Ichiro has an amazing arm, but who the HELL was that catcher? At least 75% of those outs came as a result of him blocking the plate and flipping the runner away!
justgary: Oh come on. You're insane. Those throws were spectacular by any measure. It's not even debatable.
Well, they were impressive throws, but I just don't see them as spectacular- certainly not the second throw. The first throw was incredible- dead on strike- but the second was just a typical "good" throw. The only reason it was included in the video was to pad the first throw, because the circumstances (inning-ending throw-out at 3rd) were the same. No decent outfielder should be much more inaccurate than that second throw was, namely a throw requiring the 3rd baseman to leave the bag. Glaus is 6'5"; he makes a big target, and used that height to snare the second throw. Good links, grum- that second link WAS the famous throw from Ichiro, and that's why I rate it more impressive than Ankiel's; the distance was roughly the same, but Ichiro's was more of a laser beam versus Ankiel's accurate but more parabolic throw. They both were dead-on strikes, but something about the flat-line zip of Ichiro's just impresses me more. Oh, and wfrazerjr: way to think like a scout. :) I was noticing that too: that catcher was letting NO ONE touch the plate, which is easily half the awesome in those plays.
Those are the two best throws from the outfield I have ever seen! Maybe that you've ever seen, but not nearly the best. The greatest I ever saw was Ellis Valentine, Montreal Expos, from the foul pole in right field at Olypmic Stadium to the 3rd base bag, on the fly, with the runner out by plenty.
Well, they were impressive throws, but I just don't see them as spectacular- certainly not the second throw. The first throw was incredible- dead on strike- but the second was just a typical "good" throw. Well, you said decent, which basically means average. We'll disagree on the second throw. You wouldn't believe the amount of games I watch on my extra innings package and I'm not seeing these typically good throws. that second link WAS the famous throw from Ichiro Great throw, but I fail to see how it was more impressive than Ankiel's. You had me believing he was throwing from the warning track.
Looking at all 3 again we're just on different wave lengths. Ankiel's second throw (the one you called typical) is the most impressive one by far to me. Ichiro's throw is a bullet, but possible because of the shorter distance.
I guess it's more about who's game you enjoy watching more than who's throw was better or more accurate. I personally think that Ankiel's throw were more impressive considering the fact that Ankiel couldn't get the ball past 60' 6" (pitcher's mound to home plate) when he was a pitcher and now just seems like a natural fit in the outfield. I'm a huge Ichiro fan and consider him to be one of the greatest contact hitters in the sport and also happens to have a sniper rifle for an arm but Ankiel's throw's to 3rd base to end the innings were spectacular.....but that's just my opinion.
one of the pirates at Old three rivers stadium. I want to say it was Joe Randa but I dont think that is right, nailed a guy from the right field corner at third on the fly. When fox sports does it top 50 baseball plays, I see it shown all the time.
Thanks for the post. Always nice to see fielding plays other than diving catches make the highlight reel.
