2012 MLB Season

[Kramerica Industries]

One of this board's Giants fans has to sig/avatar this up.

[STL FANATIC]

That Blanco catch is one of the greatest of all-time, in my opinion. To make a diving catch after running that distance at full speed, back and to the left, over his shoulder. The level of difficulty is off the charts.

Two me it instantly draws comparisons of two other famous catches.

1. Willie Mays, Giants, Game 1, 1954 World Series

This is "The Catch." Not only is it the most famous catch, it's the most famous Giants catch. Many consider it to be the absolute best of all-time. I've never agreed with that, but it's certainly right near the top. The situation was first and second, nobody out, 8th inning of a 2-2 game in Game 1 of the World Series. The ball is crushed to deep center. Mays runs an extremely long distance (I believe it would have been a home run in any park other than the Polo Grounds). With his back completely turned, Mays makes the catch on the run and over his shoulder right at the track. He turns around and throws into the infield, making sure the runner from second advances no further than 3rd. The Giants would ultimately get out of the inning without allowing the runners to score. Had runs scored, it's probably the Giants lose the game, and maybe the whole series unfolds differently. Because there was no dive, I've always considered the degree of difficulty to be overstated with this catch, but there's no question it was very difficult and extremely important.

2. Jim Edmonds, Cardinals, Game 7, 2004 NLCS

Edmonds made a career out of jaw-dropping catches, and this was probably his second-most difficult and easily the most important. This catch comes to mind because it was so physically similar to Blanco's. Blanco plays LF and Edmonds CF, but every other physical element is similar. It is certainly the best catch I've ever watched live, and perhaps the best I've ever seen (but I have a bias). The situation is first and second, one out, already trailing 1-0 in the 2nd inning of Game 7 of the NLCS. A liner is hit towards the left-center gap. Edmonds runs back and towards left in a full sprint, dives, and catches the ball with full extension. He abruptly pops up and throws into the infield, preventing the runners from advancing. Had the catch not been made, the ball rolls to the gap and two runs score. The Astros would have a commanding 3-0 lead and still threatening, with their ace Roger Clemens on the hill. It was only the 2nd inning, so nothing can be said with certainty, but it's very probable the Cardinals do not win the game and the pennant without that catch. The degree of difficulty is extremely high and the situation extremely important.

Blanco's catch was to preserve a perfect game, and that's certainly pretty darn important. However, I consider team achievements, specifically championships, to be of more importance than single-game achievements, so I can't put Blanco's catch ahead of those two. But it is very close.

In a strictly physical sense, I'd put him slightly ahead of Mays and roughly even with Edmonds. Definitely one of the best catches I've ever seen.

(Note: Edmonds had a catch in his early years with the Angels that tops all three, and probably any ever, from a purely physical standpoint. Very similar to Mays, Edmonds ran straight back on a ball to CF, but had to dive to haul the ball in. It was simply a regular season catch against the Royals, and the out ended the inning. So it doesn't score many points in importance, but it is still a catch to marvel at.)

[HolyStroke]

Because of the situation, it's a great catch (it's a great catch either way, but the situation makes it even better). But the catch by itself, certainly not one of the best of all time

[Sport]

I love beating Cleveland.

Better yet, after seeing 4 losses to start the season, the Reds are now 3-1 in their last 4 while I'm in attendance. I've been to 8 games this season already. Living in Columbus and Athens previously, I probably went to 8 in the last ten years.

[STL FANATIC]

Because of the situation, it's a great catch (it's a great catch either way, but the situation makes it even better). But the catch by itself, certainly not one of the best of all time

What ones do you consider best?

To me diving backwards after a full on sprint is the toughest catch there is. Only two things would have made it tougher, IMO. 1-Had he (or Edmonds) been right handed and had to catch the ball backhanded with their left-hand. 2-If it had been like the Edmonds catch with the Angels where he's literally diving straight back instead of at an angle.

I don't think any catch running in or any catch jumping up (as if to rob a home run) is more difficult than going back on a ball and still having to dive.

[HolyStroke]

I love beating Cleveland.

c'mon man, that's like kicking a dead horse

[STL FANATIC]

Here's video of the 4 catches I reference.

Blanco: http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?c_id=sf&content_id=22275319&topic_id=11493214

Mays: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=3731661

Edmonds: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17819941

Edmonds (w/Angels): http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20005631

Upon further review, Blanco's is exactly like 2004 Edmonds catch, as Blanco seems to catch the ball with one foot still on the ground and then falling into his dive. Edmonds actually launches himself prior to catching the ball.

In any case, it's similar, and it's one of the best I've seen.

[devilboy1995]

One of this board's Giants fans has to sig/avatar this up.

Check it out.

[crashcarson15]

Five no-hitters, and it's only June 13th?? Yeesh! Expansion and the banning of HGH is really starting to kick in, fellas.

The banning of HGH would really and truly have little to no effect on no-hitters. Unless we're going to argue that with PEDs, these would all be broken up by home runs, the ability to make contact and the size of the sweet spot on the bat don't change if you're on a PED or not.

[njmeadowlanders]

So at this point I think at this point R.A. Dickey deserves the start in the ASG, but I wonder if Cain will get any more consideration due to tonight. He's had another solid year and is far and away the best pitcher on a very good staff. It'll be interesting to see how these two pitch from here till the All Star break.

Stephen Strasburg might have something to say about that decision too.

It's all going to come down to when they last pitch. Whomever is on the most rest probably gets the nod.

[njmeadowlanders]

Five no-hitters, and it's only June 13th?? Yeesh! Expansion and the banning of HGH is really starting to kick in, fellas.

The banning of HGH would really and truly have little to no effect on no-hitters. Unless we're going to argue that with PEDs, these would all be broken up by home runs, the ability to make contact and the size of the sweet spot on the bat don't change if you're on a PED or not.

First of all, why is the banning of PED's a bad thing? If there is a link (and I don't believe there is), how is that bad?

Also, if this is the past few years that it's getting out of control, they've had 30 teams since 1998 now. Where was the slew of perfect games between 1999 and 2003 for instance? There could be something up, or it could be an anomaly. Who knows?

[TheOldRoman]

Five no-hitters, and it's only June 13th?? Yeesh! Expansion and the banning of HGH is really starting to kick in, fellas.

The banning of HGH would really and truly have little to no effect on no-hitters. Unless we're going to argue that with PEDs, these would all be broken up by home runs, the ability to make contact and the size of the sweet spot on the bat don't change if you're on a PED or not.

1) Maybe a blooper the SS catches would go into left field if it was hit with a tiny bit more power.

2) Maybe a grounder to the hole at second would get past the 2B if it were hit a little harder.

3) HGH also improved eye sight, so hitters would theoretically be able to more easily identify and lay off of a 3-2 slider outside to take a walk.

I'm not saying this is 100% of the reason for the rash of perfectos, but it can't be overlooked.

[njmeadowlanders]

Five no-hitters, and it's only June 13th?? Yeesh! Expansion and the banning of HGH is really starting to kick in, fellas.

The banning of HGH would really and truly have little to no effect on no-hitters. Unless we're going to argue that with PEDs, these would all be broken up by home runs, the ability to make contact and the size of the sweet spot on the bat don't change if you're on a PED or not.

1) Maybe a blooper the SS catches would go into left field if it was hit with a tiny bit more power.

2) Maybe a grounder to the hole at second would get past the 2B if it were hit a little harder.

3) HGH also improved eye sight, so hitters would theoretically be able to more easily identify and lay off of a 3-2 slider outside to take a walk.

I'm not saying this is 100% of the reason for the rash of perfectos, but it can't be overlooked.

By the way, there have been multiple perfect games in a season now three times: 2012, 2010, and 1880.

[FiddySicks]

One of this board's Giants fans has to sig/avatar this up.

With pleasure.

[NEW.ERA]

Now with Kyle Drabek out. I think it's time for AA to call up Theo, to see what it'll take to pry Ryan Dempster out of Wrigley.

[Sport]

I love beating Cleveland.

c'mon man, that's like kicking a dead horse

Sorta, if that dead horse had arrogant, annoying fans with an undeserved sense of superiority within the state.

BTW, sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

[tBBP]

That Blanco catch is one of the greatest of all-time, in my opinion. To make a diving catch after running that distance at full speed, back and to the left, over his shoulder. The level of difficulty is off the charts.

Two me it instantly draws comparisons of two other famous catches.

1. Willie Mays, Giants, Game 1, 1954 World Series

This is "The Catch." Not only is it the most famous catch, it's the most famous Giants catch. Many consider it to be the absolute best of all-time. I've never agreed with that, but it's certainly right near the top. The situation was first and second, nobody out, 8th inning of a 2-2 game in Game 1 of the World Series. The ball is crushed to deep center. Mays runs an extremely long distance (I believe it would have been a home run in any park other than the Polo Grounds). With his back completely turned, Mays makes the catch on the run and over his shoulder right at the track. He turns around and throws into the infield, making sure the runner from second advances no further than 3rd. The Giants would ultimately get out of the inning without allowing the runners to score. Had runs scored, it's probably the Giants lose the game, and maybe the whole series unfolds differently. Because there was no dive, I've always considered the degree of difficulty to be overstated with this catch, but there's no question it was very difficult and extremely important.

2. Jim Edmonds, Cardinals, Game 7, 2004 NLCS

Edmonds made a career out of jaw-dropping catches, and this was probably his second-most difficult and easily the most important. This catch comes to mind because it was so physically similar to Blanco's. Blanco plays LF and Edmonds CF, but every other physical element is similar. It is certainly the best catch I've ever watched live, and perhaps the best I've ever seen (but I have a bias). The situation is first and second, one out, already trailing 1-0 in the 2nd inning of Game 7 of the NLCS. A liner is hit towards the left-center gap. Edmonds runs back and towards left in a full sprint, dives, and catches the ball with full extension. He abruptly pops up and throws into the infield, preventing the runners from advancing. Had the catch not been made, the ball rolls to the gap and two runs score. The Astros would have a commanding 3-0 lead and still threatening, with their ace Roger Clemens on the hill. It was only the 2nd inning, so nothing can be said with certainty, but it's very probable the Cardinals do not win the game and the pennant without that catch. The degree of difficulty is extremely high and the situation extremely important.

Blanco's catch was to preserve a perfect game, and that's certainly pretty darn important. However, I consider team achievements, specifically championships, to be of more importance than single-game achievements, so I can't put Blanco's catch ahead of those two. But it is very close.

In a strictly physical sense, I'd put him slightly ahead of Mays and roughly even with Edmonds. Definitely one of the best catches I've ever seen.

(Note: Edmonds had a catch in his early years with the Angels that tops all three, and probably any ever, from a purely physical standpoint. Very similar to Mays, Edmonds ran straight back on a ball to CF, but had to dive to haul the ball in. It was simply a regular season catch against the Royals, and the out ended the inning. So it doesn't score many points in importance, but it is still a catch to marvel at.)

I can't recall the guy's name right now (Gary Matthews Jr. or something like that?), and I can't remember if he was on the Angels or Rangers when he did it, but where would you rank the catch where the guy jumped off the wall to make a catch in the outfield? Just curious...either way it goes, those outfield catches are certainly something to see, ain't they?

[Fox]

I can't recall the guy's name right now (Gary Matthews Jr. or something like that?), and I can't remember if he was on the Angels or Rangers when he did it, but where would you rank the catch where the guy jumped off the wall to make a catch in the outfield? Just curious...either way it goes, those outfield catches are certainly something to see, ain't they?

Here's the catch, for all of you kids out there.

Phenomenal.

[maz]

Well, that was fun while it lasted.

[mania]

I can't recall the guy's name right now (Gary Matthews Jr. or something like that?), and I can't remember if he was on the Angels or Rangers when he did it, but where would you rank the catch where the guy jumped off the wall to make a catch in the outfield? Just curious...either way it goes, those outfield catches are certainly something to see, ain't they?

Here's the catch, for all of you kids out there.

Phenomenal.

That catch (and that year, in general) conned the Angels out of $55M.

It was pretty awesome.