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Jason Vargas thinks it takes three balls to draw a walk — ha, ha!
Jason Vargas took what could have been an embarrassing moment in Game 4 of the World Series and transformed it into a slightly less embarrassing moment that was pretty darned funny for anyone with a chuckle gene. This is what happens, sometimes, when an American League pitcher tries to bat.
In the top of the third inning Saturday night, Vargas put together two impressive at-bats against the San Francisco Giants, including one that would have been much more impressive if the rules said it takes only three balls to draw a walk. After the Royals scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead, Vargas came within a blink of drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in another run.
Too bad for Vargas that home plate umpire Ted Barrett — and everyone else paying full attention — didn't blink. Vargas took a 2-2 pitch from Jean Machi that missed, and he dropped his bat and started toward first. As soon as Vargas looked up, he realized his accounting mistake, put his arms out like he was under arrest and froze like a criminal from the old "Batman" TV show.
Or perhaps Vargas was creating America's latest dance craze — Vargnam Style.
Vargas thought he'd get the last laugh after the next pitch, a borderline call that went Machi's way for strike three, but looked dubious live. It was the Giants turn to laugh, or at least exhale.
Leading off the inning, Vargas dragged right-hander Ryan Vogelsong along for eight pitches until he flied out to center. He acquitted himself well for someone with zero at-bats over the past two seasons. But he is a .262 career hitter in 66 plate appearances with other teams, including some National League time. So he knows what he's doing out there. Until he doesn't.
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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rdbrown@yahoo-inc.com and follow him on Twitter!
