Triple Facepalm: The Padres and the Triple Play

PADRES' batter Jesus Guzman reacts to a Javy Guerra pitch, which set up the triple play

After only three hours of sleep, my alarm clock radio roused me from my slumber to inform me of an odd and fun-tastic finish to the Dodgers-Padres game on Sunday afternoon. Intrigued by the wacky radio broadcast of the ninth-inning drama by radio great Vin Scully, I activated my computer and logged into MLB.com to see what all the fuss was about.

What stands out for all to see is that Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis and his teammates "play to the whistle", and responded with urgency. What also stands out is this train wreck of a botched sacrifice bunt cost the Padres, who fought to come back from three runs down against the reigning Cy Young award winning pitcher in Clayton Kershaw to level the score at 4-4 before the penultimate ninth inning.

1. Guzman is your clean-up hitter! At the start of the season, much less this game, Padres manager Bud Black installed Guzman in the No.4 spot in the batting lineup, and with good information: According to his statistics from 2011, Guzman's combined on-base and slugging average with runners on the first two bases is .647, and with no outs he stands in at .814. With the Padres languishing at 2-7 this year, the numbers for the latter are significantly lower, but with runners on base Guzman's numbers are still high enough. Given Guzman's role, I would allow him to hit and put the ball in play. Telling Guzman to bunt, would be like taking the wheels off of a Formula 1 race car, and racing without tires (That is for my buddy Victor, whose birthday is today...Hi Victor). Worst case scenario: Guzman hits the ball to the third baseman, who can only set up a double play.
2. Guzman doesn't know how to bunt! If you check out Guzman prepares to bunt the ball, it is no wonder he shies away at the errant breaking ball in the replay. The baseball connected with the bat just below Guzman's chin, which forced Guzman out of the play, and then rolled into the field of play.
3. Guzman, no, the Padres turned off the intensity! With the three-run comeback in the sixth inning, the momentum, and the cream of the batting order putting the team in a position to lead, and possibly win the finale against the hottest team in baseball at that moment (Dodgers were 8-1 before the calamity took place), Bud Black instructed the wrong man to do the wrong job, and it had repercussions on the diamond. Both baserunners Chris Denorfia, who reached on a single, and Chase Headley, of whom Dodgers reliever Javy Guerra walked in the previous at-bat, stop playing to wait for the sacrifice bunt. Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis had a miserable day at the plate (0-2, 3 walks, 3 runners left on base), however his head was still in the game, and he initiated the triple play by "playing to the whistle", and not waiting on the call from home plate umpire Dale Scott. Scott raised his hands after the wacky bunt, but quickly ruled the ball fair when Ellis touched the ball.

Dodgers catcher Ellis (left) pumped about appearing in Phil's blog ^_^ I think?

To be fair, I would like to see home umpire Dale Scott be a little more authoritative, and not send mixed signals with his body language. The "Oh my, it's a grenade!" pose, and the "Dead ball" sign look too much alike. Kudos to the 9-1 Dodgers for winning the game in walk-off fashion with a Dee Brown single to left in the bottom of the ninth inning ^_^ (I like that name....Dee Brown!)

For more on this game, click here to take you to MLB.com's wrap page!