation came from outfield coach Ron Roenicke, manager Mike Scioscia’s bench coach.

“I saw the replay,” said Roenicke, a former Major League outfielder known for his defensive skills. "He’s not going to catch that ball. So he pulled up.

“When you go for a ball and know you can’t catch it in your mind, you pull up. I don’t want them to dive for a ball if they know they can’t get it and get hurt. From what I saw, he wasn’t going to catch it.”

Rivera didn’t appear to be playing as shallow as center fielder Torii Hunter or right fielder Bobby Abreu, but the Green Monster can distort perspectives.

“We’re playing shallow,” Roenicke said. “We were in a little bit.”

Scioscia was asked if he considered removing Rivera – who’d gone 3-for-5 with a two-run double putting the Angels in front in the seventh — for defensive purposes with the Angels leading by a run going into the bottom of the ninth. Reggie Willits and Gary Matthews Jr. would have been options.

“Vlad [Guerrero] was already out of the game [with a bruised rib cage after getting hit by a pitch], and Juan’s swinging the bat well,” Scioscia said. "Juan is comfortable out there.

“He went after it hard. If he thought he could have dived and caught it, he would. Didn’t think he had a chance.”

Rivera has had a solid season defensively in left, making several game-saving catches and unleashing strong, accurate throws with consistency.

Some outfielders, Roenicke said, are less comfortable diving full-tilt.

“Juan plays hard,” Roenicke said. “If he thought he’d have caught it, he’d have come after it. I’ve never seen him prone dive. I’ve seen him slide into a wall for a catch. Torii will dive forward, but there are not many guys who will dive forward.”

Roenicke said Rivera had not asked him about the play but anticipated that he would – and the coach’s support would be forthcoming.

by R.Munkee on Sep 17, 2009 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's very littel room for "I don't dive for balls" when you're a professional

The players and coaches aren’t going to throw him under the bus. They’re not a bunch of Alex Rodriguezes. No one said, “No way he could catch that ball!” all they said was, “He didn’t think he could catch it.” Yeah, maybe that’s reading between the lines too much but the team has nothing to gain by calling out Rivera in public. I take all of this with a grain of salt.

Captain, there are doubt's...

by Match Day 5 on Sep 18, 2009 5:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

WWED?

That is, what would Erstad do?

by sothball on Sep 18, 2009 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Erstad?

You mean the best defensive outfielder this team has ever had? While we’re at it, had Nolan Ryan pitched the game, maybe he would have thrown a no-hitter and 8 runs would have been plenty! Give me a break.

by dmhead on Sep 18, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he could have caught it, he would have.

by snowhor on Sep 17, 2009 11:58 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

by Rev Halofan on Sep 17, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven't seen the play...

but 10 out of 10 people I asked about it said it was uncatchable. How is it that so many here believe it was catchable?

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch it.

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6693459&c_id=ana

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Sep 17, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The ball nearly landed on his foot.

If it bounces off his foot and he grabs it, it never touched the ground, right?

I’m sure there’s a rule somewhere about that.

Anyway, he didn’t try. I thought at first it was just dropping too fast. On replay, he simply didn’t make the effort he’s capable of.

Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.

by AlanFalcon on Sep 17, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not even close.

The angle deceives you. He had no chance at that ball.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just watched the AYBAR TRANSFER video...

he never had the ball in his glove. Why are people complaining about that call? Look at it from the LF camera, looking down the baseline toward first. He never had it in his glove.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

He caught the ball moved off of the bag and was using the web of his glove to funnel the ball out to his throwing hand.

Play Wood already. Willits sucks.

by hauldog on Sep 17, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check the third angle on the highlight...

I agree with you … if I only saw the first two angles.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

He has a chance if he dives.

by Funke5ive on Sep 17, 2009 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not even close to his foot

Play Wood already. Willits sucks.

by hauldog on Sep 17, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree.

I have two frames from the video. Frame #1 is when the ball hits the ground. It is half way between Juan’s right foot and the start of the warning track. Frame #2 is where Juan has taken his next stride, and his left foot is now landing fully ON the warning track. Even if you assume that Juan is running at full speed, and his stride at full speed is 5 feet, that ball hit the ground 2 1/2 feet in front of him.

FRAME #1,th ball is hitting the turf right now:

FRAME #2:

And if, as some might suggest, Juan realized that he was not going to get to the ball and was pulling up, in that situation it can be inferred that Juan could have been even CLOSER to the ball had he not pulled up. He might have been able to catch it WITHOUT diving.

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch

by Stirrups on Sep 17, 2009 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If that was nearly hitting his foot in frame one...

he would have overrun it and it would have gone in-between his legs… not had it end up in his glove on a casual “pickup”. This camera is all the way above home plate, IIRC. Bad angle.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is not nearly hitting his foot.

It is a couple of feet in front of his foot. And when it bounces off he grass it bounces towards the bleachers, slightly away from him.

The worst thing is the day you realize you want to win more than the players do. - Gene Mauch

by Stirrups on Sep 17, 2009 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it was tailing off...

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry, I'm slow...

you are saying that Juan didn’t have a chance to get it.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Sep 17, 2009 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong and won't be the last

but from the camera angle I watched on the replays it appeared to ME that he pulled up at the last minute just a few feet before the ball hit the ground which gave off the perception that had he kept running at the same speed he would have caught the ball. Add to that the expression on his face (nobody will ever know what was going thru his mind) but it looked emotionless and emotionless in a close game against a team that pretty much has your number on a game winning play doesn’t give off the perception that he cares. Watch the play again if you can and see if you can catch a glimps of the look on Aybar’s face when Juan pulls up.

However, I could be wrong about all of this and the ball may not have been catchable, but from my perception of the replay, NO WAY and LACK OF EFFORT for Juan.

If you can’t make something positive out of a negative experience, than you are learning nothing.

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice! he would not have had to make that catch if the Ump would have done his job. he could have been jogging to the dugout.

"I am not impressed by your per-formence!" -GSP

by KubanKowbell19 on Sep 17, 2009 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well that says alot about his ability

When I'm not at the stadium, I'd rather be watching my Halos back in Costa Rica!

by Dono Romantico on Sep 17, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliantly Put!

The only thing you missed what the opportunities to put the game away with bases loaded!

by shadylanestudio on Sep 17, 2009 2:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The game was on the line...

GET YOUR UNIFORM DIRTY, Juan!!!

by Light up that halo! on Sep 17, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Poor Pegleg

by Seraph on Sep 17, 2009 3:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

GA>Rivera

No, He wouldn’t have dove for that ball. He wouldn’t have had to. He gets a better jump on it and makes a nice shoestring catch.

"Figgins' OBP is still over 40!" -Steve Physioc

by Figgi4life on Sep 17, 2009 3:50 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Meh guys, its just one game…if he did it during the playoffs, go ahead and be pissed, but in retrospect this game was no more important to us than when we got killed by the orioles.

I agree it looked catchable, but its also possible JR felt he would injure himself doing something he isnt used to doing. Have you guys ever seen him dive? I certainly havent.

Look at it this way, what if he dives and hurts himself for the rest of the year, then we are stuck with Q or GMJ. Sure Juan couldnt lace Ersty or Edmonds laces even at this point in their careers, but he’s all we got right now. The guy has come through for us in the clutch on many occassions, i dont wanna jump on him just quite yet. I’m gonna save my energy for a game that actually matters.

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Sep 17, 2009 11:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Tempest in a teapot

The camera angle we all watched compresses the distance between objects—that is the very nature of a telephoto lens. In no way was Rivera as close to the ball as it appeared to those of us watching on TV.

Let it go.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Sep 18, 2009 7:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I had no idea

that we had so many former major league left fielders posting here. How lucky we are! So what’s it like to play in Fenway, anyways? You’ve all hit it right on the head. Juan said “fuck it, its just one game. I could catch that ball if I really wanna but nah….”

Seriously though, Juan possibly, maybe, could have made a great catch there to save the game. But he didn’t get to the ball in time and didn’t catch it. Whether it was poor judgement off the bat, or just outside of his range of ability to catch up to it, or simply bad positioning, questioning his effort or desire is despicable. You should all be ashamed.

by dmhead on Sep 18, 2009 8:11 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

just thinking

sad that i am still thinking of this game…
wasn’t the wind crazy weird that night? just saying

by Halos in DE on Sep 21, 2009 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Better game management by Scioscia is the real issue!

You can certainly chastize Rivera for not showing hustle, but it goes deeper than that.

When looking at the Angels holistically, don’t you think its the job of the manager to fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of the players that make up the team?

For example, shouldn’t Scioscia have known better to replace the lumbering Juan Rivera with either Gary Matthews Jr. or Reggie Willitts in the late innings?

Why is he using Macier Isturis at 2B more than Kendrick for who has had the hotter bat since the All-Star break?

Why not have Kendry Morales bat between Vlad and Tori to make a right-left-right power middle?

To be fair to Mike, you can blame the Reagins and Moreno duo for making poor decisions in terms of player acquisitions and development but that’s another story for another day.

by Christhammer on Sep 18, 2009 2:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs