Luckily it didn’t impact the final score any. The Douchebacks still got curb-stomped. 
The Giants brought Madison Bumgarner in to pinch hit for Matt Cain and he hit a double. They then took him out for Szamardja as a pinch runner, who wound up scoring.
Cubs/Mariners game was batshit crazy. Cubs down 6-0 early after 3 2-run homers. They score 3 in the bottom of the 9th to force extra innings. Pitcher Travis Wood makes a great catch while playing left field.
The Cubs win in the bottom of the 12th when John Lester got down a bunt (with 2 strikes and 2 outs), allowing Jason Heyward to scamper home. Lester (besides his inability to throw to first) is not a good hitter, even for a pitcher. He first came to the majors in 2006, and recorded his first hit last season. Granted, he was in the American League until last season, but postseason and interleague stats had him hitless. Coming into tonight, he was a career .051 hitter.
Nitpick: a pitch getting lodged in the catcher’s gear is a separate rule than the one that prohibits using your gear to catch a batted or thrown ball. The first one is a one-base award and a dead ball; the latter is a 2 or 3 base award and a live ball.
Valid point. However, that’s precisely why I said it was “akin to,” not necessarily the same rule.
Also, streaming the game, Len Kasper mentioned the glove throw rule. I was basing my post off of his commentary.
It’s possible that I misunderstood the rule he was referring to. If so, mea culpa.
A terrifying circumstance in San Francisco yesterday, as a case of gnome-napping was perpetrated by Jayson Werth of the Nationals.
There is no word as yet whether the gnome was safely released or not.
Ball lodged in catcher gear is rule 5.09 (g). Detached equipment used to illegally snag a ball is 7.05 (b) - (e). Commentators are almost always wrong when it comes to rule interpretation.
There is only one explanation as to what is happening in Oakland. The front office is intentionally trying to destroy the team so that fans will stop coming out, so they can point to poor attendance as a reason as to why they want to move. How else to explain trading Reddick and Hill for “prospects” when the team is already going downhill?
As a Dodger fan who has been to that stadium, I will say this:
- I will take Reddick/Hill, though I had hopes of some other things happening; and,
- I hope they get a new stadium, because boy is that place a shit hole.
Jay Bruce to the Mets, Lucroy and Carlos Beltran to the Rangers. Brandon Guyer to Indians.
And Colin Rea is sent back to San Diego, traded for Luis Castillo, who he was traded TO Miami for in the Cashner deal.
The Cubs DFA that unknown pitcher that started last night’s game, Brian Matusz. Lasted all of three innings in the big leagues, but got to start on national TV
Cubs Part Ways With LHP Brian Matusz, Recall RHP Spencer Patton - CBS Chicago
Sorry, guys; I forgot today was the first day of August. New thread here.