Hershiser Believes Hamels Would be More Dominant with Third Pitch
Early in the Sunday Night Baseball telecast (May 16) featuring Philadelphia and Milwaukee, analyst Orel Hershiser commented on the need for Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels to add a third pitch to his repertoire: “To get back to 2008 form, when he was World Series MVP, I think he needs a third pitch. I think that should be a cutter or a curveball. And when he adds that pitch, I think he has a chance to be a dominant pitcher for a long time to come.” Hershiser later assessed the adjustments some Brewers hitters made to have more success versus Hamels, when the third pitch could have been advantageous for Hamels.
Boone and Garciaparra Reflect on Yankees/Red Sox Rivalry
Analysts Aaron Boone, a former member of the New York Yankees, and Nomar Garciaparra, formerly with the Boston Red Sox, discussed a common bond – they were teammates in the Cape Cod League. Of course, they later became rivals in the Majors and the duo offered perspective on the aura of Yankees/Red Sox on Monday Night Baseball (May 17).
Baseball Tonight Analysts Discuss Signal Stealing
Nomar Garciaparra and Bobby Valentine shared their perspectives on signal stealing – how it is done, if they did it as players, and whether it is acceptable etiquette.
Wheel Play Demonstrated on Baseball Tonight
Analysts Bobby Valentine and Nomar Garciaparra used a real game situation to describe the fundamentals of the wheel play, employed to defend the bunt, and adjustments made by the hitter to counter it.
Aaron Boone, on Adrian Beltre’s Defense
“So much has been made of Beltre’s seven errors…it’s not an astronomical number. If he had five, we wouldn’t even be talking about it. As a third baseman, there is no one I like watching more, or that I respect more from a defensive standpoint than Adrian Beltre. He can range, he can make all the throws, and he does it with a flare that I really appreciate and enjoy watching. I guarantee you, at the end of the year, you’re going to look back and see one of the best third baseman in the league.”
Aaron Boone, on David Ortiz:
“I still think he is a middle of the order – on a winning team – hitter.”
Web Gems Leader Board
Through Sunday, the following teams and players have accumulated the most Web Gem points – given to the most sensational defensive plays on a nightly basis – this season: teams – 1) New York Mets; 2) Cincinnati Reds and 3) Tampa Bay Rays; players – 1) Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado; 2) Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati, and 3) Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis, and Dustin Pedroia, Boston (tie).
ESPN.com Power Rankings
1)Tampa Bay, 2) N.Y. Yankees, 3) Philadelphia, 4) Minnesota, 5) San Diego
Upcoming MLB schedule:
Sunday Night Baseball (May 23)
New York Yankees at New York Mets at 8 p.m. ET
(ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV)
Commentators: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Orel Hershiser
Monday Night Baseball (May 24)
Boston at Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. ET
(ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com)
Commentators: Dan Shulman, Chris Singleton, Aaron Boone
* ESPNEWS will be seen in team markets
Wednesday Night Baseball (May 26)
N.Y. Yankees at Minnesota at 7 p.m.
(ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com)
Commentators: Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe
* ESPNEWS will be seen in team markets
Baseball Tonight
ESPN’s nightly destination for MLB fans seeking highlights, news and information throughout the season, generally Monday through Saturday at 10 p.m. and midnight (9 p.m. PT); Sundays at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on ESPN.
