June 10, 2008
Bases Loaded and Small Ball
The Mariners-Blue Jays game ended in interesting fashion on Monday night. In the top of the tenth, the Mariners loaded the bases, with one out, bringing up Miguel Cairo. Cairo executed a perfect suicide squeeze, and the Mariners took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the inning. The Blue Jays then loaded the bases with none out. Rather than playing for the tie and keeping the infielder back for the double play, McLaren pulled the entire infield in:
Lyle Overbay grounded into a double play, first to home to first, followed by a walk and a flyball by David Eckstein. Game over.
So McLaren, if you will, played small ball in each of the bases loaded situation and it payed off for him. The rule is you play for the win on the road, but he greatly increased the chance of a two run single to try to cut down a run at the plate. The strategy worked, the Mariners gain a rare victory, and the Blue Jays move into a three-way tie for last place in the AL East.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:29 AM
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Strategy
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That prior posting made more sense than any roster move the Mariners have made in a long time.