Gamer. that single word fits Bill Buckner like a glove. In all the years he played, the guy played at full speed all the time. He played hard, and he wanted to win. He was ostracized for years over an error made in a World Series loss. He endured it all and never complained, and he returned to the scene of the so-called crime and was welcomed as a hero.
William Joseph Buckner was born December 14th, 1949, to Leonard and Marie Katherine Buckner in Vallejo, California. He was raised in the small town of American Canyon. His father passed away when Bill was a teenager. His mother worked as a stenographer for a Captain in the California Highway Patrol for more than 20 years.
In 1971, she remarried, to Harold McCall, a CHP officer. Bill was raised with his three siblings, brothers Bob and Jim, and Jim’s twin sister, Jan. It was his mother who made sure the boys were involved in organized baseball. While attending a Cub Scout Mothers meeting, she signed them up for little league baseball.
Bill turned out to be a natural. His mom had signed the boys up as a way to keep them busy and out of trouble. She had falsified Bill’s birth certificate when he was 7 in order to get him in a year early. Before his passing, his father was active in little league with the boys. They would even practice in the living room.
Buckner excelled at football and baseball in high school. He was very goal-oriented. He knew he wanted to go to college and probably play pro ball after that. He narrowed his choices down to USC and Stanford. But his reputation as a hitter caught the attention of pro scouts. Former Yankee second baseman and Angels scout, Joe Gordon, recalled that Buckner had the finest swing he saw anywhere on the west coast. For the goal-oriented Buckner, college would have to wait. He was selected with the 25th overall pick in the second round of the June 1968 draft by the Dodgers.
As most here know, the 1968 draft is still considered the Dodger’s best ever. A total of 15 future MLB players were selected in that draft. Billy Bucks joined Garvey, Cey, Valentine, Lopes, Paciorek and Alexander as new members of the Dodgers. Buckner was sent to Ogden, in the rookie class Pioneer League. His manager was one Tommy Lasorda. He played every game at 1st base, compiled a .344 average in 275 plate appearances, and swiped 15 bases in 16 tries. He, Paciorek and Garvey finished 1-2-3 in the batting race. Ogden finished with the best record in the league. After the season he went to USC where he roomed with Ogden teammate and roommate, Bobby Valentine.
Bill was sent to AA Albuquerque in 69. He hit .307 in 70 games and then was promoted to AAA Spokane to replace Tommy Hutton, who was called up to the big club to replace the injured Wes Parker. After hitting .315 in 30 games for the Indians, he got a September promotion to the Dodgers. He had only one appearance as a pinch hitter and he struck out. He then went to the Arizona Fall League and hit .350 with 10 stolen bases in 46 games. He played 35 games in the outfield, increasing his chances of being on the major league roster.
He was expected to compete for a roster spot on the 1970 team. Walter Alston told reporters that there was a good chance Buckner would be the regular left fielder. Buckner himself told reporters he felt he could hit .300 in the majors. He also said he was a better hitter than some who were playing in LA at that time. He had a ton of confidence in himself. The Dodgers went to Pompano Beach to play the Senators and the Dodgers’ batting practice became sort of a hitting clinic with Senators manager, Ted Williams, discussing hitting techniques with coaches and players. After watching Buckner hit, Williams told him he had nothing to worry about, he could hit .300 in the majors. He also predicted that Buckner would win a batting title someday.
Bill made the team out of spring training, but after getting his first MLB hit against the Reds on April 8th, he struggled to a .121 average in 14 games and was optioned along with 3B Steve Garvey, back to Spokane. He opted to not immediately return to Spokane. Instead, he received permission to stay in LA and finish up some courses at USC. That delayed his reporting to Spokane for about 3 weeks. Al Campanis questioned his reasoning and wondered why he could not do them by correspondence. But the Dodgers allowed him to finish. When he did report to Spokane, he wasted no time. He got 7 hits in 9 at-bats before suffering a broken jaw in a collision with Davey Lopes. The Dodgers told Lasorda to sit him for 5 weeks. Buckner missed one game and wound up hitting .335. He learned to spit and cuss with his jaw wired shut said Lasorda. The team as a whole had a .299 batting average. That set a modern PCL record. 6 players on the team were selected to the PCL All-Star team. Buckner played 57 games in the outfield and 65 at first base. He was recalled by the Dodgers in September and hit .257 in 14 games.
He again made the team out of spring training in 1971. He hit his first MLB homer in the second game of the year. He hit his first grand slam on July 27th in a win over the Pirates. It was his second 5 RBI game in a month. He and the other Dodger rookies faded some towards the end of the season. He finished with a .277 average in 108 games and was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team. He was the subject of many trade rumors as teams wanted to pry talent from the Dodgers. Buckner said, ” The Dodgers have Frank Robinson and Tommy John, but they don’t have a chance at the pennant if they trade me.”
Buckner had a solid year in 72. Playing in 105 games he hit .319. Many felt he would replace Wes Parker as the 1st baseman in 1973 since Parker retired after the 1972 season. After the season, Bill enrolled at USC as a junior in the School of Business Administration.
In 1973, it was more of the same for Bill. He split time at first and in the outfield. But he played in 140 games with a .275 average and 8 homers. The Dodgers finished second for the fourth year in a row, this time to the Reds. He was hoping for better things in 1974. After the 1973 season, Buckner, Paciorek, and Lasorda agreed for shaves and haircuts to be in a scene in ” The Godfather II.” After spending all day getting their hair cut and getting fitted for their uniforms, they were told the scene had been cut. Buckner was determined to get into the movie, which was being filmed in the Dominican Republic. They were filming that night, so they went back. The scene they were filming was when Michael finds out it was Fredo who betrayed him. ” We did not get our faces in the scene said Buckner, but my arm is there. ”
Buckner had his best year to date in 74. He hit .314 and garnered some MVP votes. He also played brilliantly in the outfield. He made several highlight reel catches. His outfield play was praised by Don Sutton. The Dodgers won their division and advanced to the playoffs against the Pirates. Buckner did not have a good series against the Pirates hitting only .167 in the four games. He would play a little better against the A’s in the World Series. A very tight affair in which 4 of the 5 games were decided by the same 3-2 score. He was also thrown out at third in a very memorable play where he tried to stretch a double into a triple. The Dodgers lost the series. They would return in 1977 to face the Yankees. Buckner would not play in another World Series for 12 more years. Buckner may have added some fuel to the A’s win when he proclaimed they were not as good as the Dodgers prior to game four. Only 2 or 3 of those guys could play on our team. We play them 162, we win 100.
Buckner was ready to build on his success of 1974 in 75, but it would not be, On April 18th, he sprained his ankle severely on a slide into second base against the Giants. He would not return until May 16th. And even then, he could not run well. It affected his abilities in the field also. It was for him, a lost season. He would play in 92 games, hit .243 and finally have surgery on September 1st. Buck himself said that winter that he was probably a trade option for the Dodgers. I have been injured and there is no sentiment in baseball.
But he was with the team in 76. He hit .301 and set a career-high with 60 runs batted in. He played in 154 games. After the season, he had a second surgery on his ankle. Then on January 11th, 1977, the Dodgers sent Buckner, Ivan DeJesus, and minor league pitcher, Jeff Albert, to the Cubs for Rick Monday and pitcher, Mike Garman. Initially Buckner was furious at the trade. But as time went by he warmed up to the idea. The Cubs wanted me, the Dodgers did not. I will miss playing for the Dodgers and I wanted to play for Lasorda in his first season as the Dodgers’ manager.
His Cubs debut was delayed as he was still recovering from his ankle surgery and a fractured left index finger suffered the first week of spring training. He would play in 122 games for the Cubs, hitting .284 with 11 homers and 60 RBIs. Three of the homers came against the Dodgers in August in a 3 game series. Buckner would later say that series was one of his most satisfying achievements in baseball, proving to the Dodgers that he could still play. He was probably at 50 percent most of the year.
Buckner came back with a vengeance in 1978. He again was hobbled by his ankle, but in 117 games, he hit .323, and he was named the Cubs player of the year. He was also up for the Roberto Clemente Award. He made more personal appearances for the Cubs than any other player. He was the one guy they could count on to represent the team.
He signed a deal for 1.4 million through the 1984 season. It was applauded by the fan base. Again, he was hobbled, but he managed a .284 average and 14 homers in 149 games. But again in 79, the Cubs fell below expectations despite great years by Dave Kingman and Bruce Sutter. After the season, manager, Herman Franks retired and he also ripped many of the players, including Buckner. He said ” I thought when we got Buckner he would be one of those guys who would dive to catch a ball and win a game for you. What I found out is that he is nuts, all he cares about is Bill Buckner.
Upon reading the quotes, Buckner was furious. He asked reporters if they had ever seen a worse rip job. He had better come down here and apologize in front of the whole team. Franks refused to apologize, but he did say he wished his quotes had never been published.
On February 16th, Buckner married Jody Schneck, a flight attendant on Long Island. They planned to move to Chicago from a Northwest suburb. Buckner found an old church that was being made into condos and he bought the tower apartment. As with most years, the Cubs went into 1980 hoping to compete.
For his part, Bill went 114 plate appearances before Joe Beckwith struck him out on May 14th. When the Cubs acquired slugging first baseman, Cliff Johnson, Buckner volunteered to move to the outfield. When asked about the move he simply replied, I would rather not, but if it helps the team win, I will do it. Despite playing on a bad ankle he managed to hold off Keith Hernandez and full fill Ted Williams prediction and win a batting title. .324 to .321.
Buckner was growing increasingly unhappy in Chicago. He wanted to play on a winning team again. After the 1980 season, he asked the general manager, Bob Kennedy, to trade him. But they did not. In 1981 he hit .311, led the league in doubles and made his first All-Star team. He had his contract renegotiated that winter, but he still wanted out of Chicago. He had one of his best seasons in 1982, hitting .306 with 15 homers and he drove in 105 runs. Both career highs.
After the season there were some rumors that Steve Garvey was going to sign with the Cubs. Buckner, who desperately wanted to be on a winner again, was all for it. Alas, he went to the Padres. Buckner’s BA would dip to .280. He hit 16 homers and drove in 66. At the beginning of the 84 season, Buck’s future with the Cubs was uncertain. After they opened with him at first base, he was replaced by Leon Durham. He got a standing ovation at Wrigley Field opening day, and Durham was booed by the Cub faithful. Jim Frey, the Cubs manager praised the way Buckner handled the situation. Finally on the 25th of May, the Cubs sent Buckner to the Red Sox for Dennis Eckersley and Mike Brumley.
Bill was ecstatic. It is a new park and a new league. I am glad to be in Boston. All I want to do is play well for my new team. On May 26th, he suited up for his first game with the Sox against the Royals. He sparked his new team hitting .321 with 9 runs batted in the first 15 games he played with the team.
Buckner finished the year with a .278 average in 114 games. Boston finished in 4th place. After the season he underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow. He rebounded in 85 with a .299 average., 16 homers, and a career-high, 110 RBI’s. The team finished in 5th place with an 81-81 record.
1986 would be a banner year for the Sox. Buckner would play in 153 games. His BA slipped to .267, but he had a career-high with 18 homers and drove in 102. On the back of excellent pitching, the Sox would win the division by 5 1/2 games over the Yankees. They then beat the Angels in dramatic fashion to move to the World Series against the Mets. Buckner did not play exceptionally well in the series against the Angels, and one play in the series against the Mets would haunt him for many years to come.
The Red Sox won 3 of the first five games of the 1986 series. Game 6 was a real nail-biter. After 9 innings of play, the teams were tied at 3. In the top of the 9th, the Sox pushed across 2 runs and were within 3 outs of their first title in 68 years. With their closer, Calvin Schiraldi, on the mound beginning his third inning of work, he retired the first two hitters he faced. With Gary Carter coming to the plate, the words, Congratulations, Boston Red Sox, 1986 World Champions, briefly flashed on the scoreboard. Carter singled, bringing the tying run to the plate. With the pitcher due up, Strawberry had been removed in the 9th inning, Johnson decided to send the rookie, Kevin Mitchell up to hit.
He singled, bringing up third baseman, Ray Knight. Schiraldi got two quick strikes on him. But Knight singled to left center and Carter scored with Mitchell racing to third. McNamara then went to the bullpen and brought in Bob Stanley, who up to that point had not been scored upon in the series. With Mookie Wilson now at the plate, on a 2-2 pitch, Stanley threw a breaking ball that almost hit Wilson and went to the backstop. Mitchell scored easily and Knight moved to second. On the tenth pitch of the at bat, Stanley finally got Wilson to put a ball in play and he pulled a ball down the line towards first base. Buckner, who had been playing deep to avert a double down the line, moved to field the ball, knowing how fast Wilson was, the ball rolled between his legs and Knight scored from second without a play and the Mets tied the series at 3 games apiece.
It was that play that would cause Buckner a lot of grief over the next several years. Some put the blame directly on Buckner, but if you look at what happened before the Wilson at bat, Schiraldi failed to get the third out. Stanley’s wild pitch allowed the Mets to score the tying run. and with 2 strikes, he failed to retire either Knight or Wilson. Add to that the fact that Boston still had a chance to win the next day, and the GOAT tag falls on Buckner rather unfairly. But that is what he was tagged with. And the Boston papers made sure everyone knew who made the error.
This would be a burden he would have to carry for many years. There is little doubt it would take a toll on him. But to his credit, he never made excuses or dodged the abuse. He had surgery again on his ankle and feet. He started the 87 season at first base for the Sox, but after a slow start, he was released after 75 games. He signed with the Angels on July 28th. He hit .308 for the Halos in 57 games. He started the 88 season with the Angels but after 19 games he was let go. He signed with the Royals and would spend most of the next 2 seasons with them. But his career was winding down.
He signed with the Red Sox in 1990. But again, he was nowhere near the player he had been, and after Boston released him on June 5th, he called it a career. He finished with a .289/174/1208 line. He had 2715 career hits.
In 1993, Buckner and his wife moved the family to a ranch in Meridian Idaho. His wife described one of the primary benefits of the location as it not being a sports town. No one would say anything derogatory to Bill. Buckner invested in real estate in Boise, and was briefly with the Blue Jays as a hitting instructor. He was hired by the White Sox in 1996 as the hitting coach, replacing old mentor, Walt Hriniak. He was fired in August of 1997 despite the fact that the team was hitting .271, good enough for 8th in the league.
Over the next several years he would coach in various leagues and he also coached some of the Cubs hitters. He finally retired for good in 2014 citing a desire to spend more time with his family. My wife deserves it. She has put up with me being away for 30 some odd years. On April 8th, 2008, Buckner returned to Fenway to throw out the first pitch of the home opener. He received a four minute standing ovation. All was forgiven. It was a very emotional moment for him.
He resumed his quiet life at home with his family. Preferring to avoid the spotlight which had shown on him for so long. On May 27, 2019, Bill Buckner passed away at the age of 69 from Lewy Body Dementia, a disease he had been battling for some time. The fiery hard nosed competitor, at peace at last.
Thx Bear. Great writeup. Always loved Billy Buckner. What could have been if he remained a Dodger without that bad ankle. Cubs paying 38 mil for Belli and jo Heyward. Dodgers paying 2 mil for Heyward and Outman.
Anytime my friend. I loved Buckner.
Someone needs to have a word with those .500 D’Backs!
I think the word should be had with those .500 Dodgers.
The snakes are not that good and our pitching isn’t also.
Most of the projections I read had the snakes at 77 wins. I think if they played the Dodgers every day they could win 81.
Two National Division One Men’s Championships in one week from my great state of Connecticut( born and raised here). First the Uconn Huskies basketball team on Monday and last night my alma mater Quinnipiac University from Hamden Connecticut ( two miles from my current house in North Haven) Hockey team defeated number one ranked Minnesota 3-2 with a late comeback and 10 seconds onto OT. When I attended classes there the tuition was $4800. I could not afford to live on campus and commuted from my mom’s house in East Haven. Now the tuition is $52000 per year . To live on campus is another $18000. Total insanity.
I want to wish everyone here a Happy Easter and Passover!
Congratulations. Quinnipiac. Interesting historical name. Just read it. People of Long Water. Very independent minded. Imagine that. And Connecticut is a great state, must be a lot of ice there, right? And over 59% Blue, so you got that going for you as well!
Go Q and Go Blue!
I’ve never been up that way (except once driving from NY to Boston, so not even sure if I go thru Connecticut on the 95?). But I’d like to check it out one day
95 goes all the way up to Maine. So yeah, you go right through Connecticut. US Sub base is right there and if you look you can see the USS Natilus. The first nuclear powered sub. It is a museum there now.
I really like Mystic Connecticut. It’s home to Mystic Pizza and so much more.
Have had some nice times in Connecticut, Andrew. Some great Italian food in Hartford. We lost the American Legion World Series final game (back when Legion Baseball was still strong before daddy-ball took over) in Middleton. Had a nice experience there. Congrats on the successes.
Citations needed, Bear.
Thanks.
Saturday scores
Las Vegas 9, Oklahoma City 1
Tulsa 5, San Antonio 2
Lansing 4, Great Lakes 1
Inland Empire 5, Rancho Cucamonga 4(10 innings)
Sunday schedule
1.:05 ET Great Lakes (Justin Wrobleski) vs. Lansing (Jack Perkins)
3:05 ET Oklahoma City (Dylan Covey) at Las Vegas (Hogan Harris)
Both Tulsa and Rancho Cucamonga are off Sunday after their season-opening three-game series.
If the new normal for Syndergaard is getting by with location and game planning around his mediocre 92 MPH fastball, then that leaves very little margin for error. He has to be perfect. Either he’s on and can be effective, or, if he misses, we get what we saw yesterday.
Mark Prior and the Dodgers have a pretty good track record of revamping the pitch selection, grips, arm angle and other things to revitalize careers, but not even God can fix mediocre stuff. Syndergaard has mediocre stuff. Sorry. That’s just facts. His 98 MPH four seamer with ride, which sets up his secondaries, is a memory. He’s actually slower now than he was last year. He’s going backwards.
If his ERA/FIP continue to be north of 4.00 as the we get deeper into the year, and the Dodgers are fighting for a division title (or even a WC spot), something will need to be done. Both Pepiot and Stone would likely be better than that.
Yes, it’s early, but we didn’t see what he had in Spring training?
I have more confidence in Muncy coming back. At least with him there is not an obvious nor discernable drop off in fundamental skills.
Here is my daily prediction that Ohtani will get a contract around $500 million, and he would be worth every penny, and the Dodgers need to open up their wallets and just get him already.
… And for the all the grumblers out there who complained bitterly that Andrew Friedman just brought his parsimonious habits from Tampa Bay, I’d like to point out that the Rays are having another year of being a pretty good team in spite of having zero payroll. If their offensive team stats were a single player, they’d be a front runner for an MVP. Locking up Wander Franco for the bulk of his career at a team friendly deal is turning out to be a brilliant move.
BTW, Luke Raley is a big part of the TB offensive production.
Well said.
Syndergaard has to hit his spots for his stuff to play and he wasn’t hitting them yesterday. I don’t remember the last time when every pitcher the Dodgers threw out there in a game were simply at their worst. Some had luck but the DBacks weren’t missing mistakes. And they had many to choose from.
Nice to see Raley get a shot. He’s making the most of it so far. He always had some solid tools. I hope he keeps it up.
So, after a week do you favor the Rays over Toronto and New York? I don’t.
I believe Syndergaard will improve, which isn’t saying much. He knows he can’t miss over the middle, and I think he knows he needs to build up his arm strength. He’s a number 5 in this rotation. Maybe a number 6. 130 innings of sub 4 ERA is about all we can hope for out of him. So far he’s not close.
5-4 against the worst two teams in our Division. Still a winning record, but, 7-3 against these sub .500 is what is to be expected.
“So, after a week do you favor the Rays over Toronto and New York? I don’t.”
LOL! Uh…. Where did I write that? I think your arguments would be more persuasive if you didn’t make things up.
Ooooooh! Ok! I get it. Lemme guess. The political stuff I wrote yesterday triggered you so you’re being passive aggressive again. This is clearly a pattern with you, and you really do need to learn to control your feelings and address disagreements in a more constructive, non-dysfunctional way. If you disagree with something, make a better argument.
“I believe Syndergaard will improve”
Some people would call that faith. … or stubbornness
You said before Spring training that you had high hopes for Syndergaard, that he would be one of the Dodger’s best pitchers. My response was something to the effect, “If you’re relying on Syndergaard to be one of your best pitchers it’s going to be a long season.”
I 100% stand by that prediction. Do you stand by yours?
What prediction are you referring to? I believe I said Syndergaard could be a decent #5, but nobody other than Urias would have over 150 innings. Do I stand by my predictions? Of course. I got the under on 96 wins. I don’t think a Dodger will win ROY. I think the Braves and the Padres will likely have a better overall record.
I think you’re overreacting. You said “I’d like to point out that the Rays are having another year of being a pretty good team”. Another year? If this week represents a year I’m just curious if you think they will win the Division. You failed to answer the question, instead choosing to come after me personally.
As for your political rant, I found it funny.
The Rays haven’t had a losing season since 2017, went to the WS in 20, and they’re currently 8-0 and lead the league in runs, home runs, WAR, wRC+, slugging, and ERA, yet somehow it’s so outlandish to call them a “pretty good team” that it necessitates an argument? Does my saying that bother you? I’m not making the claim that they’re going to be better than the Yankees and Jays at the end of the season and I don’t care. Not even my original point.
Good grief!
Dodgers showed last night what type of team they will be this year. Hitting very suspect other than Freeman and maybe Will Smith other than that everyone else is suspect even Mookie Betts. Defense is not good Max at 3rd and CT3 at SS. Players like Peralta, Heyward and Syndergaard all washed up. GO DODGERS| Dodger fan for 50 years. Telling it like it is.
It’s the grass BH. The new infield grass leads to not moving one’s feet and looking like a bad high school infielder.
Heyward is hitting .308. He is making all the plays. Bellinger is hitting .185. Has one homer, Heyward has 3. Syndergaard has had one bad game and a good one, Little early to make those kinds of statements,
4:10 PM ET
Dodgers (5-4)
Diamondbacks (5-4)
SP Michael Grove R
0-0 6.75 ERA 4IP 4K
SP Ryne Nelson R
0-0 5.40 ERA 5IP 3K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF D. Peralta L
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
2B M. Vargas R
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
In Domed Stadium
Is something wrong with Will Smith?
Barnes should not be catching. Dodgers need Smith’s bat in there.
I don’t care who you sit ,except Freddie,will has to hit every game.We have to have his bat.you dh him and jd plays left or rest.
As I predicted Doug Eddings was poor behind the dish. He randomly missed 14 pitches up, down, in and out. No consistent pattern with 86% accuracy. That’s the 3rd straight horseshit HPU job to go with Marquez, and De Jesus. It’s a terrible crew. We’ll see if Lance Barrett is better today.
I’m forced to watch the Az broadcast until I leave Az. Steve Berthume and Bob Brenly aren’t the worst, but close. Brenly whined on and on about how Eddings missed a strike 3 to Muncy in the 1st, before he singled. He failed to mention that strike 1 was a gift on a ball away.
As I mentioned, you can’t give a pitcher both rivers. He can’t get both sides.
I wasn’t aware that Doc and Prior caught caught up in traffic on the way to the game. Or was it a wedding the went overtime. I didn’t see hide nor hair of either as Thor was left in and gave up 6 in 4 innings. He was BP. The bullpen wasn’t stressed. I would have had the hook out in the 2nd before he gave up 6 runs. Not even a mound visit?
Maybe the Wizard requiring 4 from Thor. I don’t know, but he was horseshit far too long.
But then again, the bullpen may have been no help. Everybody forgot how to pitch last night. On both sides. 28 total hits. Combined there were 9 pitchers used last night. Only one, Kevin Ginkel, failed to give up an earned run.
Is Mookie hurt? Being pinch hit for in the 8th makes me wonder what’s up?
Was just speaking with my brother in law about the technology being used in tennis. It’s so spot on with line calls there is no room for arguing. Baseball has the same technology. At this point the fact they refuse to use it use is just embarrassing. 85%? That’s a B. There isn’t an ump in MLB that grades out with an A. Ridiculous.
The ABS absolutely works Badger. I have seen it in action. As I mentioned before, I watched it in a fall ball game a couple of years ago and didn’t realize it was in use until the 5th inning when I saw the HPU with an ear bud.
There are so many misconceptions for folks who haven’t seen it or don’t understand it’s use.
(By the way, Pat Hoberg grades out very high as an HPU, and he gets an A).
There is still HPU back there. It’s not “a robo ump”. There are no robots.
The HPU has all of his usual duties including all of the new responsibilities with the new rules.
After each pitch, an instant message is sent through the earbud indicating ball or strike. The HPU signals what he hears.
It’s that simply. The only things that the HPU can overrule is a strike called by the ABS that bounced through the strike zone.
It’s calibrated to the batter’s height so Altuve and Judge have a different zone.
We now review so many thinks to get the calls right. Why not balls and strikes? No more bitching about the strike zone like I’m currently doing. No more taunts from the dugout or players bitching in the box.
I’m an old school baseball guy but this is such an win-win deal< i don't get nay-sayers.
I’m old school too and I’m with you on this one.
Old school. Remember when the strike zone ran from the shoulders to the bottom of the knee? That was the strike zone of my youth. The mounds were all considerably higher too. Some higher than others.
Great profile Bear.
I started getting into sports around 1983/84 (I was 7 or 8). I remember vividly the moment I found out Buckner had been a Dodger. When the playoff teams were set, I remember seeing the previews in the LA times. I immediately went threw my meager baseball card collection (mostly 84, 85 and 86 Topps) to find any cards that I had of the players who were in the playoffs. I had no baseball almanac so that was the only way I was able to get historical stats on the players. I found I had about half the players, so I organized them by team and would lay them out before each televised game started.
I remember I had an 84 Topps Buckner. He was a Cub when the card was printed. On the back they had his career stats and I remember seeing that he had played for the Dodgers. So he became the guy I liked on Boston. Strawberry was the guy I like on NY (that swing!). Angels (who I knew because besides Dodger games, Angels were the only other team on local TV and radio) played Boston in in the ALCS. Wally Joyner was all the rage and they had Reggie.
That was the first WS I watched or listened to every pitch (even ones past my bed time). Great memories.
To this day whenever Buckner comes up, I remember that card and the smell of cardboard with a faint hint of bubblegum.
I don’t know what happens to the card. Fortunately, they are still available for about a buck. So it’s one of the cards I don’t feel so bad that I didn’t keep.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175333775834?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=AYS7_afxRcu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZbzTJh-VS4q&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Thanks Jayne. I was at the game when Buckner hurt his ankle. It was a bad day for the Dodgers because in that same game, Tom Paciorek, who replaced Buckner in left, crashed into that low wall in left field and had to leave the game. He missed a couple of games. Also in that game, Mike Marshall, the reliever, hurt his side and missed some time. Buckner certainly faced his error much better than Donnie Moore did. Moore was the pitcher who gave up the homer to Henderson that lost game 6 for the Angels. He later committed suicide. That pitch totally ruined him as a reliever.
Bear. You have a better memory than me. Just glad we shared that season.
Strawberry’s swing. I was thinking about that last year when I was trying to figure out what Bellinger’s problem was. Strawberry used his arms to develop bat speed, but he was so strong he got it up to speed in an instant. He wasn’t late like Bellinger. It was like he was using his bat as a whip, and he did it so effortlessly it was like he was swinging a whiffle ball bat. I used to pretend I was Strawberry when whacking those red berries that would drop from my parents gum tree or whatever that was.
When Strawberry signed with the Dodgers in 1991; I was on cloud 9. He had a great season. Dodgers didn’t. Then Eric Davis signed. It was lighting in a bottle, for a kid my age! To say it was a disappointment, would be an understatement. Two hometown kids playing for the Dodgers! Should have been magic…. I was at the freeway series in Anaheim when Strawberry went AWOL. Vivid memory. Broke my heart.
That said. We got Karros, then Piazza the next year. Which was some consolation. But still. Strawberry and Davis… as Dodgers… without drugs and injuries…. What could have been. With Piazza and all the other guys coming up.
Should have been a dynasty.
What a swing!
https://youtu.be/5Kr8DfIgPeU
On a game note, as garbage as it was, I liked what I saw from Freddie, JD and Vargas. No easy out to be had.
Vargas didn’t have a great game. But his ABs were still solid. He has 11 walks and 5 SOs in 26 plate appearances. Next to Freddie, I think he’s going to be the toughest out in the Dodger lineup. The kind of bat we really needed in the playoffs last year. He doesn’t chase. To get him out you have to throw a strike, and a well placed strike at that. He’s going to make pitchers sweat all year.
It looks like Sunday is the day Doc rests a couple of guys. Smith and Taylor today. Unless Rojas is back as the starting SS from now on. Personally I hope not. Peralta batting 3rd is a surprise.
Update on how Outman is doing. I was going to do both rookies but no. Team ranking:
3rd in BA behind superstar Freeman and also Smith.
3rd in OBP behind walk machine Vargas and superstar Freeman.
2nd in SLG behind Heyward with half the PA as Outman.
1st in OPS.
He’s doing pretty good so far.
I was on the Amtrak from Wash D.C. home to Boston listening to the Sox & Mets in game 7 of ‘86 WS. The bullpen was atrocious all year and, here we are again, like Game 6, handing away another lead. Awful. Gutted. Stuck on a Amtrak prolly drained of booze by the time we got to Boston.
Billy Buck was a stud all season, hugely popula and, then the Mookie bobble. That was hard to watch but, the Red Sox in those days were usually white hot or terrible. Billy was Mr Reliable. Hard to believe what happened.
Living with Bob Stanley & Calvin Schiraldi as your closers was awful. You knew you were always one mistake from a L. Billy’s miss was just one of many that series.
That my family have many Met fans was another bummer. I got tired of defending B Buck. It happened to a fine baller. So be it. By the time Billy returned it was ‘08 and I’m long gone from Boston and hanging with the Dodgers. I always felt the casual fans led the nonsense agst Buckner. Sucks but that’s pro sport.
Can’t remember Peter Gammons getting on Billy. Pierce maybe or Dan Shaughnessy probably. Boston fans were tribal back then. All we wanted to do was beat the Yankees and pray for relief.
Bears demolished Pats in SB that year which pretty much left it to Celtics to beat Lakers and salvage a good overall year – final in 3 sports. Good times.
Billy and his black glove live on. Fun guy to watch.
RIP.
What happened to Buckner after that game was pretty tough, but at least he wasn’t Steve Bartman.
After referring to Bartman as “meat” on air, I’ve never respected nor cared for Tony Kornheiser – or just sports personalities in general.
Unless smith is hurting , why is Barnes in there again so soon? Maybe he hits 3 homers and he sits next 7 games!
Because it’s the 10th game of the season and a day game after a night game. Baseball common sense here.
And just like that the Dodgers are 0 for 3 WRISP and the dbacks take the lead.
Blunderful posted this yesterday, and it got caught in spam:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-early-returns-on-steals-are-overwhelming/
Grove is pitching BP out there.
Stone age coming to DS soon ?!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stone cold Miller time
Does Grove get a plane ticket or a bus ticket?
I always saw Grove as a trade chip and if he keeps this up his trade value will go down if it hasn’t already.
I agree Eric. Sometimes you have to deal away a prospect in time before he ruins his status with outings like today.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please let me
Know when the actual Dodgers play.
Well at least the DBacks are fun to watch
Dodger no so much
Doc obviously has thrown in the towel . In the 4th round, ah, inning.
A typical Doc Sunday.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well at least we’re better than the Rockies. I think!
Reminds me of last time Dodgers played the Padres. One team really really really wanted to win, they other team looked like they really really really didn’t care.
Okay, I am calling it a day. Emberassing display by the Dodgers for the third day in a row.
More and more this looks like I expected this season to go. A slightly above .500 team with some holes on the roster.
Happy Easter everybody!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dodger should buy the same kind of computer the DBacks use.
At least Barnes had the good sense to call it a day. Me too! Happy Easter everyone
At this point it looks like maybe we should have just gone young this season and see who can play. I’m not saying this season is a wash yet as is still very early but if this is how it still looks in June I say let’s use our farm system and see who the boys really are. Young players are way more polished then they were in the past plus they are hungry to win which we don’t look at all right now.
It’s a little early to be pulling the plug on the season or on any given player. I see the same problems that many here see, but this is only Game 10. They have the time to plug holes and solve problems, and some players have gotten off to bad starts.
Here are real and longer-term problems that I see
1 – Max Muncy has never been a good defensive 3B, and now he’s there alone, so his deficiencies will be more apparent. Also, his tendencies to not offer at center cut fastballs early in the count because he’s trying to work the count have come back to bite him. He has K’d 15 times in 32 AB coming into this game. Is he through? OPS .519.
2 – Chris Taylor can at least play defense. At this point he looks like a defense first utility player. OPS .560.
3 – David Peralta was finished last year. He plays old. OPS .465!
4 – Alex Vesia has always worked slowly. I think he could be affected by the pitch clock. No scoreless appearances yet.
5 – Yency Almonte only made 5 Spring Training appearances. The first wasn’t until 3/11 and he didn’t make another for a week. I wonder if he is physically sound.
6 – Brusdar Graterol hasn’t looked good yet either.
7 – Michael Grove is not, at this point, a major league starting pitcher.
On the flip side, Freddie Freeman is in mid-season form, Vargas and Outman have looked good so far, and Will Smith has taken the next step to becoming one of the vital components of the lineup.
They have time to right the ship and some players will get it together as the season progresses. It takes at least 40-50 games to see what the teams is going to be so it’s too soon to panic.
.188/.517/.250/.767 Vargas looks good so far? Below the Mendoza line and no power and average OPS driven by his walks. He’s a walk machine though, I’ll give him that.
Wow after that hit his OPS jumped up and he’s now above the Mendoza line. That’s how it is when it’s early in the season.
Good analysis Rick. Thanks…
I remember when I was a kid and our first family dog, I was about five years old. My pop told me if he pooped in the house to rub his nose in it spank him and put him in the backyard. I also remember my mother telling me no ,that is not right and vehemently overruling my father
Well, somebody needs to tell the Diamondbacks just because we pooped the bed, It’s not right to rub our nose in it.