I Had To Turn It Off When

What used to be few and far between has become all too common in the game of baseball today. We do not have the benefit of the information that the manager has, so to question a manager's decision during a game usually must be done with the idea that HE knows more than WE do. Usually we will find out why a manager did what he did after the game, and then -- and only then -- can we pass judgment on said manager's moves. However, the same can not be said for a player who does something crazy or flat-out stupid on the field to which there is NO explanation. To that end, I bring you Friday night's game between the Mets and the Diamondbacks.

With the scored tied at 2 in the eighth inning, Arizona's Gerardo Parra led off the inning with a base hit off Mets reliever, Pedro Feliciano. Exit Feliciano for fellow reliever, Sean Green. Green's second pitch to Justin Upton hit him. So now we have runners on first and second and no one out. Green continues to have trouble as he walks -- on four pitches, mind you -- slugging third baseman Mark Reynolds.

Next up for Arizona is catcher Miguel Montero, who did homer earlier in the game, and, apparently, was "feeling his oats" as he gave us a move that we see all too often in today's "brand" of baseball. The bases were now loaded for Montero, who took ball one from Green. So let's recap, shall we? Green entered the game and:

- hit Upton on his second pitch

- threw four straight balls to Reynolds to load the bases

- threw ball one to Montero

That's a hit batsman followed by 5 straight balls!!!!!!

What would you do if you were in this situation? What would any fairly smart ballplayer do in that same situation? A pitcher in trouble who can't find the strike zone with the bases loaded? Yep, no doubt you would take a strike, wouldn't you? Well, not Mr. Montero. Nope, still feeling the euphoria of his home run earlier in the game, Montero SWINGS at Green's second pitch and chops it to first where the Mets Daniel Murphy starts a 3-2-3 double play. Incredible!

Green, who couldn't find the plate that night with a guide dog, could not take advantage of the break as his VERY NEXT PITCH was a wild pitch. That made Montero's swing even that much more incredible -- and incredibly stupid! The winning run scored from third on the pitch in a 3-2 Diamondbacks victory.

This is how a team gets -- and stays -- 19 or so games out of first.

One of the dumbest moves I've ever seen. No doubt, I'll see it again.