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Friday, June 10, 2005Titans one win from College World SeriesThe 2004 NCAA Champion Cal State Fullerton Titans won the first game of their Super Regional today against Arizona State, 3-2. This game was a great pitcher's duel (Toronto should be proud of their investment in Rickey Romero as the #6 pick in the draft), with only 7 total hits given up. It was hard to tell because the angle was slightly different, but the home plate umpire appeared to be giving both pitchers a lot of leeway on the outside part of the plate. Anyways, Ronnie Prettyman broke open the scoring in the 2nd with a solo shot to right. In the fourth, Romero hit Jeff Larish and then allowed his first hit of the game...a two run blast by Travis Buck to RF. Romero gave up only two more hits in the game, both doubles, but the Titans could not score again despite some opportunities.
The bottom of the 9th was one of the weirdest ends I have ever seen. Righty Brett Pill smoked a double down the left foul line off of lefty specialist Brett Bordes (he had gotten the last out of the 8th and was in for the next two batters- both lefties- in the 9th). Danny Dorn attempted to sacrifice bunt...moving Pill to 3rd, and making it to 1st himself. This was actually the second consecutive mistake of Buck, the ASU 3B, had made in a row. He was playing in all game, which the announcers claimed was because he is not a normal 3B and was especially worried about the bunt. This hurt him on the double, because he may have been able to get it, or at least stop it, if he was back. And it hurt on the bunt because if he had been playing back he may have been able to receive a throw from the pitcher, who fielded the ball. Anyways, after that, ASU moved their defense around, including moving their first baseman to pitcher (apparently he is their closer...despite a 5.80 ERA). He immediately started throwing to first and threw one hard and wide of the first baseman. The runner on third scored and the runner on first made it to 3rd, still no outs. Then ASU intentionally walked the next batter (which I declared "stupid" unless they also intentionally walked the next batter, which they did). So, it is bases loaded, no out, bottom of the 9th, tie game...wait a second...the 3rd base umpire called a balk after the last intentional ball...Titans score and win the game! The announcers were confused about the call (as were the Sun Devils), and the replays did not really show exactly what was called, but it was either the catcher stepping out of the catcher's box before the pitch was thrown (he did move...was it enough?) or the pitcher touching his nose while still on the mound after the pitch (Donnelly has gotten in trouble for that of last...although in those cases it has been a ball...maybe after a walk it is a balk or college is slightly different?). The announcers then claimed that you can't decide the game on a call like that...but the rules are the rules and if ASU broke the rules (which I am not sure if they did), then they should be called on it. Absolutely crazy way to end the game. I can't honestly see ASU winning tomorrow's game...it must have been absoluetly devastating for them to lose like that. Comments:Yes, very odd ending... It was established that the balk was called because the pitcher didn't come to a complete stop in his windup. First of all, the video cleary shows he did. Second of all, even if he did, this is a case were you have to toss the rule book out. It was ball four of an intentional walk for chrissakes! It wasn't like he pitcher was planning on picking off one of the runners! Anyway, congrats to Fullerton. I'll pulling for them (but not as much as I am for USC.) I am sorry...but you NEVER throw out the rule book. You can be lenient on rules, but you can't throw it out. If it was because of the windup, I agree, terrible call...but if someone in the future did the same thing and actually didn't stop on the windup, you still have to call it. The rules do not change because the situation changes. |
