Dan Shulman

I think DeMarlo Hale is doing all kinds of things in the dugout that he doesn't take credit for because he's not that kind of a guy.

But I think DeMarlo Hale's got a lot to do with defending the running game and that sort of thing.

But obviously it's a huge play.

It got it out and it kept Varlin's pitch countdown so that he had only thrown two pitches to come out in the ninth to be a little fresher because he had pitched the day before as well.

So it unquestionably is one of the biggest plays in the game.

Very, on a number of levels.

He's got a very strong arm.

It took a few days because I think there were some growing pains early with Valenzuela, understandably so.

But all I have to do is hear Joe Siddle or Caleb Joseph go, wow, or ooh.

I've always got a catcher sitting beside me.

And Joe's been there for more of the games than Caleb has, so he's done more of the Valenzuela games.

But, you know, Joe talks about it on and off the air a lot, how impressed he is with various aspects of Valenzuela's game.

And the arm strength is one of them.

Heinemann is more of a quick transfer from glove to hand guy.

So he gets rid of it quicker.

But Valenzuela kind of makes up the difference with a stronger arm, slower transfer, but a stronger arm.

At the end of the day, all that matters is how long does it take to get from the catcher's mitt into the second baseman or shortstop's glove.

And they're both doing well.

And you're right.

I think a lot of the stolen bases are on the pitchers.