As you can see, Kristen decided to score the fantastic Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS. Not a bad game to pick at all. Before we get into the game itself, let's check out Kristen's scoring style, shall we?
First, take a look at the pitcher's box. You'll notice that those aren't Red Sox pitchers. Those are the Indians pitchers. While it never would have occurred to me to put the opposing pitchers on the Red Sox card, I've seen it before and can definitely see the benefits. For one thing, it makes totaling up the pitcher's stats much easier! I also see that she added a column for HR in the pitcher's box. not a bad addition at all.
Admittedly, I was having trouble reading the card at first. Who scored? Who drove in the runs? Thankfully, I remembered that in this case, there was a way to find out. So...she uses the line method of scoring. One line for a single, two for a double, etc. It's another method. Personally I'm too visual for that one, but it clearly works for her. (Once again, if you haven't come up with a scoring style that works best for you, you're doing it wrong.) I also see that she tracks the balls and strikes. I admire people who can do that. For me, whenever I start, it falls apart quickly. Also, much like Melissa did, I see a small diagonal line that represents a change in inning. God bless people who can use this simple method and not make mistakes. Again, whenever I try, confusion ensues. Overall, this is a great example of a scorecard that does things almost completely differently than I do, but reaches the same goal. When Kristen picks up this card, she (I hope) can recount and remember the game. Which, after all, is the whole point.
Now, for the game itself? I bet you don't need me to tell you much about it. It's all part of Red Sox lore. Lots of runs made up for a lack of pitching...at least until a certain future hall of Famer entered the game. Troy O'Leary of all people made the Indians regret walking Nomar Garciaparra. What a great game.
The hero? Has to be the aforementioned Troy O'Leary. When Nomar homered in the first, the Indians rightly decided that they better walk the batting champ whenever they could. O'Leary twice made them pay be following the intentional walk with a homer. Can't foil a plan any better than than.
The goat? I was tempted to go with Varitek. But with three strikeouts, Mike Stanley gets the horns, despite his lone walk. With O'Leary absolutely going off on the Indians, it's disappointing that the guy batting behind him was so useless.
Of course, none of that mattered. Pedro's pitching saved the day, and the Red Sox advanced to the American League Championship Series.
And the scorecard shows how it happened.
Well now I wish I had totaled everything up at the end! That's one of my worst habits - I always forget to write down the final out and I don't go back to add everything up.
ReplyDeleteMy scoring style is similar to the instructions in Boston Baseball Magazine - or at least what they were in 2000 when I started keeping score, though I've morphed it a bit since then.
A slash in the bottom left corner means they scored. (I usually use blank boxes and let each corner represent a base and then note how they got there. Did it that way out of habit in the first inning, then started using the "3rd base" side of the diamond in the later innings.) I use dots for RBIs.
I have to ask, because I was curious while I was doing this, what are the square and circle in the bottom corners supposed to be for?
And I 100% agree with "if you haven't come up with a scoring style that works best for you, you're doing it wrong"!
I noticed how you had to adjust your style a bit to fit the scorecard. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI use the box in the corner to record the RBI, and the number of them. I use the circle to record the order of the outs in the odd case that they don't go in order down the inning. (For instance, a guy is caught stealing after the batter following him makes an out.)
Oh, that's interesting!
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