Matt Kata

by Jeff on Apr 15, 2007 2:46 PM PDT in Regular News Comment 13 comments

The Mariners may not have the best utility man in baseball, but they sure as hell don't have the worst.

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To be fair to Kata

One of those errors should have been on Teixeria.

But a couple of those hits should have been errors on Kata.

by Llewdor on Apr 15, 2007 3:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really

because he bobbled the ball first and made it a hard play on the 1st basemen

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by Scruffy Lefty on Apr 15, 2007 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He can't catch the ball any faster

Generally, if the fielder reaches the ball but doesn't catch it, it's an error on him. Kata would only get a throwing error there if Teixeira couldn't reach the ball, but he could. And you can't give Kata a fielding error because he got the ball to Teixeira in time.

So, while Kata looked awful on the play, giving him the error is inconsistent with traditional scoring.

by Llewdor on Apr 16, 2007 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

Playing First base is all about timing. Most people don't realize how hard it actually is to play the position especially with a guy that normally isn't in the lineup. His 3rd basemens arm angle, movement and everything changes for the 1st baseman.

After the ball is hit Mark starts heading to the base normally with his back to the play. By the time he turns around he starts his stretch but the ball was bobbled and so now he is out of position to recieve anything that isn't directly thrown right to him. So the throw is a little off line the first basemen doesn't have time to react.

So therefor Kata made a routine play one harder the it should of been causing the error

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by Scruffy Lefty on Apr 16, 2007 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, Scruffy?

Teixeira dropped the ball. You can argue that the play was harder for him, but he was still the one who dropped it.

by Graham on Apr 16, 2007 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Kata stilled made the error intially

I don't see how this goes against traditional scoring

If Teixerira is stretched out and then has to change the way he is standing and almost dive for a ball. Then its a bad throw (and yes I just watched the play again)

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by Scruffy Lefty on Apr 17, 2007 6:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs