# Rafael Furcal turns unassisted triple play **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409 "2003-08-11T15:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ace22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@ace22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ace22)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/21 "2003-08-11T22:29:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > 1996: The Braves made their fourth trip to the World Series out of the last five played, but were unable to defend their world title as the Yankees took the championship in six games And let’s not forget the fact that the Braves outscored the Yankees by quite a wide margin in this WS, IIRC. The Braves get pretty much no respect (outside of the commentators and other people who know a lot about baseball) despite everything they’ve done over the last twelve years. And they’re gonna win the division by a healthy margin again this year (knock on wood) despite losing probably their two best pitchers and most of their really good bullpen from last year. So hah. Seven games just isn’t enough to prove to me that one baseball team is better than another. After all, the Angels won the WS last year. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/22 "2003-08-11T22:38:03Z")
**Press** , I’d say what’s remarkable about the Braves’ dynasty is not how many times they haven’t won it all, but how many times they’ve gone so far. Think of the Buffalo Bills, '90-'93. You could probably make a pretty strong case for that being one of history’s Great Teams, but they will be eternally thought of as losers because they lost four consecutive Super Bowls. Never mind the fact that they’re the only team in history to _play_ in four consecutive Super Bowls; the fact of having lost all four is what sticks in everyone’s mind. Well, that and Scott “Wide Right” Norwood blowing the \*$^&% kick against the Giants. The Braves’ image won’t rival the Yankees any time soon, but consider: From 1991-2002, excluding the strike-shortened '94 and '95 seasons because they make the math more confusing and I’m lazy, the Braves were 986-634 (60.8%), while the Yankees in those same seasons were 920-700 (56.8%). ---
**Author:** ![Press](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Press](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Press)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/23 "2003-08-11T22:53:57Z")
Everything in the above two posts is all well and good, but it does nothing to hurt the point that I’m making. Yeah, the Braves are a spectacular team. Yeah, I respect them. Yeah, they deserve respect. Unfortunately, they just can’t seem to win it all. And the bottom line is, you can get as far as you want, you’re not going to earn everybody’s respect unless you actually have something to show for it. As I said before, I’m not trying to start a flame war or anything here. That being said, I’m an Eagles fan. Know what that means? I know what it’s like to cheer for a team that has every right to win it all and DOESN’T. ---
**Author:** ![Tree\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@Tree\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tree_Boy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/24 "2003-08-12T01:06:08Z")
I am remembering a Pirates centerfielder back in the early 90’s who turned in 2 unassisted triple plays in the same game. Maybe it was unassisted double plays, where he came running in, caught the ball low and his momentum carried him into second base, as the man on second had taken off, horribly misjudging the flyball. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/25 "2003-08-12T02:37:19Z")
So is **SCSimmons** gonna tell us how that unassisted triple play was pulled off by an outfielder? I saw this play too. As a Cardinal fan, I could just say DAMN! Then I ponder the reasoning behind LaRussa calling a hit and run with the pitcher at the plate, followed again by DAMN! But then we won anyway, so it’s all good. BTW, anyone see Ray King’s wild pitch during an intentional walk to Pujols the game before this one? How the hell does that happen? Admittedly, though - for the sake of fairness - that doesn’t fall into the same league of stupidity as Cardinal outfielder Vince Coleman (who stole more than 100 bases in each of his first 3 seasons) getting run over by the automatic tarp roller. The fastest guy on a team built for speed getting run over and injured by a tarp roller unfurling at the lightning fast speed of oh… say 2mph or so. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/26 "2003-08-12T02:54:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jackelope \* > \*\ ***Simmons** , I assume that in your example the shortstop is not considered an outfielder? He plays pretty much in the infield, but in the official scorekeeping system he’s listed between left and center fielders. \*\* Huh? No he’s not. The SS is 6, while the 3B is 5, and the LF is 7. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/27 "2003-08-12T03:28:53Z")
The pitcher in question is a pretty good hitter. Around a .250 average and 7 RBIs. You’ve got regular position players that only hit about .250 and the low RBIs can be chalked up to being last in the order and only playing once a week anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/28 "2003-08-12T03:45:43Z")
Damn, I hate not having cable, it means no TBS and no ESPN, I miss 99% of the Braves games that way, and the SO hates baseball (evil evil man.) **iampunha** , if you weren’t already taken, I’d have to throw myself at you right now ~grins~ ~J ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/29 "2003-08-12T03:53:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by asterion \* > \*\*The pitcher in question is a pretty good hitter. Around a .250 average and 7 RBIs. You’ve got regular position players that only hit about .250 and the low RBIs can be chalked up to being last in the order and only playing once a week anyway. \*\* Yeah, I know Woody Williams is better than your average pitcher with a bat, but there’s no outs and the top of the order coming up. I just don’t see why he didn’t stick with the bunt to get them into scoring position and let Bo Hart (hovering around .300) try to do something. And IIRC, Jim Edmonds would have been up to the plate after Hart. Either would have been preferable than the pitcher, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/30 "2003-08-12T03:53:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > BTW, anyone see Ray King’s wild pitch during an intentional walk to Pujols the game before this one? How the hell does that happen? Ray King is, IMNSHO, not a pitcher but actually a robot built by a rival team. The robot is designed to blow leads at inoppurtune moments, come in and load the bases without getting an out, and generally cause the bullpen to have to work much harder. I pity Kevin Gryboski especially, who has to come in and clean up after King. King can be so bad at times that I’d believe it if you told me he managed to walk someone on three pitches. BTW: > [@](#): > > I am remembering a Pirates centerfielder back in the early 90’s who turned in 2 unassisted triple plays in the same game. Either you or, among other people, the ELIAS Sports Bureau is off. Morgan and Miller said the last unassisted triple play in the NL occured in the early 90s, true, but there was only _one_. [A list](http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0301497.html) of unassisted triple plays (excluding Furcal’s). And that link, providentially (literally), takes me to this factoid: Paul Hines, OF, Providence May 8, 1878 Boston-NL. That’s the entry for the first unassisted triple play. However, [this](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats8.shtml) cite disputes the claim. [This](http://www.providencegrays.org/Old_Grays/Paul_Hines/paul_hines.html) site offers a look at the life of the man. Interesting story. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/31 "2003-08-12T04:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jaade \* > **iampunha** , if you weren’t already taken, I’d have to throw myself at you right now ~grins~ I must have missed the day in Geography class where we covered the area around the fruited plain? Wherever is it?😃 Maybe you can be my baseball wife, and **fizzy** and your husband can complain about how boring baseball is (hint, dear: I don’t always watch it because it’s fascinating. I like to RELAX!) BTW, **Jaade** , you might try [mlb.com](http://mlb.com)’s radio service. It might be a pay service now, but it’s worth looking into if you haven’t already. Radio commentary is usually better than color commentary anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/32 "2003-08-12T05:45:26Z")
I saw it, and was absolutely delighted by it. I’m happy it was Furcal who did it, too. He’s been struggling defensively, and this has got to be a great confidence-booster. **Jaade** , there’s also ESPN’s GameCast, which lets you “watch” a game over the Internet. It’s what I use when TBS isn’t showing Braves games and I’m not in the mood to hear Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. You can access the GameCasts through ESPN’s MLB Scoreboard page. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/33 "2003-08-12T05:58:38Z")
Thanks Audrey, I’ll have to look into that. **iampunha** , ~L~ I’m in Texas…which is really more below most plains, but heh… (and I’m not actually married…) Now if I can just get my computer fixed ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/34 "2003-08-12T11:03:07Z")
Ray King = Satan. That is all. What were they thinking with him? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/35 "2003-08-12T11:45:44Z")
Well, look at the name. Ray King = Raking. As in batters are raking him across the coals. See, the Braves should have realized he was a bad omen. Still, he’s a rubber arm. And remember, he was with Milwaukee last year, and the Brewers always stink. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/36 "2003-08-12T12:58:11Z")
Pretty durn cool. Although it’s still just my second favorite play by a Brave named Raphael. In 1997 Raphael Belliard hit his first home run since 1987. The longest time ever netween home runs. He just a little guy and was so surprised he almost didn’t believe it. ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/37 "2003-08-12T14:31:50Z")
gonna hafta chime in in agreement with the Ray King takes… He throws hard… but he ain’t no pitcher. They put him in middle relief to get one maybe two outs… and he can’t do that without giving up a run or two… I never fail to groan when I see him up in the 'pen warming up. How he gets in so many games I’ll never understand. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/38 "2003-08-12T16:48:56Z")
He’s got something worse than Wohlers Syndrome: > [@](#): > > Gee, I have a 98 mph fastball, so I’ll throw meatball curves! Gosh, that one got rocked! Better throw it slower! No, he has something worse: > [@](#): > > 2 balls? Ha! I can throw _8_ without getting replaced! Let’s see if I can throw … 11! And a homerun ball after that! The reason he gets in is that he doesn’t waste his arm getting runners out, he throws 5, maybe 15 pitches, and then two other guys have to come in and mop up for him. By throwing more pitches than that, and by making them quality pitches. So while he’s available for 3 days’ work in a row, several guys can only go one, or two. And **Jaade** can still be my baseball wife as long as **fizzy** doesn’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/39 "2003-08-12T17:29:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\*Huh? No he’s not. The SS is 6, while the 3B is 5, and the LF is 7. \*\* D’Oh! You’re right. I always get those screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409/40 "2003-08-12T23:06:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*He’s got something worse than Wohlers Syndrome: > > No, he has something worse: > > The reason he gets in is that he doesn’t waste his arm getting runners out, he throws 5, maybe 15 pitches, and then two other guys have to come in and mop up for him. By throwing more pitches than that, and by making them quality pitches. So while he’s available for 3 days’ work in a row, several guys can only go one, or two. > > And **Jaade** can still be my baseball wife as long as **fizzy** doesn’t mind. \*\* Doh, guess we should check with her first. ~laughs~ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rafael-furcal-turns-unassisted-triple-play/194409.md?page=3)