I'm interested in your take on last nights Yanks vs. Rays game. Not sure if anyone caught the game or not. But here's the deal. Yanks are up one run in extra innings. Mo is on the mound trying to close it out. Carl Crawford is on second base with 1 out. Not sure who was batting, but someone hit a fly ball to right field (medium to deepish depth). Routine play for the outfielder easily 2 outs. Crawford tags and tries to get to third and in the process was gunned down.............. game over. Good play trying to get to third or not? Never make the last out at third base? Yada yada yada.... Personally I don't understand it, but the Rays are sticking by his decision for some reason. I don't see the advantage of it. If he makes it? Great! Now what? Mo has thrown about 12 wild pitches in his life...... scratch that theory. Steal home? Base hit will score him? One of the fastest players in baseball that could walk home on a single. I dunno. How do you defend that decision? I'm by no means arguing about it (big Yanks fan) but that was just stupid baseball IMO. And Madden claims that's how they roll... they're aggressive. Good for you, stupid and aggressive loses in the post season.
I'll explain it like this....... Thoroughbred owners/trainers don't use bridles with bits for a reason. A bit in the mouth of a maverick will break his spirit. Some baserunners have carte blanche permission to run at will. I'm assuming Crawford is such a runner. Publicly, they can't put that bit in his mouth. On paper.....I agree with you 100%. In spirit, I agree with the Rays 100%. I hope this makes sense.
I saw that, too. Most times Crawford makes it into 3rd, but I'm with you. I was always taught not to make the 1st or last out at 3rd.
It takes a perfect throw to gun Crawford out like that, and he made a perfect throw. There are very few plays that it would have been beneficial for him to be on third. Other than a wild pitch, some kind of bobbled ball in the infield he would have been able to score. However, I agree with you. You have to stay put in that situation.
Bingo. The Rays and Yankees are both going to make the playoffs. These two teams are competing to win the toughest division in baseball. Carl Crawford is an amazing athlete, like Jeff said, who probably has the freedom to run at will. He made the same decision I would have made against the Yankees in a pennant race.
If that ball gets away at third.......he scores. 90+ times out of 100, he makes them make that play and is still safe................with a chance.
But you see... most of the world doesn't care. LOL No idea what the guy was thinking. Yup, he's probably thinking about that once every 90 games passed ball or whatever.LOL The dude just screwed up and they're standing by him because he's normally great at this base stealing stuff. Hell, it probably wouldn't have mattered anyway... the next guy would have grounded out or struck out. Lots of Monday morning quarterbacks on deck on this one. It's a game and he played it his way. It just didn't work this time. No harm... no foul... they'll still be in the playoffs.
No... it doesn't make sense ( to me anyway). On paper you stay put unless you can make it standing up, turning around and watching the ball come in from the outfield. And EVEN AT THAT..... why? You don't gain anything! As far as the in spirit? Well, that worked out well for them. Now they know one of the fastest players in baseball can be gunned downed from deep right by a AAA player (when it wouldn't have improved their position in the game barring a once a half century wild pitch by mariano)
You read what you wanted to.......................and omitted the rest. Believe what you want. There's an old saying......"If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand". It's even tougher when you mind's made up. Some comments from a popular baseball blog.....
I think what Jeff is getting at is the fact that you cannot put hesitation into crawfords mind because he makes plays such as this happen too many time to doubt him. He is also a very smart, hard playing guy. He runs at will because he makes it to 3rd 95% of the time. Did you see the rope that kid put right at the feet of crawford. Baby hop for Arod and bam, if anything went any other way he is safe, and possibly scoring. Baseball sense says the player should stay because he is fast enough to score from second on any hit, especially with 2 out ie...running on contact. The Rays stance is maybe he makes it, bad hop/throw and scores as opposed to allowing a guy to hit against the greatest closer of all time. With Rivera on the mound and 2 outs crawford might as well been on mars.
Can't believe I'm going to say it, but Jeff nailed it. I see Crawfords side better than the other. The guy is a rookie. Make him make the play. Odds were very against him that he doesn't make that throw. Actually, odds were that he makes a terrible throw and Crawford jogs in to home. If I'm Crawford I run. I don't see the problem in it.
Sweet.... I have no idea what you just said. As far as Crawford... I still say bonehead play with nothing to gain to justify the risk. Banking on a wild throw? Or wild pitch from Rivera? Seriously? Anyway.. he'll be a yankee next year. They'll teach him how to play baseball
How hard is it to see that without risk there is no reward? If the guy can make it 90% of the time then it makes sense to run for it. I agree with Jeff on this one.
If the truth be known, it's probably better than 90% - he makes it. So many factors at play, here. What was the score of the game? How was "conventional baseball" working for them, that game? What's the next batter's (or, hell....anyone's) success against Mo? It really comes down to Crawford having a long leash. Period. He has that for good reason. Would you chastise your little leaguer for getting thrown out at 3rd to end the game? Yes. Would you correct your HS player for the same thing? Yes. Would you discipline your college player for doing the same thing? Yes. When they get to the level of the major leagues, would you correct him? NO. And, you certainly wouldn't do it............if you've built a team around that type of aggressiveness. That's the way they play. In the long run.....what did it cost them?
I agree with Jeff also, the guy makes it 90% of the time, a call up had to make a perfect throw, and the Rays play that kind of ball. I have no problem with him trying to take 3rd there.
Yeah I agree too (in the right situation). Thrown out in the fourth inning with 0 outs? Fine. If you did make it like you "always" do, at least you can score on a sac fly. The last out in the last inning? With nothing to really gain if you do make it? No! I don't care if you're Carl Lewis. It just doesn't make sense to try. Best possible case is a wild pitch or overthrow on that play? That's what you're essentially running for. A lot more positive options if he stayed at second. AL East maybe? If it happened in game 7 of the World Series would it still be ok?
Ummmm....Yes. Overthrow on that play is the best case scenario. A chance to tie the game without getting a hit against Mo. You got that part right.
