Players say Fuld’s catch is among greatest

April 10, 2011 (Sunday)

Fuld's diving catch -- click to see video (Associated Press)

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Sam Fuld has made a lot of highlight-reel catches in his career, but the diving nab he made in right field to stop a bases-loaded, two-out rally by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday (4/9/2011) left both teammates and opponents in awe.

Here is video of the catch, and here is what various people told MLB.com about it:

B.J. Upton, Rays centerfielder: “Oh my god, oh my. I thought he was going to dive into the [wall]. But he kind of straightened out. I was hoping he would get there. I mean, full extension, I couldn’t really tell if he caught it or not. I just saw him roll over and throw his glove up. I knew he had a shot at it. I didn’t know how far away he was from it. I was screaming from center field when he caught it. ‘Great catch!’ Should be play of the year so far.”

Wade Davis, Rays pitcher, who was on the mound: “”I’ve never seen a catch that good in person,” Davis said. “That was huge.”

A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox catcher: “He’s made some nice plays against us these three games, but that catch he made off of Juan Pierre is one of the best catches I’ve ever seen. Honestly, he ran like 50 yards to get to that ball. It was an incredible catch and I tip my hat to him for, one, he didn’t kill himself on the fence and, two, he got there and made the play. It was an amazing play.”

Joe Maddon, Rays manager: “His defense has been spectacular — tremendous defense. He’s pretty much a clinician out there. He pretty much does everything right.”

But the most rewarding comment may have come from a White Sox fan who can be seen, in the video, leaning over a splayed-out Fuld and yelling something that, to an amateur lipreader, looks a lot like: “Asshole.”

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