Comments on: And That Happened: Sunday's Scores and Highlights

By: Will

Will — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:28:26 +0000

“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity”
—Talk about a platitude that does not fit the situation.

By: james stickel

james stickel — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:28:28 +0000

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. These major leaguers have been preparing everyday since little league. Yesterday, this guy’s prep met his opportunity.

By: Church of the Perpetually Outraged

Church of the Perpetually Outraged — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:28:06 +0000

You are giving him far too much credit.
With runners on and no outs, either the second basemen or SS is going to be moving when the runners go. Yes he was closer to 2nd due to the DP possibility, but none of the above so far is a sign of “skill”.
As for catching it and going to 2nd for the out, this happens all the time. And tagging the runner, while it sets up the “unassisted” part of the triple play, wasn’t needed because he could have just as easily thrown to first for the third out.
Craig is saying that while it’s a cool play, it’s most likely due to luck (like an inside-the-park HR that takes a weird bounce past the fielder) than skill.

By: Delaware

Delaware — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:34:15 +0000

Luck? good or bad, I think bad luck ball was hit in that spot. Skill? yes player caught the board and used skill to do what should have been done! Probably should thank his little league coach.

By: Mike Z

Mike Z — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:11:29 +0000

This game was one of the oddest games of baseball I have ever seen. It was more on the side of strange then luck for both teams. The game started with a 6 run first for the Phils off 2 3 run home runs (Werth & Ruiz). Perez lasts 2/3′s of an inning giving up 6 earned runs on 4 hits and 2 walks and gets pulled after throwing 3 straight balls to Martinez. Also note this was this was the first game Martinez has pitched against his ex-team.
Bottom of the first Pagan leads off and hits a ball to center that drops in and rolls under the padding, Victorino throws his hands up but the ump did not acknowledge it. Pagan scores off an inside the park home run. On his next at bat in the 3rd he hit a legit home run. Which gives him 2 on the day and 5 total for the season.
The game gets normal for a while until the 9th. Bruntlett came up to bat and hit a pop up to left which looked like Sullivan caught but the ump said he did not and gave Bruntlett a triple. That is until the umps had a 5 minute meeting and overturned the call saying Bruntlett was out. Now this was the correct call but not sure how the umps came to that conclusion without the aide of replay. Charlie Manual gets ejected.
Now the bottom of the 9th starts with an error to Howard. Next play Bruntlett boots a ball, everyone safe. Next play Bruntlett boots another one, run scores and runners are safe at first and second. The game would have been over at this point if it were not for the 3 straight errors. So now the Mets have the winning run at the plate with no outs. The Mets decide to play hit and run at this point (no clue why). This is when Francoeur hits into the only game ending triple play in National League history. Turning Bruntlett from zero to hero after booting the previous 2 plays.
This story would have made more noise if Utley was in the game and made the amazing triple play. But if he was in the game odds are he would not have made those errors and the chance would not have arose. But that was not the case and this play capped off one crazy game of baseball.

By: John

John — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:10:44 +0000

What a stupid comment. Of course it’s luck. But seriously, the fact that it happened is way cool. Don’t discount what happened just because it involved a lot of luck.
You forgot that Bruntlett was playing close to 2nd base because of runners on 1st and 2nd, which put him in position to make the play. He plays his normal position, that ball’s in center field. No luck there, my friend.
The fact that he caught the ball (not a hard catch, but no luck involved either), had the presence of mind to step on 2nd (no luck there, simply a good baseball play) and then having the presence of mind to tag the runner (so it happened fast, his skill as a player enabled him to do it). Your comments on luck being all of it take away a pretty remarkable feat – the only feat of the day that got me to tune in to Sportscenter.
Appreciate it, don’t diminish it.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:43:14 +0000

An unassisted triple play is rare. That’s why it is making news. How rare, you ask? There have been only 15 occurrences in the Modern era (since 1909). For comparison, there have been less unassisted triple plays than there have perfect games (16) in the past 105 years.
This was just a great play. Whether it’s based on luck or not is moot. Also, consider the scenario in which it happened. Runners were on first and second with no outs. The Mets were down by only a run. The play called for a hit & run, so they were moving. Had this ball gotten past Bruntlett, the game would have been over via a walkoff hit. An unassisted triple play is great, but one to SAVE the game? Spectacular! By the way, only one other time has an unassisted triple play occurred to end a game.

By: Will

Will — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:27:04 +0000

The point is that there are a lot of great plays that involve much more skill and truly are a lot less about luck. For example, a 5-4-3 triple play is much more impressive and certainly takes more skill to get the ball around the diamond in time.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:12:12 +0000

Bravo on the multiple instances of the misplaced “h” in the Indians/Mariners recap. Jhonny Peralta’s name has always bugged me. That said, he’s on my fantasy team of course.

By: Craig Calcaterra

Craig Calcaterra — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:11:35 +0000

Wait, so your argument is “a lot of baseball is about luck, so this guy should be given credit even though it was luck?” Not following.
And just to be clear, I agree that if Jeter had done it people would be going crazy. I’m not one of those people, and I’d be screaming for everyone to shut up about it.
Nowhere here did I disparage Bruntlett. It was a nice play. Most of my “luck” comment had to do with Francoeuer, really, as he is a guy I normally never hesitate to slam. I wanted to make clear here that the triple play really wasn’t his fault. He hit the ball hard. Shit just happened.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:06:52 +0000

Do you not realize that A LOT of baseball is about luck? Just because a NOT-SO-POPULAR player made history, he doesn’t get as much credit? Imagine if Jeter turned it, it would be the biggest story in sports for weeks. The word “luck” probably wouldn’t even be mentioned. Many plays in sports are luck, but thats part of the game! Give credit where credit is due. He made history!

By: datcrazybok

datcrazybok — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:03:10 +0000

I agree 100 percent Jeff. Nobody is saying that Bruntlett made some incredible play to accomplish the unassisted triple play. But with all that is wrong with baseball today, can we not just celebrate these little small moments that make us smile?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:37:14 +0000

Nobody is saying Bruntlett is a defensive genius. But he did something amazing, or it happened to him, or whatever, so let him have his moment in the sun! As for Francoeur, he did manage to hit it in just about the worst place possible…