Anyone else hear Harold Reynolds denounce the "Contact Play"?

[JoJo26]

When KC had runners on 2nd & 3rd...with Perez the catcher on 3rd...with one out...Reynolds mentioned he doesn't like the Contact Play in this one out situation. So when Escobar hits the ball to 1B, the runner on 3rd sticks...allowing the batter to reach first, because Belt hesitated.

 

Next batter gets a hit...and the Royals end up plating 7 runs...

 

Harold says by Perez NOT RUNNING on contact saved an out, and allowed an easy run on a bouncer over the Shortstops head...allowing a big time inning...

 

I wonder if The Mad Genius was watching???

[Coachbulldog]

I heard it and I agree with what Reynolds said. I don't have any statistical data, but I've seen many Bees game in the last several years and the run-on-contact play seems like a failure the majority of the time. I don't understand why the Angels continue to use it as much as they do. 

[Jeff Fletcher]

Of course if the Giants werent expecting the contact play Belt wouldnt have messed it up so much.

Reynolds also said he doesn't like it with a slow runner on third. He's ok with it with other runners.

The contact play actually works a lot but no one ever notices when it works because it just looks like a run scoring on a grounder. I pointed out a lot of times this year when it did work, including sometimes when it forced errors by opponents.

Another issue is that teams expect the Angels to use it so much so they play the infield in more often to discourage/defend it and that ends up resulting in hits.

I don't think its always the right play. But I do the think the knee-jerk opposition to it misses it a lot of the nuances.

[ScottT]

That is why some sacrifice bunts are such a terrible idea.  It becomes expected.  The defense cheats.  Your chances of getting a weak hit increase.   I think that happens more than them cheating to defend the "contact play".   The Angels are too predictable with this stuff, I think, but do teams really cheat on defense when the contact play might be on?  

[CaliAngel]

I don't agree with using the contact play "no matter where" the ball is hit. But again maybe that isn't technically a contact play.

 

I think it's up to the runner after contact is made to decide if they're going to be a sitting duck, or if they actually have a shot at rushing the throw and making it home safe. I like aggressiveness and forcing the team to make a play sometimes, but when the guys out by 10+ feet, it really does seem like the Angels give up a lot of outs on things like this.

[shellback]

giving up outs is dumb ass imo

[Stradling]

This board universally hates Reynolds and think he's an idiot.

[Jeff Fletcher]

That is why some sacrifice bunts are such a terrible idea. It becomes expected. The defense cheats. Your chances of getting a weak hit increase. I think that happens more than them cheating to defend the "contact play". The Angels are too predictable with this stuff, I think, but do teams really cheat on defense when the contact play might be on?

Yes, they play in closer and more often.

[ten ocho recon scout]

If the next batter grounds onto a double play, there would be people screaming about why perez didnt score from the 3rd on the last play. Im not saying either side is right. But someone is always going to have a different opinion, and when something happens that works out that supports the opinion, they speak up

[19HALO71]

I wonder how many teams that do not use the contact play had the best record in baseball this season?

[Stradling]

Remember when hitters were good at situations all hitting and we didn't worry about the contact play because the hitter would just hit a fly ball to score the run? Those were fun times.

[Stradling]

I don't hate on all these guys, I understand exactly what they are. They aren't hired to appeal to guys that spend hours a day on a baseball message board. We have a higher expectation of all these guys. I have a cool personal story involving Harold Reynolds, he was a real cool guy. The year he was on the Angels I was working at the INO in Santa Ana, and back then we weren't as busy. So after a game one night he drives thru and we were slow. So I say hey and we strike up a conversation and it's literally just him and me. I let him know I'm a big Angel fan. The next night he comes back in after the game and he hands me four tickets to a game. He was just incredibly talkative and real.

[ScottT]

I don't doubt that Harold Reynolds is a nice guy.   His top 100 players list had 284 players.  

[T.G.]

If he had denounced the "contact play" earlier in his broadcasting career, he might still be working at ESPN.

Edited October 29, 2014 by True Grich

[wopphil]

This board universally hates Reynolds and think he's an idiot.

I love Reynolds. I think he is a great analyst. I particularly like the fact that he thinks for himself and isn't some homer who goes along with the popular thought in the room.

[stormngt]

I was waiting to all post by making the same comment. This maybe the first time I have seen Reynolds name in this thread and it wasn't villified.

This board universally hates Reynolds and think he's an idiot.

[JoJo26]

If he had denounced the "contact play" earlier in his broadcasting career, he might still be working at ESPN.

I see what you did there....

[Lou]

i like Reynolds because he sued espn and had them settle for millions

[shellback]

i like Reynolds because he sued espn and had them settle for millions

excellent. BSpn gets zero air time at my house. was this suit related to the sexual harassment allegations?

[T.G.]

I see what you did there....

 Glad someone did...

[Lou]

excellent. BSpn gets zero air time at my house. was this suit related to the sexual harassment allegations?

 

 

excellent. BSpn gets zero air time at my house. was this suit related to the sexual harassment allegations?

 

yes. They had agreed on a 6 yr $5million  contract and then handed him a letter that he was terminated "  for cause" but never stated the actual reason.  Turned out it was for sexual harassment - in this case, for hugging an intern.  Espn also refused to provide his personnel filw even though it's required under Connecticut law.

[laagamer]

There should be channel with just audio & no commentary.