7/14 Dodgers in Beantown

[Bellhorn04]

The thing here Bell, is that you just needed a run to win the game.

 

Odds say, they walk Betts with Raffie and JD coming and Hernandez at 3rd with one out.

 

I’d rather this situation any day of the week than winning by a walk off. Also, Floro was done... so putting the ball in play with Devers at plate was very very affordable IMO.

 

Bottom line on the bunt: Cora screwed the pooch on it. He could have had JBJ @ 3B with one out and Betts coming up when a long fly ball wins it. I'd give up the out in a heartbeat to put Mookie up needing a fly ball to win it. If they walk Mookie they face Devers. If they walk Devers they look at JDM. It would become a case of "choose your poison".

 

We've also seen plenty of occasions with a runner at third and one out that the sac fly wasn't executed. It's by no means automatic.

[Kimmi]

Bottom line on the bunt: Cora screwed the pooch on it. He could have had JBJ @ 3B with one out and Betts coming up when a long fly ball wins it. I'd give up the out in a heartbeat to put Mookie up needing a fly ball to win it. If they walk Mookie they face Devers. If they walk Devers they look at JDM. It would become a case of "choose your poison".

 

If there ever is a time to employ the sac bunt, this was the time.

 

That said, I don't think Cora screwed the pooch, necessarily. I don't have a problem with taking 3 shots at scoring a runner from 2B and no outs. There's a chance Marco gets a hit. There's also a chance he makes an out, but advances the runner anyway.

 

The real problem is Jackie's base running blunder, not Cora's decision.

[iortiz]

We've also seen plenty of occasions with a runner at third and one out that the sac fly wasn't executed. It's by no means automatic.

 

The way I see it, it's between choosing 1. putting the ball in play in one opportunity and if it doesn't work trying to make a hit in another opportunity or 2. making a hit in three opportunities —not to mention that a wild pitch or a passing ball is latent in the first option considering the high leverage situation.

[Maxbialystock]

Bottom line on the bunt: Cora screwed the pooch on it. He could have had JBJ @ 3B with one out and Betts coming up when a long fly ball wins it. I'd give up the out in a heartbeat to put Mookie up needing a fly ball to win it. If they walk Mookie they face Devers. If they walk Devers they look at JDM. It would become a case of "choose your poison".

 

Meh. We know for a fact that Cora ain't afraid to have Hernandez bunt because he did it in the 9th--to no avail. Your personal preference was/is to bunt again, but I'm fine with Cora saying he wanted 3 shots to drive JBJ home from 2B. And let's not forget that Hernandez could have grounded to the right side which would also have moved JBJ to 3B. As it was, both Mookie and Bogie were pitched to. Mookie flied out harmlessly, and Bogie singled, but off the SS's glove, who quickly retrieved the ball and prevented JBJ from scoring.

[Slasher9]

If there ever is a time to employ the sac bunt, this was the time.

 

That said, I don't think Cora screwed the pooch, necessarily. I don't have a problem with taking 3 shots at scoring a runner from 2B and no outs. There's a chance Marco gets a hit. There's also a chance he makes an out, but advances the runner anyway.

 

The real problem is Jackie's base running blunder, not Cora's decision.

 

I agree with this 100%. But what makes it a WTF moment is that WTF bunted earlier in the game to move the runner up. Either be consistent within a game but don’t be a flip flopper. We hate flip floppers.

[Bellhorn04]

I agree with this 100%. But what makes it a WTF moment is that WTF bunted earlier in the game to move the runner up. Either be consistent within a game but don’t be a flip flopper. We hate flip floppers.

 

No, man. The earlier bunt was to move a runner from first to second. Here the runner was already at second.

 

Your WTF confirmation bias is really getting the better of you.

[illinoisredsox]

Meh. We know for a fact that Cora ain't afraid to have Hernandez bunt because he did it in the 9th--to no avail. Your personal preference was/is to bunt again, but I'm fine with Cora saying he wanted 3 shots to drive JBJ home from 2B. And let's not forget that Hernandez could have grounded to the right side which would also have moved JBJ to 3B. As it was, both Mookie and Bogie were pitched to. Mookie flied out harmlessly, and Bogie singled, but off the SS's glove, who quickly retrieved the ball and prevented JBJ from scoring.

 

JBJ made two base running errors on that play. One was going in the first place but once he did, Bradley should have gotten into a rundown to let Hernandez get to second base, leaving the situation the same as if he had never gone in the first place. They still probably would have pitched to Betts and walked Devers, and maybe Bogies grounder wins it.

[Kimmi]

I agree with this 100%. But what makes it a WTF moment is that WTF bunted earlier in the game to move the runner up. Either be consistent within a game but don’t be a flip flopper. We hate flip floppers.

 

IMO, the WTF moment was in the 9th inning. I would not have bunted then, with a runner on 1st base.

 

Statistically speaking, you have a better chance of scoring 1 run with a runner on first and no outs, then you do with a runner on 2nd and 1 out.