The 2025 postseason, post-Red Sox

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

But the bottom line is Hudson had to take the possibility into account.  Difficult play or not (including my hypotheticals), it wasn’t some simple no brainer many make it out to be.

Had Hudson sent him, he scores easily, but Hudson had no idea if Chisholm would go to first and what would happen next.  He certainly didn’t know Chisholm would one-hop the throw or that Rice wouldn’t be able to field it.  And Hudson didn’t have time to consult his Ouija board or Tarot cards or Magic 8-ball or whatever prophesying device of preference he employs.  
 

Maybe if Wong (or similar) was up next, I could understand sending Eaton.   But with Story up, I understand his conservative decision…

There were two outs and zero chance Jazz is going home with the ball, why not be aggressive and send your fastest runner home against Jazz who has a propensity for bad defense? 

[notin]

13 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

There were two outs and zero chance Jazz is going home with the ball, why not be aggressive and send your fastest runner home against Jazz who has a propensity for bad defense? 

Just in case Jazz held the ball and didn’t throw to first.  Eaton only scores if there is an error or defensive miscue on that play, right?  Are you telling me Hudson should have foreseen one?

And again, with Story up, it made sense to be conservative.  If Hudson did send Eaton and Chisholm realized his only play was at home and gunned him down at the plate, would you defend sending Eaton as the right call?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

24 minutes ago, notin said:

Just in case Jazz held the ball and didn’t throw to first.  Eaton only scores if there is an error or defensive miscue on that play, right?  Are you telling me Hudson should have foreseen one?

And again, with Story up, it made sense to be conservative.  If Hudson did send Eaton and Chisholm realized his only play was at home and gunned him down at the plate, would you defend sending Eaton as the right call?

A million times. Late in a tie game on the road. Scoring on contact -- make them throw you out at the plate, trying for a run... instead of  hoping against hope the next batter will come through for the Squander Lobsters.

The bigger question yet to be answered: how did the Sox' fastest baserunner supposedly running on the pitch and scoring on contact with two outs only get as far as third base -- on a ground ball that made it to the edge of centerfield?

[notin]

17 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

A million times. Late in a tie game on the road. Scoring on contact -- make them throw you out at the plate, trying for a run... instead of  hoping against hope the next batter will come through for the Squander Lobsters.

The bigger question yet to be answered: how did the Sox' fastest baserunner supposedly running on the pitch and scoring on contact with two outs only get as far as third base -- on a ground ball that made it to the edge of centerfield?

How far was he supposed to get?  

Even with a lead and moving on contact, it takes Eaton nearly 3 seconds to get to third, since he is starting from standstill.  If he starts when the ball is pitched, that seems about right.  How long does it take to pitch a ball, have it hit, and reach the edge of the infield? This doesn’t take 5 or 6 seconds.  Catchers stand up and throw to second faster than that, and a batted ball can certainly be less timely.

Or are you starting to realize how little time it takes for these plays to unfold?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

46 minutes ago, notin said:

Or are you starting to realize how little time it takes for these plays to unfold?

I'm starting to realize it may have been awhile since you were a baserunner on second with two outs and a full count on the batter.

A good baserunner taking a good lead doesn't start running when the ball is pitched -- but the second a righty pitcher like Cruz begins to lift his front foot. Replays show Eaton didn't take off until Cruz pulled his arm back about to throw, but he's still almost halfway to third when Yoshida makes contact.

On a hard grounder heading towards centerfield, a fast baserunner at full stride is immediately thinking "I'm scoring," never slows down rounding third, and could've been halfway home when Jazz' throw for the force out bounced in the dirt past first base.

But Hudson pointed him back to the bag... from where the third baseman was a mile away (shading in the shortstop hole for the lefty Yoshida). Again, if Jazz decides not to take the easy force-out on slow-poke Masa, and try for a longer throw to nab Eaton at third or home, he still needs to make 1. a perfect throw, and hope a teammate makes 2. a perfect catch, and 3. a perfect tag, and 4. Eaton doesn't slide in or kick the ball loose on the TAG PLAY (huff-puff-huff-puff).

And we always want our third base coaches to be aggressive in that situation, because late in a tie game, the visiting team should always play for the win.

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, notin said:

Just in case Jazz held the ball and didn’t throw to first.  Eaton only scores if there is an error or defensive miscue on that play, right?  Are you telling me Hudson should have foreseen one?

And again, with Story up, it made sense to be conservative.  If Hudson did send Eaton and Chisholm realized his only play was at home and gunned him down at the plate, would you defend sending Eaton as the right call?

"Hey guys, it's the playoffs. When there's two outs, we're just running station to station. No reason to push it." 

[Kimmi]

On 10/10/2025 at 8:58 AM, Yaz Fan Since 67 said:

Agreed.  It's why I love sports, all sports, because you just never know what is going to happen.  But baseball, like hocky, can be so dependent on luck.  A guy could hit a rocket right at the 3rd baseman with the bases loaded, then a blooper wins the game. 

 

 

I am not a hockey fan, mostly because I've just never taken the time to watch much of it, but I've read that it is the second most random sport behind baseball.  Maybe I'll have to take it up as a winter sport.  

In the NBA, the better team wins a playoff series 80% of the time.  In the MLB, series would have to be 75 games long in order to achieve that same percentage.  In the NHL, the series would have to be 61 games long.

[Kimmi]

On 10/11/2025 at 5:17 PM, dgalehouse said:

The Mariners/Tigers marathon was reminiscent of the Sox/Dodgers 18 inning affair in the 2018 World Series. That game is memorable for the valiant effort by Nathan Eovaldi, finally ending with the walk-off home run by Max Muncy. The Sox would have won were it not for an uncharacteristic error by Ian Kinsler. As it is, that was the Dodger's only win in the Series as the Sox won it in five games. Now, the Mariners will play for a chance at their first ever A.L. pennant and first ever trip to the Fall Classic. 

Personally, I miss the 15+ inning marathons.  I wouldn't want to watch one every night, but every now and then, I find them very entertaining.  I would do away with the ghost runner altogether.  I felt bad for the Tigers, but such is the nature of sports.  Only one team can win.

[Kimmi]

On 10/11/2025 at 11:25 PM, Duran Is The Man said:

i'm hoping for Mariners-Brewers WS, with the Mariners winning it all.

I'm hoping for Mariners-Brewers also, but don't really care who wins it past that.  Just get the Dodgers out and I'll be good with any of the remaining teams, even the Blue Jays.

[Hugh2]

I never thought I'd be rooting for the Seattle Mariners.....but here we all are cheering with Harmony. 

 

Get it....eh ehhhhhh?

[mvp 78]

40 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I never thought I'd be rooting for the Seattle Mariners.....but here we all are cheering with Harmony. 

 

Get it....eh ehhhhhh?

Or not. 

[Hugh2]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Or not. 

Oh, rooting for Canadians I see?

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Oh, rooting for Canadians I see?

Either is fine, but I did enjoy Vlad Jr hating on the Yanks. 

[Bellhorn04]

These LCS series shape us as Dullsville.  Feels like a couple of sweeps or 4-1 jobs, and the only excitement will be for those who love 2-1 games. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Dodgers almost made the worst baserunning mistake of the playoffs last night, but still won because teams keep putting Ohtani on intentionally so they can walk Mookie with the bases loaded.

Bases loaded and Muncy blasts one deep to center that deflects off Frelick's glove, then off the wall and back into his hands. Dodgers were running back and forth all over the diamond, tagging up and then getting forced out at home and third base. Muncy didn't even get a hit on a 400-footer off the fence; it went as a fielder's choice.

Maybe some ballplayers don't know that baserunners tagging up on a sacrifice fly can take off as soon as the ball hits the outfielder's glove -- but all professional coaches better know this rule. Most of the time that includes a catch... but not this time.

Teoscar, tagging up on third, could've walked home as soon as the ball ticked off Frelick's glove. Instead he ran a few yards, then went back to tag again when he saw Frelick grab the bounce off the wall. LA fans can only hope the third-base coach didn't tell him to go back...

[moonslav59]

12 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Dodgers almost made the worst baserunning mistake of the playoffs last night, but still won because teams keep putting Ohtani on intentionally so they can walk Mookie with the bases loaded.

Bases loaded and Muncy blasts one deep to center that deflects off Frelick's glove, then off the wall and back into his hands. Dodgers were running back and forth all over the diamond, tagging up and then getting forced out at home and third base. Muncy didn't even get a hit on a 400-footer off the fence; it went as a fielder's choice.

Maybe some ballplayers don't know that baserunners tagging up on a sacrifice fly can take off as soon as the ball hits the outfielder's glove -- but all professional coaches better know this rule. Most of the time that includes a catch... but not this time.

Teoscar, tagging up on third, could've walked home as soon as the ball ticked off Frelick's glove. Instead he ran a few yards, then went back to tag again when he saw Frelick grab the bounce off the wall. LA fans can only hope the third-base coach didn't tell him to go back...

Honestly, that looked like the Sox on the basepaths.

[notin]

22 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I'm starting to realize it may have been awhile since you were a baserunner on second with two outs and a full count on the batter.

A good baserunner taking a good lead doesn't start running when the ball is pitched -- but the second a righty pitcher like Cruz begins to lift his front foot. Replays show Eaton didn't take off until Cruz pulled his arm back about to throw, but he's still almost halfway to third when Yoshida makes contact.

On a hard grounder heading towards centerfield, a fast baserunner at full stride is immediately thinking "I'm scoring," never slows down rounding third, and could've been halfway home when Jazz' throw for the force out bounced in the dirt past first base.

But Hudson pointed him back to the bag... from where the third baseman was a mile away (shading in the shortstop hole for the lefty Yoshida). Again, if Jazz decides not to take the easy force-out on slow-poke Masa, and try for a longer throw to nab Eaton at third or home, he still needs to make 1. a perfect throw, and hope a teammate makes 2. a perfect catch, and 3. a perfect tag, and 4. Eaton doesn't slide in or kick the ball loose on the TAG PLAY (huff-puff-huff-puff).

And we always want our third base coaches to be aggressive in that situation, because late in a tie game, the visiting team should always play for the win.

You do realize about half of this post includes what are likely the very reasons Hudson threw up the stop sign.  I mean you provide evidence Eaton didnt get a good jump.  Why are you saying a runner who got a bad jump should have been sent? Maybe if Eaton got the jump you recommend, he would have been.

Plus the whole “be aggressive” mantra is situational.  You do treat baserunners differently if the hitter coming up is Barry Bonds as opposed to Barry Foote…

[notin]

48 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Dodgers almost made the worst baserunning mistake of the playoffs last night, but still won because teams keep putting Ohtani on intentionally so they can walk Mookie with the bases loaded.

Bases loaded and Muncy blasts one deep to center that deflects off Frelick's glove, then off the wall and back into his hands. Dodgers were running back and forth all over the diamond, tagging up and then getting forced out at home and third base. Muncy didn't even get a hit on a 400-footer off the fence; it went as a fielder's choice.

Maybe some ballplayers don't know that baserunners tagging up on a sacrifice fly can take off as soon as the ball hits the outfielder's glove -- but all professional coaches better know this rule. Most of the time that includes a catch... but not this time.

Teoscar, tagging up on third, could've walked home as soon as the ball ticked off Frelick's glove. Instead he ran a few yards, then went back to tag again when he saw Frelick grab the bounce off the wall. LA fans can only hope the third-base coach didn't tell him to go back...

I felt bad for Brice Turang.  You know he was thinking “why did I jump out of the way of that pitch?” while he struck out on the next one…

[notin]

16 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I'm hoping for Mariners-Brewers also, but don't really care who wins it past that.  Just get the Dodgers out and I'll be good with any of the remaining teams, even the Blue Jays.

I’m on board with this - just get the Dodgers out.  Jays? M’s? Brew Crew? Fight amongst yourselves for the crown…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

1 minute ago, notin said:

I mean you provide evidence Eaton didnt get a good jump.  Why are you saying a runner who got a bad jump should have been sent? Maybe if Eaton got the jump you recommend, he would have been.

This is what I've been complaining about from the beginning: the fastest baserunner -- IF he was running the fastest -- should've been halfway home. 

I wrote this yesterday: The bigger question yet to be answered: how did the Sox' fastest baserunner supposedly running on the pitch and scoring on contact with two outs only get as far as third base -- on a ground ball that made it to the edge of centerfield?

To me, it never looked like Eaton was ever sprinting full stride...but that doesn't excuse Hudson from not doing his job, either, and windmilling him in that situation.

This wasn't El Guapo running. The Red Sox blew it.

 

[notin]

4 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

This is what I've been complaining about from the beginning: the fastest baserunner -- IF he was running the fastest -- should've been halfway home. 

I wrote this yesterday: The bigger question yet to be answered: how did the Sox' fastest baserunner supposedly running on the pitch and scoring on contact with two outs only get as far as third base -- on a ground ball that made it to the edge of centerfield?

To me, it never looked like Eaton was ever sprinting full stride...but that doesn't excuse Hudson from not doing his job, either, and windmilling him in that situation.

This wasn't El Guapo running. The Red Sox blew it.

 

If Eaton is not running full tilt, Hudson DEFINITELY should have held him up.  I mean, Eaton was still a full 90 feet from home plate while Chisholm was on his feet.  At that point, too much can go wrong.  I get holding him.  It’s not like Hudson knew Rice was going to misplay the bouncy throw.  

For all the complaints about the late Wendall “Windmill” Kim, one would think at least you miss him…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

28 minutes ago, notin said:

If Eaton is not running full tilt, Hudson DEFINITELY should have held him up.  I mean, Eaton was still a full 90 feet from home plate while Chisholm was on his feet.  At that point, too much can go wrong.  I get holding him.  It’s not like Hudson knew Rice was going to misplay the bouncy throw.  

For all the complaints about the late Wendall “Windmill” Kim, one would think at least you miss him…

I'm sending Eaton if he's tippy-toeing because 99 out of 100 second basemen with half a brain are throwing to 1B for the freaking force-out to end the inning. 

And it's not unreasonable to think that Ben Rice - a crappy catcher who can't throw out base stealers - grabs the bouncing ball, panics and throws it so far away that even Duran scores behind Eaton...

... then the Sox go to Cleveland and win there, before getting body-shamed by the mighty M's.

[notin]

15 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

I'm sending Eaton if he's tippy-toeing because 99 out of 100 second basemen with half a brain are throwing to 1B for the freaking force-out to end the inning. 

And it's not unreasonable to think that Ben Rice - a crappy catcher who can't throw out base stealers - grabs the bouncing ball, panics and throws it so far away that even Duran scores behind Eaton...

... then the Sox go to Cleveland and win there, before getting body-shamed by the mighty M's.

And it’s fine that you would send him.  It clearly would have worked.

But my point is Hudson had plenty of reasons to hold him, and it did make sense for him to do so.  Unlike a lot of brain dead pundits (media in its many firms, not you), I didn’t judge Hudson on what transpired and go too deep into the replays and say things lie “look how far away McMahon is!  Eaton could have run 10 more feet down the line easy.”  Hudson had a split second to decide on sending a runner on a ball that , STAYED IN THE INFIELD after a diving play.  He had NO WAY of knowing if any play was going to happen.  He played it safe.  That’s not wrong.  And for every “you always …” you throw out there, we both have probably seen dozens of examples where teams got burned doing exactly that, and those same brain dead pundits called them out…

[Kimmi]

5 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

These LCS series shape us as Dullsville.  Feels like a couple of sweeps or 4-1 jobs, and the only excitement will be for those who love 2-1 games. 

I very much enjoyed the Brewers/Dodgers game, despite the Dodgers winning.  

[Bellhorn04]

18 hours ago, Kimmi said:

I very much enjoyed the Brewers/Dodgers game, despite the Dodgers winning.  

You are a passionate baseball fan, Kimmi.  I used to be but now I'm much more of an impartial onlooker.  I still love every Red Sox win and every Red Sox loss, and the 4 titles are balm for my soul.

But the game itself has become a little boring to me.  Pitching is just so dominant that a lot of games are over early.

I'm not thrilled about the Dodgers rolling like this, either.  Not as bad as if it was the Yankees, but it's starting to get pretty annoying.  I think they're going to win another one this year.  I'll try to jinx them, that's about all I can do. 😉

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

You are a passionate baseball fan, Kimmi.  I used to be but now I'm much more of an impartial onlooker.  I still love every Red Sox win and every Red Sox loss, and the 4 titles are balm for my soul.

But the game itself has become a little boring to me.  Pitching is just so dominant that a lot of games are over early.

I'm not thrilled about the Dodgers rolling like this, either.  Not as bad as if it was the Yankees, but it's starting to get pretty annoying.  I think they're going to win another one this year.  I'll try to jinx them, that's about all I can do. 😉

Been a Dodger fan since the early 60’s watching Sandy Koufax, so love watching them in the postseason. Ring #4 for Mookie would be great.

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, Bellhorn04 said:

You are a passionate baseball fan, Kimmi.  I used to be but now I'm much more of an impartial onlooker.  I still love every Red Sox win and every Red Sox loss, and the 4 titles are balm for my soul.

But the game itself has become a little boring to me.  Pitching is just so dominant that a lot of games are over early.

I'm not thrilled about the Dodgers rolling like this, either.  Not as bad as if it was the Yankees, but it's starting to get pretty annoying.  I think they're going to win another one this year.  I'll try to jinx them, that's about all I can do. 😉

MLB is better when there's an evil empire though. Maybe the Dodgers need to win a few for the good of the game? 

[Bellhorn04]

1 hour ago, Old Red said:

Been a Dodger fan since the early 60’s watching Sandy Koufax, so love watching them in the postseason. Ring #4 for Mookie would be great.

I was born in 1956.  I was a bandwagon Dodgers fan in 1965-1966 when Koufax and Drysdale were in their glory.  Shifted to the Sox around 1969. 

[Bellhorn04]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

MLB is better when there's an evil empire though. Maybe the Dodgers need to win a few for the good of the game? 

It's OK to have an evil empire if they're vulnerable...the Dodgers may not be that for a while.

[Old Red]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

I was born in 1956.  I was a bandwagon Dodgers fan in 1965-1966 when Koufax and Drysdale were in their glory.  Shifted to the Sox around 1969. 

I liked Koufax, and the Dodgers went against the Yankees in the 1963 WS, so I started liking the Dodgers then. I liked Gibson too except for 1967.