dimitrov@csd2.UUCP (Isaac Dimitrovsky) (04/29/85)
[] I was listening to the Sunday Met game on the radio (the one that went 18 innings), and one of the announcers suddenly said something like "Well, folks, it now doesn't matter if this game goes 49 innings and breaks the all time record. This game still won't make the front page tomorrow, because the Yankees just fired Yogi and hired Billy Martin again." How true! I also saw a replay of Rusty Staub's death-defying catch in the top of the 18th inning that saved a run and let the Mets finally win in the bottom of the 18th. Staub had been inserted in the outfield as the Mets ran out of players, and Staub and Hurdle had been switching between left and right field so that Hurdle would always be in left when a right handed batter came up and vice verse. But finally, Rick Rhoden, pinch hitting (!) for someone, hit a fly ball down the right field line. Rusty, looking like a rhino in full gallop, charged toward the line. At the last moment, he lunged and caught the ball at his knees! Way to go, Rusty! There was another unusual defensive change in the outfield in this game. When the Mets had the bases loaded and nobody out in the twelfth, the Pirates apparently brought the outfielders to the outer edge of the infield and the infielders way in. I didn't see this, so could anyone that was there describe this in more detail? Isaac Dimitrovsky
evan@petfe.UUCP (Evan Marcus) (05/01/85)
Well...I watched the game from about the 4th inning, and taped it from the
12th for better perusal later on. Yes, they brought all 3 outfielders in
and stood the left and right fielders on the dirt (!) and the center
fielder was JUST behind the dirt. Basically they had simply moved straight
in. The announcers were hysterical. What is even funnier, is they just
walked Backman (intentionally--well on 4 pitchouts!!!!!), and loaded the
bases up. Then they all went back out again!
The best line from the TV coverage was when they showed the 3rd replay of
Rusty running after the ball, Ralph Kiner called him a speed-burner.
The 2nd best line from TV was when they showed a tight shot of a bunch of
fat old (mostly black) guys sitting around in Met Jackets, in about the
17th inning. "And that's all that's left in the Mets' bullpen!"
What an amazing game it was!! And when was the last time you saw a pitcher
come up with another on second base?? Or 7 infielders??
By the way, the next Pirate pitcher was going to be Tony Pena, the catcher,
and the Mets (after Darling) were going to try George Foster.
WHAT A DAY!!
--Evan Marcus
--
{ucbvax|decvax}!vax135!petsd!pedsgd!pedsga!evan
...!petfe!evan
There are two kinds of people in the world, those who divide people into two
kinds, and those who don't.david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) (05/01/85)
You shouldn't have been surprised, Isaac. Rick Rhoden is a potent offensive threat --- far more so then, let's say (as I picks an AL player who is permitted to hit for himself at "random"), the guy who plays shortstop for the Angels (Schofield?). Musing: what if the AL had installed the DH rule while Ruth was still a pitcher? David Rubin
michaelf@ISM780.UUCP (05/03/85)
With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom half
of the twelfth, a deep fly, or even an medium depth one
would beat you. It only makes sense to bring in the
outfielders to act as extended infielders.
The most interesting thing about that 18 inning
Met-Pirate game ( Mets won 5-4 ) is that the Mets got 4
runs in the first on Strawberry's Slam but didn't score
again for 17 innings. In fact, Pirate relievers held the
Mets HITLESS for 10 and 2/3 INNINGS IN A ROW! ( My eye
teeth for Mike Easler and Lee Lacy back!)