Elliott's 9 Innings: Cash, Lott, Pelletier, Roberts, Seager, Snell
That masked man Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays manager, lifts LHP Blake Snell with a 1-0 lead and a man on first in Game 6.
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Another October, another World Series, which after a shortened regular season provided drama, weirdness and second guessing.
Before we go through it inning by inning, country songstress Michelle Wright, who sang ‘O Canada,’ before Game 4 of the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, will return to sing the anthems.
* * *
First inning
He had that look: The Blue Jays were at Tropicana Field in late September of 2011. The Jays were 79-77, 16 games behind the first-place New York Yankees, heading into a weekend series.
Brandon Morrow pitched seven scoreless to beat David Price and the Rays 5-1 in the opener, as Kelly Johnson homered. You don’t remember the Kelly Johnson era? It was one of his 165 starts for the Jays.
Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon each homered off Ricky Romero, while Jose Bautista hit his 43rd home run in a 6-2 Rays win on Saturday night.
And in the finale, Melvin Upton, Evan Longoria and Zobrist all took Brett Cecil deep, while Kelly Shoppach also homered in a 5-2 Tampa Bay win. Dewayne Wise homered for Toronto.
Which game is most memorable to me? Well, it was probably a three-way tie. (I had to look up what happened.) The thing I remember was finishing with John Farrell’s briefing and starting to head to the press box.
“Hey Bobby,” said former Blue Jays catcher Kevin Cash.
We talked for two or three minutes and he asked if Farrell was around. I explained he was at the other end of the dugout doing a TV interview.
“Want me to tell him you’re looking for him?”
“Yes please,” said Cash.
Heading to the other end of the dugout I told Farrell someone wanted to see him. Farrell asked if he knew him.
“Yes, but I’m going to tell you ... he has that ‘I need-a-job look in his eye,’” I told Farrell.
In 2011, Cash played with triple-A Round Rock Express in the Texas Rangers system. Cash had been a back up catcher with the Boston Red Sox in 2007-08 and again in 2010 when Farrell was Boston’s pitching coach. Three months after the Jays’ September visit to the Trop, Cash retired and was hired as the Blue Jays advance scout for the 2012 season.
Every time I see Cash at the park or on TV I think of that.
In 2012, Cash was part of Cleveland Indians’ manager Terry Francona’s staff as their bullpen coach. He was there again in 2013 and 2014 beforer becoming the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015.
And after the 73rd pitch, Blake Snell was hooked.
* * *
Second inning
Cash call: The thing is when people see Cash, who managed his Tampa Bay Rays to an American League pennant, they will remember his trip to the mound to remove lefty Blake Snell -- but the thing is it is not Cash’s call.
Cash is taking most or rather all of the blame for lifting Snell after 5 1/3 scoreless innings. The algorithms, spreadsheets and flow charts which Tampa Bay’s analytics department use show and opponents’ batting average and OPS increase when he faces a lineup the third time around.
The Rays have done it that way since opening day, but how about having feel for the situation ... a little court awareness ... or the eye test?
With one out in the sixth inning of Game 6, Austin Barnes dumped a single into centre to bring up lead-off man Mookie Betts. Corey Seager was on deck and Justin Turner was batting third. The trio had been hitless in their first six combined plate appearances against Snell, with six whiffs.
Preventing a lineup from going through an opponents lineup a third time was not Cash’s idea. It came from upstairs and was made months ago. That’s the way the Rays roll. One had to go back 21 starts to find a game where Snell worked six full innings (counting post-season play).
But Snell, who had thrown only 73 pitches, would not be pitching again until the spring. Did Tom Kelly hook Jack Morris after six innings in Game 7 of 1991. Morris pitched 10 scoreless and probably would have worked 12.
As Kevin Millar said on MLB Network a few years ago when writers were hammering Dave Roberts for taking out Rich Hill after 65 pitches “why make the manager sit up there and answer questions by himself? Someone from analytics who made the call should sit up there and answer.”
Now Cash’s choice of bringing in reliever Nick Anderson was a mistake.
And they brought in their third best for the situation. Fairbanks or Thompson would have been better ... The Rays were looking for their regular season Anderson (one earned run on two hits and one walk in 16 1/3 innings).
Instead they got the October Anderson, who had pitched nine times in 28 days allowing a run in each outing save for Game 2 against the Blue Jays. Anderson allowed nine runs on 16 hits and four walks in 14 2/3 innings.
Pete Fairbanks or Ryan Thompson would have been better options.
* * *
Third inning
And the best Dodger is: Every time I am talking about the World Series with a baseball man I ask “so who is the Dodgers’ best position player?”
Sometimes people answer outfielder Mookie Betts, who impacted the Dodgers chances with his feet, his glove (jumping above the fence to bring back home runs) or his bat. “He’s the classic five-tool guy, people were mocking the Dodgers deal with Boston since there wasn’t any ball in April, May and June. Guys were saying will Betts just walk as a free agent? Well, LA locked him up.”
Sometimes scouts select outfielder Cody Bellinger, the National League MVP winner in 2019. During the post-season his 6-foot-4 frame has gone above the wall to rob a homer. Remember as kids we we’d play in someone’s backyard. The ground rules were “over the fence is out,” mainly because we didn’t have a new pearl to throw into the game.” Bellinger and Betts committed theft.
And some people chose shortstop Corey Seager, the former NL rookie of the year. I’m going with Seager. Especially after talking to one scout “with his size (6-foot-4), his range, his arm and his power, the guy he reminds me the most is ... Cal Ripken. If I was starting a club, Seager would be the one I’d start with.”
* * *
Fourth inning
Ever seen that before? Even in the majors, even in the World Series, the best in the world make mistakes. Like the final play of Game 4.
_ Pinch hitter Brett Phillips, who had not had a hit in a month, took two called strikes from closer Kenley Jansen, then singled to centre on a 1-2 pitch.
_ Centre fielder Chris Taylor (basically a 50-50 player: 206 career starts in the outfield, 198 in the infield) charged the ball at 90 MPH even though he had little chance of throwing out Kevin Kiermaier at the plate. In his hurry, Taylor looked up and the ball kicked off his glove.
_ Taylor then made a weak throw to first baseman Max Muncy, who cut the throw to the plate.
_ Rays’ Randy Arozarena, meanwhile, was barrelling around third at break neck speed. He was going so fast he almost injured his neck, doing a face plant 3/4s of the home.
_ Muncy made a week throw home to catcher Will Smith’s throwing side, not on the glove side.
_ Smith made a sweep tag before catching the ball, which skipped away towards the back stop.
_ There in front of home plate to the left of the plate was Jansen. If he backs up the plate does he prevents the Rays’ winning run from scoring? We’ll never know. But the next guy who tags a guy for an out on the infield grass -- not in a rundown -- will be the first.
It was the wildest ending I’ve seen since Game 3 of the 2013 World Series in St. Louis. Allen Craig scored after he was tripped up at third and an obstruction call was made on Boston’s Will Middlebrooks with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
With one out Craig pinch-hit and lined Koji Uehara’s first pitch into left for a double putting runners on second and third. Boston played the infield in and second baseman Dustin Pedroia made a fine play on Jon Jay’s grounder. Pedroia threw home to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who tagged Molina.
Saltalamacchia then threw wide of third trying to get Craig. The ball glanced off Middlebrooks’ mitt, into foul ground and down the line.
Lying on his stomach, Middlebrooks raised both legs, tripping Craig, slowing him as he headed home. Third base ump Jim Joyce signalled obstruction and while it appeared the ball beat Craig home, plate ump Dana DeMuth called Craig safe. The Cards rushed to the plate to celebrate. The Sox charged to argue.
* * *
Fifth inning
Flashback: When Claude Pelletier, the former Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets scout was asked to pick the all-Quebec team (You can read it here) of players he had seen since 1988, Ntema Ndungidi (Montreal, Que.) was one of the outfielders he chose.
Pelletier (Ste-Lazare, Que.) said Ndungidi arrived in Montreal with his family at the age three from Zaire. He played his minor ball in Montreal moved on to the Academie Baseball Canada. Originally a shortstop when Pelletier first saw him, he was a five-tool player from the first day.
“On our scouting scale (20-to-80) we had him hitting: 60, power: 70, arm: 60, fielding 60; run: plus average,” Pelletier said. “This is the why Ntema, also known as Papi, was a first rounder.”
Dodgers scouts Eddie Bane and Pelletier, who combined to land Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) while pitching for Team Canada on the way to the Olympic Games qualifier in Edmonton in 1995, worked out Ndungidi in the Rosemont area of Montreal. Bob Gillis, an associate scout with the Dodgers threw batting practice and Max St. Pierre (Levis, Que.) caught.
“Max’s sister and I were shagging in the outfield, Eddie was watching and laughing his heart out,” said Pelletier. “Every ball he hit went over the fence and over the street landing on front porches of houses. I said we better get out of here before the cops show and Eddie’s reply was ‘no way I want to see more.”
Pelletier did an in-house visit with Papi his father extolling the virtues how great the Dodgers were. Said Pelletier: “His father said to me ‘if the Dodgers are so good of an organization how come they don’t win more often.’”
Baltimore Orioles scout Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC) and general manager Pat Gillick selected him in the first round (36 overall) in 1997. Ndungidi hit a ball off the rim of Olympic Stadium, an area only Darryl Strawberry had visited before.
The outfielder received a $500,000 US signing bonus. Years later Pelletier was at the Skydome watching the Mets and the Blue Jays. Sitting with other scouts then Gillick was in the group when Ndungidi’s name came up.
“Pat said during his career he dealt with players, agents and lawyers,” Pelletier said, “and one of the toughest negotiations he ever had was with Papi’s father. Coming from Pat you have to believe it.”
* * *
Sixth inning
Further flashback: The Hamilton Cardinals were losing 9-0 with men on first and second, with two out in the ninth on a Friday night. Cardinals’ Dennis Reynolds was leading off first against the Waterloo Tigers at Bernie Arbour Stadium in Hamilton.
Waterloo worked a back-door pick -- the first baseman sneaking in behind Reynolds to take the throw from the catcher -- ending the game. The visitors ran off the field shouting at Reynolds.
“What are you thinking?”
“Your lead was a tad too much, wouldn’t you say.”
The teams left the field through the same exit, the Cardinals turning right to their clubhouse and the Tigers turning left, laughing all the way.”
Reynolds headed into the Waterloo clubhouse saying and pointing at those who mocked him: “I’m pitching at your place Sunday. I’m going to hit you in the head.
“I’m going to hit you in the head.
“I’ll hit you in the head.
“And you too.”
One Cardinal arrived at Bechtel Park in Waterloo to see Reynolds waiting outside the clubhouse. Reynolds asked, “What does suspended indefinitely mean?”
* * *
Seventh inning
October’s TV stars: I don’t watch every single second of Rogers post-season coverage. However, Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) had been impressive and relaxed. I swear Morneau, who works Minnesota Twins games, continually looks younger than the previous post-game show.
Also impressive, as we heard he was before the season was supposed to start in April, is John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.). Axford has a future working Jays telecasts.
And Dan Schulman’s ESPN-radio call on the final play of Game 4 was better than the FOX broadcast.
* * *
Eighth inning
Abstaining: Some writers have declined to vote for the Baseball Writers of America Association awards after a 60-game schedule. The winners would be regarded the same way as those honoured after a 162-game season.
Hall of Famer Tom Seaver pitched six times in September of 1969 and won all six games, pitched nine innings every time and gave up zero runs for the New York Mets that won the pennant.
* * *
Ninth inning
Remembering 1999: Everyone recalls Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) and Andy Stewart (Brockville, Ont.) being heroes of Canada’s upset win over Team USA at the 1999 Pan Am Games at CanWest Global Park in Winnipeg.
Do you remember that USA manager Buddy Bell had current Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts playing centre? Mark Mulder, Milton Bradley, Adam Kennedy, Matt LeCroy, Brad Penny, J.C. Romero, Derek Wallace, and Jon Zuber were also on the American team which lost to Cuba in the final.
Canada went 4-0 in round-robin play beating Cuba,Mexico and Brazil in addition to Team USA. Next was the 12-2 quarter-final win against Guatemala, as Ryan Radmanovich (Calgary, Alta.) homered.
Canada lost 3-2 to Cuba when Omar Linares hit a three-run homer off of Mike Meyers (Tillsonburg, Ont.) in the semi-final.
Stewart hit his fourth homer of the tournament, a 9-2 win with Matt Logan (Brampton, Ont.) driving in two in support of Jason Gooding (Cambridge, Ont.) Gooding pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven for Canada’s first ever medal in the Pan Ams.
Stewart had the biggest weapon: hitting hit .452, leading the tourney in homers (four) and RBIs (15). Top Canuck performers Troy Fortin (Winnipeg, Man. batting .407), Radmanovich (.391), Jeremy Ware (Guelph, Ont. .375), Lee Delfino (Pickering, Ont.) and Clapp each hit .348 and 3B Todd Betts (Scarborough, Ont., .345, nine RBIs).
And on the mound Yan LaChapelle (Montreal, Que. 2-0, 3.27), Meyers (1-1, 2.45) and Gooding (1-0, 2.84).
* * *
10th inning
Streak is over: Not that it’s any big deal, but this is the first year that I have not attended a big-league game since the Expos arrived in 1969. (Think we went 2-for-4 driving from Kingston to Montreal with two games, two rain outs.)
My father took me to Jarry Park May 10, 1969 as the Montreal Expos beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 thanks to a first-inning grand slam by Mack Jones off Jack Fisher. Jones was a left-handed hitter and the left field bleachers were named Jonesville. This game he went deep to right scoring Maury Wills (single), Gary Sutherland (walk) and Rusty Staub (hit by pitch). Fisher faced eight men retiring one.
Montreal didn’t win it until the eighth, scoring three times against Clay Carroll as John Boccabella and Floyd Wicker each singled. An out later Sutherland hit a two-run single. Sutherland moved to third on a Staub single and scored on a wild pitch.
There were two Hall of Famers in Reds’ dugout 1B Tony Perez and C Johnny Bench, who pinch hit in the Saturday afternoon game after playing Friday night. Dan McGinn got the win in relief and Roy Face picked up the save, the 188th of his career. He had three more before retiring.
* * *
11th inning
Farewell Mr. Lott: Farewell to John Lott of The Athletic. In the case of journalism schools, most profs work in newspapers first and then teach. Mr. Lott did it the other way around. He was the hippist cat around when Twitter, emails, social media and other technology entered the world of guys who began banging out stories on Underwood typewriters.
He was a fine diner companion, a man with a wonderful sense of humor, a love of the game and an inquiring mind. Manager John Gibbons used to answer one of Mr. Lott’s “so ... are you saying ...?” with “yes Detective Columbo.” Mike Rutsey used to call him Hamilton Burger from the TV series Perry Mason.
Steve Simmons, Bill Lankhof and Mr. Lott have been overly kind writing nice things about me since 2012.