2013 MLB postseason running thread

Right, and it's a tie game and you're playing at home. Good risk to take.

 

1. Seems like that could be a little confusing for both teams, in that they are seeing the umpire signal what looks like a timeout call in the middle of a play. It's almost natural to hesitate and think, "What's going on?" instead of just completing the play at full speed. And you need to complete the play --- especially if you're the runner --- to receive the reward.

2. Seems like once the throw was wild, the dye was cast. There was no way Middlebrooks could not obstruct Craig, no way he could get out of the way (feet in the air or not). That's a little unfortunate. And it also gives the runner the chance to do a little acting. Instead of jumping over the flat defender and heading full speed to the plate, he can make the obstruction look more severe than it was. That's also a little unfortunate.

Determining whether the runner would have scored is incredibly subjective. Everyone runs at a different speed. Craig was hobbled, making his speed even slower. And it wasn't like the obstruction came while he was at full speed. It came as he was getting up and moving forward, going 1 mph, and it takes a few seconds --- obstruction or not --- to gain full speed after you have slid into the base. I don't believe THIS PARTICULAR RUNNER on THIS PARTICULAR PLAY would have beaten the throw with no obstruction. Another runner would have.

 

The ending did do John Farrell a favor and obscure his horrendous managing. How freakin' difficult is the concept of a double switch to comprehend? When he put Workman in the game, he could have taken out Saltalamacchia (the last man who batted) or Nava (batted two spots earlier). He admitted afterward that he screwed it up. But is it really that difficult to understand how that works and when it should apply?

 

Seems like a no-brainer with first base open and less than two outs to walk the next guy to set up the force play. I didn't get that part.

 

I dunno. Back in the day, we were always taught that if you are the lead runner and there was no force play in effect, wait till the ball clears the infield so you don't get caught in a rundown.

 

He's managed his whole career in the AL, where you don't have to pinch-hit for the pitcher. It probably never comes up.

 

Well, yeah, but it's the World Series, and you'd think a guy would brush up on it. It just isn't that difficult to comprehend.

 

Plus, in theory at least, he's got some help from a group of coaches in the dugout, too. If none of them can crack the code of the double-switch, it's a pretty widespread failure.

 

Doesn't matter if it was intentional or not - obstruction is obstruction.

 

I'd say it if I were a Red Sox fan. Easy obstruction call, St. Louis runner goes home, run scores. Hard to swallow, but it's just game 3. Boston has a chance to come back tonight with Lance Lynn on the mound for StL.

 

Ironically, 28 years to the day of a controversial call in Game 6 of the St. Louis-Kansas City World Series.

 

Could you clarify, please, what exactly is ironic about that?