How many times do we see any outfielder move one way only to double back the other way? Most of us usually think, “Oh, he took a bad route.” But we don’t know where that ball was when the fielder located it.

If you’re talking a few steps in one direction or another, then I wouldn’t call it a “bad route.” The spin on the ball can dictate if it will tail one way or another too. However, I don’t think you are. I would hope he’d be able to locate it off the bat, but I can quite honestly tell you lighting, and background can make this next to impossible at times. I am in constant amazement that these guys can see the ball as well as they do.

I consider a bad route, taking the wrong angle. For example, starting one direction then having to make a turn and head another. It’s like going from point A to point B by way of point C.

I think you’ve got me started on my next post!

A ground ball can change direction, but not the same way a ball in the air (especially in a high wind area like Wrigley Field) can. If you take the wrong angle on a GROUND ball, that’s one thing.

I was speaking primarily with regard to pop flies. That’s where my point about watching televised games was about. How many times do we see any outfielder move one way only to double back the other way? Most of us usually think, “Oh, he took a bad route.” But we don’t know where that ball was when the fielder located it.

When we talk about “bad routes” in the outfield, I have to take some of the air out of it because I think it gets overdone.

As an outfielder right now, it’s not over done. I took a terrble route on goundball up the middle just last week. Had I taken the proper angle, I would have cut it out. I didn’t and it went screaming by me and the Centerfielder had to get it. As my back up.

we never see what movement the ball makes when it’s in the air.

I think this is an excellent point, as TV doesn’t ever really cover this in broadcasts. Balls hit will naturally curve towards the foul line or towards centerfield. Nothing is really trully straight. The harder the ball is hit, the more likely it’s going to “curve” in one direction or another. If that makes sense?

It had little to do with the route he took, thought that was a small part of it.

It had to do with him being slow.

Let’s not forget Edmonds plays a shallow centerfield. He had to cover MORE ground than Pie would have, playing in his typical start point. Edmonds is slower than he was, but he’s still an exceptional defensive outfielder.

I don’t think he had the speed to play a quality CF anymore.

It had little to do with the route he took, thought that was a small part of it.

It had to do with him being slow.

Pie would have gotten back there with plenty of time. That is my point.

Edmonds makes easy catches look hard, and moderate catches look extremely difficult.

He simply isn’t that good defensively anymore.