Walk off reaction: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

by neilback on Jun 14, 2010 2:17 AM EDT

"High fly ball, deep left field... Chris Young just walked em' off!" Watching the replay is nice medication for a rough year so far. Chris Young is reborn, and it couldn't be more deserved. Last year I was complaining that he wasn't sent down to Reno fast enough, and this year I look forward to his at-bats. Just imagine the vindication he must feel after the fans and media crushed him last year repeatedly. I love a good under-dog story about one of our own.

But realistically the celebration after the home-run seemed... well, a little forced. For walk-offs, the last thing I want to see is the manager coming out and hugging a player, acting the most surprised out of everyone. He is the foundation of the team, not lead cheerleader, and should act accordingly. Of course this is in hindsight, and I couldn't help but get a little fired up too, but could you imagine Joe Torre doing that, or Tony LaRussa? Hmmm...

It's easy to kick someone when they're down (see Chris Young above), but when Chad Qualls comes running out of the dug-out with a hug grin after the home run... I wonder where his sense of personal responsibility lies? I'd much rather see a sigh of relief than a gleeful run out to the field. As soon as the "Rage" starts playing in the stadium the collective groans of cognitive d-backs fans is something that can be clearly felt and heard. Being the closer is not an easy job, but the mentality of a closer must match his physical ability. At this point, Qualls does not fit the bill.

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Comments

So

When the team struggles, Hinch isn’t showing enough emotion, but when they win he’s showing too much?

I do agree, though, I think Qualls has to be done as closer. I don’t know who to put out there, but Q is not the man for the job. Let him prove himself as set-up man, but he doesn’t have the confidence to close.

"If it is one minute late, I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love with that kitty cat. And then on some dark cold night I will steal away into your home and punch you in the face."

by kishi on Jun 14, 2010 2:47 AM EDT reply actions

I disagree

It was just a hug, wasn’t like he was at the home plate waiting for him…
About Qualls, the guy is done. Needs to be a setup-man again. I’d give Heilman a shot at CL now…

Did you hear Eric Byrnes is writing a book?
It's going to be a pop-up book.

by Muu on Jun 14, 2010 7:09 AM EDT reply actions

I actually

liked the fact that Qualls was so delighted that the team had won, rather than sulking about his own failure.

'Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?'

by Arizona via Slough on Jun 14, 2010 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

agree

Anyone who attempts to generate random numbers by deterministic means is, of course, living in a state of sin.

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jun 14, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

To paraphrase Decatur and Schurz, "My team, right or wrong!"

by DbacksSkins on Jun 14, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree

The guy knows he messed up.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

by luckycc on Jun 14, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

I don’t think he does. Anything I have ever read or heard from Qualls after a bad outing is “I thought it was a good pitch” or something very similar. He never owns up to it. Last night he offered up that he atleast of Holliday out or something. Well, thats great Chad, but what about the other batters?

My imagination is greater than your nay-say.

by Jargamus Prime on Jun 14, 2010 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

After reading that, it may have sounded a little hostile. Nothing was directed at you, luckycc.

My imagination is greater than your nay-say.

by Jargamus Prime on Jun 14, 2010 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

My friend and I were talking about this on Facebook earlier...

And her comment about Qualls not only summed it up for both of us gals, but also made me laugh too:

“I guess Qualls wanted free tacos too!”

"Be more concerned w/ character than reputation. Character is what you are, reputation is what people think you are." ~ John Wooden

by Rockkstarr12 on Jun 14, 2010 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I agree...

Qualls needs to be done as the closer. But I have reservations about putting Heilman in that spot right now. He’s been the ONLY bright spot in the pen, and to relegate him to closer leaves him unavailable for those times he’s needed in the 7th or 8th inning. Vasquez is almost there to take over those duties, but he’s had his flaws. I think if Vasquez makes it through the All-Star break and can pitch a few more good, clean innings he’ll be ready for that. The one question to ask is if Qualls becomes a set up man, will he just blow the lead in the 8th instead of the 9th? Or will the pressure be taken off of him? Tricky. Ultimately the Diamondbacks need to hold on to Heilman and make him the closer later this season and give him that roll full time next year. He’s worth it…Qualls isn’t.

by Aaron622 on Jun 14, 2010 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

Heilman

is gone after this season.

and to relegate him to closer leaves him unavailable for those times he’s needed in the 7th or 8th inning.

Unless AJ eschews the traditional “closer role” bullshit and decides to use him against the strongest part of the opposing order?

To paraphrase Decatur and Schurz, "My team, right or wrong!"

by DbacksSkins on Jun 14, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

i would love to see that

but apparently no mlb manager has the stones to do so

DBacks fan in Dixieland

by skoormit on Jun 15, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Well,

Elias uses saves to determine Type A/Type B free agents, and agents use them to inflate their clients’ worth, so their hands are kinda tied by the system.

To paraphrase Decatur and Schurz, "My team, right or wrong!"

by DbacksSkins on Jun 15, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions