schneider@vlnvax.DEC (08/16/85)
>> Its not often that a player (Rickey Henderson) doubles into a double play. > He didn't then, either, as he was credited with a single. Technical point, no argument. It should be noted that with no one on base this is a stand-up double, no problem. >> This game was a catastrophe for the Yankees. On the play in question, >> Bobby Meacham was on second and Berra was on first. Henderson hit one over >> the centerfielders head towards left-center and Berra was off. Although it >> seemed obvious that the ball was uncatchable, Meacham held up to tag in case > I was sitting in a box on the left field line, and the ball looked very > catchable to me. It was so catchable, that it missed the Salazar's > glove by less than a foot. An 8-4-3 triple play would not have been a > good thing at that moment (although I've never seen a live triple play). I was watching on TV, with the benefit of many replays to show what an unusual play this was. When it was hit, I said its over his head. The replay showed him coming up a few feet short. At the very least Meacham should have been playing this half way. Running away from the play, I doubt if there's any way if Salazar had caught up with it to double anyone off, even if Bobby was rounding third as Salazar caught it. >> of a catch. Berra seeing this had to stop, and thus stumbled coming >> around the >> bag when Meacham finally took off. They went around third about six > Meacham stumbles when Berra almost ran into him. Meacham thought the > ball would be caught and started heading back into Berra! >> feet from each another and Meacham was out easily. Fisk shrugged that off >> and still managed to get Berra. The fault in my mind resides with Meacham >> for holding up and Gene Micheal for not telling Berra what to do. > Gene Micheal probably thought Meacham should try to score (It was a > very good throw to the cut off, and another good throw from there!) > but Berra was to hold. Berra said something like he didn't look at > Micheal because he thought he could score. Meacham was out easily. The ball could have rolled in from center and it would have been close. I can see how Micheal was confused. How can he stop Meacham when Berra is right on his tail. He didn't give any signal to Berra except after he went by, Gene threw his arms up in disgust. > Henderson advanced to second on the play. If Rickey only advanced to second on the throw as you infer its because he stopped at first and was frozen with shock at what was going on on the other side of the diamond. The real issue here is one of instinct: Meacham failed to show it, and Berra did, and the bottom line is it cost the Yankees a big inning and very possibly the game. I don't mean to malign Bobby Meacham, but I find him at the root of this particular play. Daniel Schneider {decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vlnvax!schneider