2013 MLB postseason running thread

Great play by Pedroia. But Middlebrooks' legs went down naturally, then came back up for ... what? It was an obvious attempt to block the runner, and Jim Joyce called it correctly.

Nice move, Red Sox, if you can get away with it.
But Joyce knew what was going on. Perfect call, and right away.

 

A more accomplished umpire can correct me, but I believe that if Craig hadn't kept running toward home -- if he got tangled up and thus calculated that he wouldn't make it -- he would not have been awarded the base. As I understand it, you have to make the attempt.

 

Just saw the highlight. Not sure why the runner from third ran on a weakly hit ground ball to begin with. Second, not sure why the runner from second ever moved. Third, why on earth did the catcher not just hang on to the ball after making the tag?

 

It wasn't that weekly hit ... the Boston 2B made a great diving stop, then popped up and threw a strike to nail the runner at home.

If Salty eats it instead of trying for the guy at third, probably extra innings.

 

Chances of throwing the ball away on that are far greater than throwing out a runner. And, of course, no margin for error.

Since you have first base open with no outs and the infield in, I wouldn't be trying to score on that grounder. Take my chances with second and third and one out.

 

Lost in the madness was a helluva throw by Nava from foul territory to get Craig at the plate (which obviously didn't count).

 

Yeah, clearly looked like obstruction, intentional or otherwise. Of course, that never happens if the catcher just holds the ball after tagging the other runner.

 

Not so fast. Passan convinced me otherwise on this one.

The only reason Craig was given the run is because he hustled to the plate and made the play close. The run wasn't automatic, because obstruction is a delayed-dead-ball call. The umpire still has to make the determination that he would have made that next base. If Craig retreats to third base after tripping over Middlebrooks, I guarantee you there would have been no interference called.

In the presser, Joe Torre cited a play from the 2003 ALDS when Miguel Tejada stopped running and was called out at the plate even after interference was called. Dana DeMuth also clarified that even though Joyce had called the obstruction, he still had to determine if Craig was going to score or not. And, he said, because Craig made it a bang-bang play, DeMuth had to give him the run.

 

More second-guessing ...

As Schilling pointed out, if they intentionally walk Jay to load the bases, that brings up Kozma, who's nearly an automatic out. There's a good chance Uehara strikes him out or induces an inning-ending double play.

At worst, next comes the pitcher's spot, and probably back-up catcher Tony Cruz, the only position player the Cardinals had left.

 

I thought there was one out. In either case - but especially with one out - the runner has to go for it and make the fielder make the play to get him. Too many things can happen when the ball starts flying around the infield, like what obviously happened.

You can't be content to play for the two-out hit from the bottom of the order vs. breaking for home on a sharply hit grounder with the infield in and a guy having to make a diving stop.