Sunday, January 28, 2018

#139---LA @ SF, 4/13/2003





This is an example of a bad scoresheet design, with each box broken into a cross to allow for the runner’s progress around the bases to be tracked. My issue with it is that in so doing, it eats up any space in the box to record other details like pitches, and makes it awkward to write outs in which there never is a baserunner--which after all describes about two-thirds of MLB plate appearances. Because of the lack of space to track pitches, I only used this sheet when I had no intention of doing so, as was the case for this Sunday night game between NL West rivals.

On paper this should have been a great pitching matchup, with Jason Schmidt and Kevin Brown, but neither were on top of their game, each allowing four runs and fanning five (in six and five innings, respectively). The bullpens (including a Giant lefty named Troy Brohawn whose name is completely unfamiliar to me) kept things scoreless, including multi-inning outings from each team’s best relievers (Joe Nathan and Fernando Rodriguez for SF, Eric Gagne for LA). In the twelfth, the Giants finally broke through for a two-out rally against Andy Ashby, with Marquis Grissom doubling and Marvin Bernard winning it with a long single to right field.

Of particular interest in any Giant game of this era is Barry Bonds, and though he flew out twice, he did single, draw three walks (one intentional), and swipe one of his six bases for the season.

No comments: