OT: Alex Cora 18 pitch at bat

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Thu May 13, 2004 11:10 pm

This is a tad late but did anyone see the Alex Cora (Dodgers) 18 pitch at bat that was capped off with home run? It was incredible. It was the bottom of the 7th and the Dodgers were leading 2-0. Close game, a real pitchers duel. Matt Clement was pitching for Chicago. One on and no one out, Cora at bat. The count goes to 2-2 on the first four pitches, then Cora fouls off 14 pitches in a row. Clement kept throwing in the strike zone, often giving Cora the exact kind of pitch he likes (down and in breaking ball), but Cora would either hook it foul or it would skim the bottom of the bat and land in the batters box. Until the 18th pitch when Cora blasted it over the right field wall. Cora is by no means a power hitter, that was his second of the year and he never gets over 4 in a season. The moment he hit it he knew it was gone. The crown was going crazy. Anyone else get to see that awesome at bat? Of course it's even cooler if you are a Dodgers fan like me, but still, an awesome at bat by anyone's standards.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu May 13, 2004 11:35 pm

Dusty Baker .complained that he threw the bat.

Is Baker an Idiot or a hypocrite?
He has the biggest showboating clown in Baseball.
The steroid freak does a bat flip,hop and Camera chest thump after every HR.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Thu May 13, 2004 11:56 pm

didn't see it but being a huge Dodger fan I am always stoked when they win.

Wilson Alvarez has been unreal lately.

Cora has always been a solid player.

I love this Dodger team...they remind me of the 88 group...bunch of scrappers.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Fri May 14, 2004 3:12 am

XXXIV wrote:Dusty Baker .complained that he threw the bat.

Is Baker an Idiot or a hypocrite?
He has the biggest showboating clown in Baseball.
The steroid freak does a bat flip,hop and Camera chest thump after every HR.

Are you serious? I can't believe Dusty did that. Anyone who hits a home run after a battle like that has every right to throw the bat and watch the ball sail. It was a HUGE homerun, not just because of the 18 pitches, but because it was such a close game and it really sunk the Cubs' spirits for good. Dusty has coached the two biggest showboaters in the league for what, his entire career? Bonds and Sosa, who in the league is more cocky than those two? Cora rarely hits home runs, let him enjoy the moment.

Granatofan · Post by **Granatofan** » Fri May 14, 2004 3:52 am

Saw almost every pitch. The wife and I were laughing after about pitch 12. I told her, "You know every time I watch Cora bat he either doubles or HR's". I go to take a leak and come back two pitches later and he's still fighting. Then I comment that Clement is throwing them exactly where Cora's power zone is and sure enough he comes up with a HR. Really fun at bat to watch and as a Doger fan I have to say that this is the most relaxed clubhouse I've seen in at least 4 seasons. I'm really enjoying their season so far.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Fri May 14, 2004 4:24 am

Then I comment that Clement is throwing them exactly where Cora's power zone is and sure enough he comes up with a HR

Exactly. I can't say i knew he was gonna get a hit (i get too nervous to be that confident) but i could see he had a darn good chance. He kept hooking the ball foul. He was just pulling it a bit too much. If he just eases up a bit he could get an extra base hit....then he smacks it out. It was awesome. I love this team. I like the character. Adding Lima, even if he doesn't pitch all that well, has helped the atmosphere around the players. My only gripe is that the starting pitching hasn't been all that great. It's getting better, and it's great to see Perez pitching like he did a couple years ago, but Nomo is just not the same anymore. With Nomo pitching poorly it's even more obvious that they lack a true ace. I think that if they want to win in the playoffs they need at least one true go to guy. The kind of pitcher that batters fear all around the league. BUt i'm enjoying it so far.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri May 14, 2004 4:53 am

I'll take Julio Franco's at bat against the Cubbies about a month ago...his hit actually broke a tie.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri May 14, 2004 9:29 am

LAking wrote: Are you serious? I can't believe Dusty did that. Anyone who hits a home run after a battle like that has every right to throw the bat and watch the ball sail. It was a HUGE homerun, not just because of the 18 pitches, but because it was such a close game and it really sunk the Cubs' spirits for good. Dusty has coached the two biggest showboaters in the league for what, his entire career? Bonds and Sosa, who in the league is more cocky than those two? Cora rarely hits home runs, let him enjoy the moment.

Yes I am.
Dust said it was a great at bat but Cora ruined it by flipping his bat...

Dusty is definately on some kind of drug.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri May 14, 2004 2:14 pm

A career .244 hitter with 19 career dongs shoudn't be flipping anything. Dude needs to put his head down and run his ass around the bases. He should consider it a fluke and treat is as such.

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Fri May 14, 2004 4:15 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:A career .244 hitter with 19 career dongs shoudn't be flipping anything. Dude needs to put his head down and run his ass around the bases. He should consider it a fluke and treat is as such.

He treated it exactly as it was, an 18 pitch at bat capped off with a clutch home run. I don't care who did it, they should be allowed to celebrate a little. PLus it wasn't as bad a bat throw as you are making it out to be. He looked more surprised than anything. I think he was just so amazed at what just happened he couldn't help but let his emotions out. Cora is not a jerk by any stretch of the imagination. Trust me, i watched the whole at bat and i've seen Cora play countless times. Baker was just bitter and frustrated. It's not like Baker to say something like that.
EDIT: now that i've watched it a few more time and i can assure you he simply tossed the bat to his right as he kept an eye on the ball and headed to first, then preceded to run around the bases without hesitation. He didn't slow down at all or make any gestures as he was running around the bases.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri May 14, 2004 5:05 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:A career .244 hitter with 19 career dongs shoudn't be flipping anything. Dude needs to put his head down and run his ass around the bases. He should consider it a fluke and treat is as such.

Good point.....problem is...It was Dust who was upset about it...
The same Dusty who has MLBs #1 jag bag doing a flip, hop and camera show after every HR....and a pitcher who does a Dance and a praise the lord after every inning.

He who live in glass house..should shut his face.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Fri May 14, 2004 6:24 pm

XXXIV wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:A career .244 hitter with 19 career dongs shoudn't be flipping anything. Dude needs to put his head down and run his ass around the bases. He should consider it a fluke and treat is as such.
Good point.....problem is...It was Dust who was upset about it...
The same Dusty who has MLBs #1 jag bag doing a flip, hop and camera show after every HR....and a pitcher who does a Dance and a praise the lord after every inning.

He who live in glass house..should shut his face.

The #1 jag bag in Chi town is located south of the Loop...the Big Skirt.

The #1 jag bag in baseball is the man known as Joe Young in ESPN Baseball.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri May 14, 2004 6:27 pm

Brando70 wrote:
XXXIV wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:A career .244 hitter with 19 career dongs shoudn't be flipping anything. Dude needs to put his head down and run his ass around the bases. He should consider it a fluke and treat is as such.
Good point.....problem is...It was Dust who was upset about it...
The same Dusty who has MLBs #1 jag bag doing a flip, hop and camera show after every HR....and a pitcher who does a Dance and a praise the lord after every inning.

He who live in glass house..should shut his face.
The #1 jag bag in Chi town is located south of the Loop...the Big Skirt.

The #1 jag bag in baseball is the man known as Joe Young in ESPN Baseball.

Okay #3 jag bag.......

Your missing the point Dusty.....

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Sat May 15, 2004 4:32 pm

XXXIV wrote:
Brando70 wrote:
XXXIV wrote: Good point.....problem is...It was Dust who was upset about it...
The same Dusty who has MLBs #1 jag bag doing a flip, hop and camera show after every HR....and a pitcher who does a Dance and a praise the lord after every inning.

He who live in glass house..should shut his face.
The #1 jag bag in Chi town is located south of the Loop...the Big Skirt.

The #1 jag bag in baseball is the man known as Joe Young in ESPN Baseball.

Okay #3 jag bag.......

Your missing the point Dusty.....

Well, when they're YOUR jag bags, they don't seem so jag baggy

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat May 15, 2004 4:54 pm

Brando70 wrote: Well, when they're YOUR jag bags, they don't seem so jag baggy

Aint that the truth.....

Remember when we thought Rodman was the biggest jag on the planet?
Then the next day he was just misunderstood?

Fans are funny..arent we?

Galley · Post by **Galley** » Sat May 15, 2004 9:36 pm

That reminds me of a story about Luke Appling, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in 1989 when I was an usher for the Greenville Braves. I found this:

What is the record for hitting the most foul balls in one time at-bat ?

Foul ball records are not kept, but baseball author Bill James once wrote that Roy Thomas, who played in the National League from 1899 to 1911, fouled off 22 pitches in one at-bat.

Hall of Famer Luke Appling reputedly hit 17 fouls while waiting for a pitch he liked. Appling, Chicago White Sox shortstop who won the 1936 AL batting championship with a .388 average, was a master at deliberately fouling off pitches.

Another legend is that Appling once hit 14 foul balls into the stands to get even with a team owner who would not give him two extra gamepasses for friends.