|
Nothing dirty about this play. Just good old fashioned hard ball.
First, Erstad does everything balls out, whether diving for a ball, coming into home, or eating soup.
Yes, he went at Estrada. But Estrada was receiving the ball, and was turning back to (dropping down low) to make a play on Erstad.
As they said on Baseball Tonight, they all agreed nothing wrong with the play. Kruk said thats what Darren Daulton used to do on the Phillies. Daulton would give the appearance of "giving" one side of the plate to the runner, as he was receiving the ball, and coming down to make a play.
Then would quickly drop down and block that part and not let the runner in.
I could see maybe it being perceived as dirty had Estrada not started turning towards home. But Estrada (when the collision happenned) was turned close enough to the plate that Erstad was ok to take a shot to knock the ball loose. Which he did.
Plus, as mentioned on Baseball Tonight, Better Erstad went up high, than go at his knees.
The only reason Erstad went at Estrada was Erstad could see the ball was going to beat him. Otherwise, Erstad slides in, most likely an out.
As we all know, sometimes in Baseball, minor contact is something. And a "train wreck" is nothing. This was Amtrak meeting a wall.
Hard play? Yes. Dirty? No.
|