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#21
10-20-2006, 05:10 PM
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Re: The Catch
[ QUOTE ]
legend, You are out of your mind. Gary Mattews Jr's catch had every element you described Chavez's to have accept now had no vision of the ball/back to the ball and an awkward swipe angle to catch it b/c of the back to the ball meaning less pocket for the ball to actually go in...seriously watch the two again. Chavez goes up, eyes on ball, great big pocket to work with, incredible catch that has happened a million times and will continue to happen over and over again. Matthews goes up, eyes not on the ball, takes a guess swipe and virtually no pocket to work with, and makes a lucky/incredible catch that most likely will never happen again. [/ QUOTE ] Amount of pocket aside, the thing about the Chavez catch that amazed me is that you have to look at where he caught the ball. His arm actually had to bend back with his wrist bending back as well. If he does not bend back that wrist the ball sails over the webbing for a home run. Whether Chavez himself bent his wrist back or the wall did it for him may be debateable, but I think from the replays last night the wrist was bent back before the ball dropped in if I remember right (the video here is a little dark). I think the difference between the Matthews catch and this one is that I think Chavez used more of the park to catch his ball wheras Matthews did not use quite as much space - meaning Rolen's home run actually cleared the wall by more, with Chavez on more of a straight run maybe, while Matthews seems to cling to the wall (maybe?), or spin on it to hang there a split second longer and readjust to the ball. So Chavez' timing is arguably better and really it had to be, while Matthews had the luxury of being able to hang in the air longer, although I stand in awe of Matthews' innovation while in midair. And no, I don't think you can say Chavez "saw" it if you buy this idea that he bent his wrist back in order to catch the ball on the way down (this is just a theory of mine from watching the replay - feel free to discuss). Also degree of difficulty goes way up I think. Try catching a routine ground ball in the 4th inning of Game 2 versus the 6th inning in a tie game in game 7. Luck or no luck, being expected to make the play or not, you still have to catch the ball. 
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#22
10-20-2006, 05:14 PM
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Re: The Catch
I'd also like to point out that Matthew's head clears the wall entirely while Chavez' did not get nearly as high on the wall itself, allowing Matthews to reach back more.
Which stadium has the higher wall?
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#23
10-20-2006, 05:17 PM
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Re: The Catch
I still maintain Edmonds catch 2 years ago in the NLCS game 7 was better than the Chavez catch
of course, I'm a homer
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#24
10-20-2006, 06:09 PM
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Re: The Catch
[ QUOTE ]
I still maintain Edmonds catch 2 years ago in the NLCS game 7 was better than the Chavez catch of course, I'm a homer [/ QUOTE ] As an Astros fan, it is still clear in my mind how close Brad Ausmus was to being a hero. That catch was incredible. Granted, no wall, but still, full speed, full extension, game-changing play. All, Arguing about which catches are the "best" (Rowands, Edmonds', Mays, Matthews, Chavez, is pretty futile. If these catches all had an IQ, they would all be in the Triple 9 Society. They're all fugging incredible. Stop arguing and enjoy them. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
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#25
10-20-2006, 06:21 PM
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Re: The Catch
it's a one-hopper, but isn't THIS (briefly shown at the beginning) the leading choice for the best defensive play ever?
Many say he made the greatest play of all time in his rookie season with the Padres in 1978. After Atlanta's Jeff Burroughs hit a grounder up the middle, Smith dove to his left. But the ball hit a stone in the dirt and took a crazy bounce in the opposite direction. Quickly, Smith reached up with his bare right hand. In one motion, he ripped the ball out of the air, sprang up, and threw Burroughs out at first base. Smith himself called it "the toughest play I've ever had," and in an informal survey of big leaguers, most mentioned this play as the most amazing they have ever seen ozzie smith's wikipedia link - usa today article
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#26
10-20-2006, 06:27 PM
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Re: The Catch
The best part about the catch last night was the on the reply when you could see the look of amazment on his face as he pulled it back in.
Great emotion. My favorite catch ever is the one Kevin Mitchell overran and than stabbed at and caught behind his head bare-handed. Couldn't find a youtube of it.
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#27
10-20-2006, 06:30 PM
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Re: The Catch
[ QUOTE ]
For my money, the best catch I've ever seen [/ QUOTE ] I remember my jaw basically hitting the floor when I saw this the first time. I absolutely thought it was the best defensivive play I would ever see. It still may be, but both the Matthews and Chavez catches got the same level of "Holy [censored]" outta me. Full disclosure - I'm a lifelong Mets fan.
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#29
10-20-2006, 06:35 PM
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Re: The Catch
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] I didn't know Dwight Clark played for the Mets [/ QUOTE ] Amen. Although most of the posters here probably weren't even born when that happened. /Sigh [/ QUOTE ] It wasn't THAT long ago.
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#30
10-20-2006, 09:48 PM
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Re: The Catch
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] I still maintain Edmonds catch 2 years ago in the NLCS game 7 was better than the Chavez catch of course, I'm a homer [/ QUOTE ] As an Astros fan, it is still clear in my mind how close Brad Ausmus was to being a hero. That catch was incredible. Granted, no wall, but still, full speed, full extension, game-changing play. All, Arguing about which catches are the "best" (Rowands, Edmonds', Mays, Matthews, Chavez, is pretty futile. If these catches all had an IQ, they would all be in the Triple 9 Society. They're all fugging incredible. Stop arguing and enjoy them. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] [/ QUOTE ] You realize that just mentioning Triple 9 may make this forum explode?
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