Thinking unconventionally late in games

I was at the Braves/Diamondbacks game last Friday. The Braves won 4-3 and scored the walk off run in the bottom of the 9th on a Yunel Escobar sac fly. Right before the winning run was scored, AJ Hinch had a chance to make an unconventional managerial move that I think should be standard practice.

The situation:

Tie game (3-3) bottom of the 9th inning.
Braves have the bases loaded and there are no outs.
On third is Jordan Schafer. If you know the Braves you know Schafer is the fastest guy on the team (also you are impressed he was actually on base).

At this point AJ Hinch visited the mound to talk to his pitcher. This was the perfect opportunity to bring in a 5th infielder to cut down the run at the plate. Hinch did nothing, and Yunel Escobar hit a routine fly to center that Schaffer tagged on and won the game.

The ending of the game proves my point for me, there is really very little chance of the batter hitting a fly ball shallow enough that the outfielder can throw him out, but deep enough that the infielder can't make the play. This is really the only reason you have outfielders at this point - for the very rare case of the in-between blooper. By bringing in another infielder you cut down on the number of ground balls that get through in the infield. You already have the infield drawn in, increases the chances a ball get through, to cut down the run at the plate, why not give yourself another glove? Would it have changed this game? No, not at all. But I would argue that it would save many more games than it would cost. You rarely see this from a seasoned manager, let alone a 37 year old under qualified guy who has only been on the job a few weeks, so I understand why Hinch went with convention. But the non-convention may have saved him the game.

If enough managers do this and it starts saving games it will become conventional wisdom. There is a similar evolution occurring in the NBA when teams are up by 3 with little time left on the clock, they foul the other team before they can get a shot off. Its a bit counter intuitive, but its the right move to make, and someday so will bringing in the 5th infielder.

Naming names...

Why do we accept some forms of cheating and not others in baseball?

Stealing signs, doctoring the baseball, selling a catch on a trapped ball in the outfield are all common tactics seen in baseball over the years.

The Giants won the 1951 pennant on the "Shot heard round the world" by Bobby Thompson. In reading several books and articles recently it seems that the Giants almost certainly cheated and stole signs during the season. This wasn't the typical staring at the third base coach and figuring out the indicator (which by the way was common practice on both my high school and college team). They had a telescope in center-field picking up the catcher's signs. The Giants actually had an employee relay the signs and tip off the hitters. Despite this known cheating, I challenge anyone to not get goose bumps when they hear the scratchy radio call of, "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"


Gaylord Perry, a 1991 Hall of Fame Inductee, wrote a book entitled "Me and the Spitter: an autobiographical confession." Throwing a spitball is illegal. It gives the pitcher an unfair advantage. Perry admitted to cheating and no one seems to have any issue. Could you imagine if Mark McGwire wrote a book entitled: "Me and the Roid's: How I juiced my way to 62 and beyond" (by the way, how great of a title is that?). Do you think it may hinder his HOF chances? Considering he only garnered 21.9% of the vote in 2009. This was a man who saved baseball in 1998. And has NEVER been convicted of anything. And has NEVER admitted anything. Do I think Big Mac took some illegal substances? Sure, I am not naive and I wasn't born yesterday. I am willing to be tthat Big Mac, Clemens, Bonds, Sosa, Tejada, Pudge, and the like all took some sort of PED. And I know Pettite, Giambi, Manny, and A-rod did.

You may be asking, Jacob what's your point?

Throwing a spitter is exactly like steroids, it gives on player an unfair advantage over another player. I would argue that throwing the spitter is actually a worse offense because you are physically altering a ball that is in the game. The problem is with the public perception. We understand the spitter, or at least the basic advantages a spitter gives you. It makes the ball move more than a normal ball, it breaks sharper and gives the pitcher an advantage. We have absolutely no idea what steroids do. Bonds, McGwire, Clemens - all of these guys were at the top of their game before steroids. And there are plenty of convicted steroid users that never even made the majors. Our problem is we have no way to quantify the contribution of steroids to a player's career. And baseball is a game obsessed with counting everything. There is also the problem of damage to one's body and providing a good role model for children etc, etc. But for the on field changes, we have no idea what steroids do to a person's baseball ability. And so we have decided to get upset, and black-list everyone who has ever been whispered to be associated with the roids. No HOF for them. This is beyond terrible. This is what McCarthy did to suspected Commies back in the day and we are doing it with ball players today. People are guilty until it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that is no way for America's past time to do business.

Look I have no problem with people getting upset and shunning all cheaters in baseball. But, you have to ban all cheaters. Everyone who throws the spitter, steals a sign, lies about their age, tips pitches to the other team, uses and PED, uses any other illegal drugs, etc., etc. We cannot pick and choose which cheaters to ban and which to embrace. You have to get as upset about Kenny Rogers using some sort of illegal substance in the WS in 2006 as you do about Barry Bonds hitting 73 home runs under questionable circumstances.

There's really nothing like seeing a guy realize he's not done yet

The title of this post is a quote from Sports Nite - and today it applies perfectly to Dontrelle Willis. The Tigers traded for Willis last year and to say he's a disappointment would be a bit of an understatement. He has been a colossal failure on the mound. He walked everyone, he couldn't find his fast ball. All the critics of the trade snickered as his ERA was 9.38 in 8 games for the Tigers last year. He spent most of last season in the minors working on his delivery, his control, and his head. There are not many, if any, former Cy Young award winners who would take a minor league assignment. And even fewer who would take it seriously. This spring was supposed to be the re-birth of the D-train. He was going back to the care-free, fun loving, crazy windup throwing lefty we have all come to love. And then the pressure seemed to get to him. He was placed on the DL for anxiety (which tops Joel Zumaya's guitar hero injury as the strangest DL trips for a Tigers pitcher I can remember). Once again Willis met the challenge with determination and a smile. He has thrown well at several stops in the minors and tonight is taking the ball for the Tigers against the Twins. If he falls apart again, this may be the end of his career. There are only so many opportunities a guy can have. However, if he can regain his form, his control, and his confidence - there's really nothing like seeing a guy realize he's not done yet. Usually it goes the other way. Here's hoping the D-train gets it back on the tracks.

Mr Gallardo, you are all that is man.

Score from Wednesday April 29th.

Final Brewers 1, Pirates 0
WP: Y. Gallardo (3-1) S: C. Villanueva (2)
LP: I. Snell (1-3)
HR: MIL - Y. Gallardo (2)

Yovani Gallardo did all he could to put the "I" in team. His final stats for the night 8.0 IP 2 H 11 Ks. Oh, and he hit a solo homerun when his team won 1-0. Basically the Brewers other 8 players combined to make 16 defensive outs and not much else. I heard this was only the 4th time in the past 100 years when a pitcher struck out over 10, hit a homer, and won 1-0. In the midst of NBA and NHL playoffs this game has gotten a bit lost. Sadly, Yovani is always going to have an * next to his name in the record book - since his opponent was the Pirates.

Enjoy the weekend games!