Rosemead’s Tra Sumler (#4) blocking a punt against Monrovia in the 2008 Mid-Valley Division semifinal
“By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.”
—Second Witch
Kick it!
Right off the top: Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon stole 12 bases this year and has been in double digits in steals for the last four years. The previous three seasons he’s averaged four to five triples a year. The outfield at Kauffman Stadium is expansive, Gordon can run…so how come he didn’t score with his team trailing 3-2 last night in the seventh game of the World Series?
I saw the game late and didn’t read all the comments about it and I know I’m late to the party on this, but I was stunned. This wasn’t Mike Scioscia running the bases it was Alex Gordon.
And full disclosure…of course I didn’t want the Giants to win.
My first thought was why didn’t his third base coach send him? Wouldn’t it be better to have Brandon Crawford try to beat you from shallow left as opposed to Madison Bumgarner from the mound in the midst of a once in a hundred years performance?
That’s what I thought until I saw Gordon cruise into third. He would have been a dead man jogging if they sent him home.
Then I looked at the ball he hit. Not only did it get by the center fielder, but it rolled to the wall, and then it was kicked. By the time the ball is rolling along the wall on the warning track I’m thinking they’re gonna send him, but instead I see him landing at third. What was this guy doing? Did he stop off at a taco truck on the way to third?
With all that took place in the Giants outfield Gordon should have already been at least turning third and if he’s turning third that makes a charge to the plate feasible. That makes the decision to challenge Crawford instead of Bumgarner a reasonable one.
People like to bag on Yasiel Puig…but Puig would have scored. Pete Rose would have scored or put so much pressure on the relay throw and catcher to make the attempt worthwhile. Gordon seemed to be caught somewhere between hesitation and assumption at best (at worst he stopped off at that taco truck) and now he’ll have to live with it for the rest of his life.
…and so will the Kansas City fans.
The question came up about Rosemead’s Sumler Brothers on the board yesterday. From my memory and for my money it breaks down this way: Desean Sumler was tough and a talker. He was very comfortable with telling me where to point my camera. Deon Sumler was the fastest and tougher than most assume. I know because I saw Arroyo’s Efrain Oquendo rack him in 2003. Tra Sumler was a combination of both and the best all around. People may remember him as a great back, but he was a terrific defensive player. We made him our Mission Valley League player of the decade (2000-2009) a few years ago.
There’s a story about how the University of Oklahoma always finished its team prayer by saying “And God bless Mrs. Selmon.” The reason being that Mrs. Selmon provided the Sooners with Lucious, Dewey, and Leroy Selmon. This prayer should be echoed by the Rosemead program each time they exit the locker room. “…And God bless Mrs. Sumler.”
Bell Gardens has not scored more than a touchdown in each of its last two meetings with Montebello. Which is the issue for the Lancers. They are tough, they are physical, but points come harder than runs off of Madison Bumgarner. BG leads the Almont in most points scored but don’t be fooled. They scored 112 points combined against both Keppel and Alhambra.
The Oilers, on the other hand, have Isaac Mendibles a legitimate threat any time he touches the ball. So if Montebello gets out to an early lead you have to like its chances. But that’s if the Oilers get the early lead…it’s not easy to score on Bell Gardens either.
CalPreps likes Bell Gardens, 27-12.
MVS Staffer Duane Barker likes Bell Gardens, 28-17.
MVS Staffer Joe T. likes,…Will pick a winner on Saturday.
No One Notices I Think I’ll Dye My Hair Blue Department: There are a lot of budding stars in the Northview galaxy but one guy flying under the all the optics is Elijah Grijalva. Dude is physical carrying the ball, dude is physical carrying the ball. Through eight games this season he’s rushed for 357 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s been in on 34 tackles, recovered a fumble, and returned and interception for a touchdown.
Who is cruising for a bruising? Arrowhead Christian.
Last Add World Series: I’ve given the IRS smoother answers than the Chevy guy did giving away the MVP Award and truck to Bumgarner. Watching that guy for thirty seconds was like spending an evening with AmWay salesman.
Regards:
In regards to Kansas City Third Base Coach Mike Jirschele: “Believe me, I wanted to send him…I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to go the whole offseason with Alex getting thrown out halfway to home plate right there.”
In regards to Gordon stopping at third: “The baserunner was watching the ball action instead of running purely watching the base coaches. That slowed him up as he rounded second. You can’t run as fast looking over your shoulder. However, I agree with a few of the bloggers. The giants shortstop had a great arm and had thrown a frozen rope the previous day from the outfield cut-off position. It would have been exciting but it would have been an out unless it was a bad thrown or a bobble or miss.”—Russell, Yahoo.
In regards to Gordon stopping at third: “A little math: If Gordon is running at 15 mph which is about average, he is traveling at 22 feet per second. So he needs 4.09 seconds to reach home. If Crawford throws the ball at 85 miles per hour, which most shortstops can, the ball is traveling at 124 feet per second. So If Crawford is say halfway between home plate and the all that is about 150 feet. The ball needs 1. 2 seconds to reach home plate. Gordon would have been out by 43 feet. Just go back at watch how close Crawford made it on the play where Butler scores. Almost the same distance and Butler was halfway down the line when Crawford threw the ball.”—John, Baseball Fan.
In regards to James Shields: How much are they paying him?
In regards to San Francisco: They rioted. Couldn’t they have searched Google for some better ideas? Rioting after a title is so jejune.
The Dude abides…
591
Psalms 77:13-14
Contact Joe at joe@midvalleysports.com
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