July 08, 2006
It's Still a Game of Inches
With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning last night, down 3-0, Frank Robinson did not pinch hit for Ramon Ortiz.
For a few tantalizing seconds last night, as the ball hung in the air, hooking down the left field line, it appeared something of a minor miracle had occurred in favor of the Washington Nationals. Ramon Ortiz's double would clear the bases, tie the score and make Manager Frank Robinson look like a genius for not pinch-hitting for the pitcher in the fifth inning.
As a roar grew louder and louder from the RFK Stadium crowd, it seemed physics could not allow this bending ball to go foul. But when it finally landed, the ball left an indentation in the warning track dirt, just a baseball seam or two on the wrong side of the chalk. Foul ball. No miracles on this night for a pitcher batting .100.
Robinson didn't pinch hit because his bullpen was depleted. I can't argue with that move. He still had another shot with the bases loaded and Soriano up (Alfonso lined out to left). I'm surprised, however, they didn't try to squeeze. The likelihood in that situation is the pitcher is going to make an out, so why not try to move the runners with a bunt? If there's one thing a pitcher should be able to do offensively, it's lay down a sacrifice.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:23 AM
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Strategy
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agree.
there really should be a LOT more squeezes