Now Playing LF For The Phillies... Roy Oswalt... LF Oswalt

[UNHWildCats]

extra innings games can sure get crazy.

[UNHWildCats]

[SuperHornet]

I LOVE things like this. Not all pitchers are pansies.

Unfortunately, the last I heard of this (outside of the second coming of Rick Ankiel) was when Orel Hershiser started at third. The problem with that was it was a complete set-up for a guy to break a record for pinch-hitting appearances in Hershiser's first at-bat.

[UNHWildCats]

OK so here is what happened that led to Oswalt going to LF.

On a 0-1 pitch Ryan Howard checked his swing and the 3rd base umpire said he went around.... Howard was a bit upset and the umpire at 3B got very angry with Howards reaction. Howard than told the HP umpire he was mad at himself.... On a 1-2 pitch again Howard checked his swing and the 3B umpire rang him up very quickly for the third out... Howard disgustingly tosses his bat towards his dugout. The 3B umpire immediately tossed Howard from the game. Personally I think the umpire overreacted and was possibly steaming from Howards reaction a few pitches earlier...

So Ibanez (Raul not Mark) moved from LF to 1B and since they were out of position players they put Oswalt into LF.

The very first batter for Houston the next half inning hit a fly to LF that was easily handled by Oswalt.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?conte ... 8&c_id=mlb" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SuperHornet]

What does it say for exhorbitantly-paid, light-fielding DHs if pitchers can do this?

[UNHWildCats]

I LOVE things like this. Not all pitchers are pansies.

Unfortunately, the last I heard of this (outside of the second coming of Rick Ankiel) was when Orel Hershiser started at third. The problem with that was it was a complete set-up for a guy to break a record for pinch-hitting appearances in Hershiser's first at-bat.

I remember one time back in the 90s I was at a Sox game at Fenway against Seattle and Pinella came out to pull his pitcher... but instead of removing him from the game he put him in LF and after the next batter went back out and brought the guy back from LF to pitch again.

Joe Nelson came in relief and went 2/3 of an inning, moved to LF for a batter who was retired. In the next inning Nelson was back on the mound for 2/3 of an inning before Mike Hampton came on in his rookie season and recorded his first and so far only major league save.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes ... 7150.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[free7694]

I hear he's got a plus arm out there.

[93henfan]

Last night's game would have been epic if Oswalt had hit a 3-run walkoff HR instead of grounding out to end the game with two men on.

I watched the whole game, btw, and the 3rd base ump was just flat wrong. In the 14th inning, you don't toss a guy for being upset that he just struck out. I've seen the replay and Howard did nothing more than any other guy that just made the third out by not checking his swing would do. Hell, I'm not even sure he went around, but that's not even the biggest issue here. This crew has certainly not been very kind to the Phils so far this series, and it's a four-gamer in the middle of a playoff race to boot.

[Ivytalk]

Howard's line: 0 for 7 with 5 Ks. Brutal.

[89Hen]

Hell, I'm not even sure he went around

He did on the first one, but not the second.

[UNHWildCats]

Last night's game would have been epic if Oswalt had hit a 3-run walkoff HR instead of grounding out to end the game with two men on.

I watched the whole game, btw, and the 3rd base ump was just flat wrong. In the 14th inning, you don't toss a guy for being upset that he just struck out. I've seen the replay and Howard did nothing more than any other guy that just made the third out by not checking his swing would do. Hell, I'm not even sure he went around, but that's not even the biggest issue here. This crew has certainly not been very kind to the Phils so far this series, and it's a four-gamer in the middle of a playoff race to boot.

I agree the umpire overreacted. Howard tossed the bat towards his dugout.... everyone tosses bats aside... especially at the end of an inning and then the batboy generally brings him his glove and field hat. Howard did nothing wrong and should not have been ejected.

[GannonFan]

Last night's game would have been epic if Oswalt had hit a 3-run walkoff HR instead of grounding out to end the game with two men on.

I watched the whole game, btw, and the 3rd base ump was just flat wrong. In the 14th inning, you don't toss a guy for being upset that he just struck out. I've seen the replay and Howard did nothing more than any other guy that just made the third out by not checking his swing would do. Hell, I'm not even sure he went around, but that's not even the biggest issue here. This crew has certainly not been very kind to the Phils so far this series, and it's a four-gamer in the middle of a playoff race to boot.

I agree the umpire overreacted. Howard tossed the bat towards his dugout.... everyone tosses bats aside... especially at the end of an inning and then the batboy generally brings him his glove and field hat. Howard did nothing wrong and should not have been ejected.

Never know, this ump could just be trying to make a name - he's only a minor league ump called up right now. He's also the same guy who threw Ryan Zimmerman out of a game last week, and that was the first time Zimmerman had ever been ejected in his career. Figure if you throw out enough big name players then people will start to remember your name. Just more of the same in terms of MLB umpire hubris.

[BlueHen86]

I agree the umpire overreacted. Howard tossed the bat towards his dugout.... everyone tosses bats aside... especially at the end of an inning and then the batboy generally brings him his glove and field hat. Howard did nothing wrong and should not have been ejected.

Never know, this ump could just be trying to make a name - he's only a minor league ump called up right now. He's also the same guy who threw Ryan Zimmerman out of a game last week, and that was the first time Zimmerman had ever been ejected in his career. Figure if you throw out enough big name players then people will start to remember your name. Just more of the same in terms of MLB umpire hubris.

Maybe, but he is going about it the wrong way. He was unprofessional and will be back in the minors very quickly at this rate. MLB already has Joe West, they don't need two attention grabbing jackasses. besides the good umpires are the ones we don't hear about.

Not only did he toss Howard too quickly, he mocked him and statred at him after the first check swing. The ump's are supposed to keep the peace, not incite players.

MLB should demote this guy now and not let him work the game tonight.

[93henfan]

Never know, this ump could just be trying to make a name - he's only a minor league ump called up right now. He's also the same guy who threw Ryan Zimmerman out of a game last week, and that was the first time Zimmerman had ever been ejected in his career. Figure if you throw out enough big name players then people will start to remember your name. Just more of the same in terms of MLB umpire hubris.

Maybe, but he is going about it the wrong way. He was unprofessional and will be back in the minors very quickly at this rate. MLB already has Joe West, they don't need two attention grabbing jackasses. besides the good umpires are the ones we don't hear about.

Not only did he toss Howard too quickly, he mocked him and stared at him after the first check swing. The ump's are supposed to keep the peace, not incite players.

MLB should demote this guy now and not let him work the game tonight.

That was the part that I couldn't believe. Barry was inciting him after the first checked swing.

First ten seconds here: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/vi ... 9&c_id=phi

[BlueHen86]

Maybe, but he is going about it the wrong way. He was unprofessional and will be back in the minors very quickly at this rate. MLB already has Joe West, they don't need two attention grabbing jackasses. besides the good umpires are the ones we don't hear about.

Not only did he toss Howard too quickly, he mocked him and stared at him after the first check swing. The ump's are supposed to keep the peace, not incite players.

MLB should demote this guy now and not let him work the game tonight.

That was the part that I couldn't believe. Barry was inciting him after the first checked swing.

First ten seconds here: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/vi ... 9&c_id=phi

Unprofessional and uncalled for.

MLB can do better that when looking for umpires. Bad calls are one thing and are part of the game, there is no need for this crap.

[SuperHornet]

I LOVE things like this. Not all pitchers are pansies.

Unfortunately, the last I heard of this (outside of the second coming of Rick Ankiel) was when Orel Hershiser started at third. The problem with that was it was a complete set-up for a guy to break a record for pinch-hitting appearances in Hershiser's first at-bat.

I remember one time back in the 90s I was at a Sox game at Fenway against Seattle and Pinella came out to pull his pitcher... but instead of removing him from the game he put him in LF and after the next batter went back out and brought the guy back from LF to pitch again.

Joe Nelson came in relief and went 2/3 of an inning, moved to LF for a batter who was retired. In the next inning Nelson was back on the mound for 2/3 of an inning before Mike Hampton came on in his rookie season and recorded his first and so far only major league save.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes ... 7150.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A friend of mine reminded me that Whitey Herzog used to do this on a regular basis with John Tudor. Tudor later became famous for punching out a fan (the whirly-bird kind) in the dugot after getting yanked from a game. The stash the pitcher in the outfield trick comes from Little League, and I'm surprised more managers don't remember how useful it can be. Taking a guy off the mound, particularly for a late-inning pitcher-batter matchup situation, doesn't necessarily mean that your first pitcher's night HAS to be done....

[93henfan]

Here was Scott Barry throwing out Ryan Zimmerman last week for the same apparent offense of being disappointed in himself after striking out. Barry is just out of control and needs to be sent back down.

http://www.twitvid.com/PWXUO