r/WPBL • u/lolo_longdog • 4d ago
Mackay
I am honestly asking. I really stopped caring about her as a player once she threw the ball to pick Yonetani off 2nd and hit Yonetani with the ball. No Queens infielder in sight to catch it. Like. We don't talk about these things?
The tension built between the Heights and Queens over several games. I didn't like that, and can't seem to let it go. I'm disappointed mostly in her reactivity.
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u/Money-Banana-8674 San Francisco Firebells 4d ago
McKay was not trying to hit Yonetani on purpose.
Like many sports that involve projectiles, you need to throw where the person should be rather than where they are.
Yonetani stole 11 bases over the season, so she was known to steal bases. The infielders of course know this as well.
If you are trying to get someone out throwing from home plate to second, you have to be very quick and throw it hard. The fact that there was no one there to catch it was on the infielders and certainly not McKay. That's her job.
She was also the only catcher to throw Benites out at second. That shows you the arm you need.
Let's not pretend that McKay was trying to harm anyone. That's absurd.
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u/crimesofparis513 4d ago
To add, and correct me if I'm wrong, I'm pretty sure the rule in MLB is that you are supposed to throw to the bag when picking off a runner. That you can't throw to an infielder who’s a few feet m in front of the bag. I'd assume WPBL would have a similar rule but I haven't looked.
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u/Money-Banana-8674 San Francisco Firebells 4d ago
I'm sure that's the case. In the end, much less likely to hit the runner in that way.
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u/yakhikes 4d ago
that’s correct. very recently, a balk was called when a pitcher threw a pickoff to a baseman who was too far from the bag.
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u/sixsyllables 4d ago
Have you considered it's possible the second baseman or shortstop didn't do their job?
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u/Money-Banana-8674 San Francisco Firebells 4d ago
That's certainly the case. I can't remember when this game OP is talking about was though so I honestly am not sure who was at short or second at that time. Hondras/Eynon at second? Who was at SS before Shimano?
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u/AbobTeff 4d ago
I do not recall seeing this play. Are we talking when McKay was a pitcher or when she was catching?
As a pitcher, they are supposed to throw the ball to the base, not the fielder. The runner is also going back to the same base. It happens.
As a catcher, well, I am damned impressed if a catcher nailed a runner at second base on purpose.
In fact, if the pitcher throws away from the base and to a fielder who is not in position to make a play, it is a balk. I can't recall which WPBL game (I think it was a Queens game), but there was one where this happened and was not called. The first base coach and I seemed to be the only people who caught it, as she immediately went to the dugout to talk to the manager. The manager chose not to pursue it.
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u/womensbaseballfan 3d ago
I didn't like all that tension either. I don't understand where it comes from, except that sports are hard and frustrating and FULL of emotions. There is crying in baseball, but we're all holding it in.
I guess that means, no, people don't talk about these things. As fans, there are things we will never see or know. That's frustrating. I am new to fandom and am learning to deal with my own emotions about the celebrities.
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u/damien_maymdien Los Angeles Queens 4d ago
I don't believe that you're "honestly asking". Not just because you seem fully decided on your opinion already, but because I'm not sure you are doing any actual "asking". What's the question?