8th Inning Baserunning Blunder...

[Alex]

For those who watched the game last night, I am now wondering if Hafner purposely didn't go to second on that play at the plate where the ball rolled behind the catcher and was picked up by the pitcher.

Instead of runners on second and third and two outs, we had runners on first and third and two outs.

Vic was up next. IF, Hafner had made it to second, (very easy to do since he was already around first and was watching the play at home) Vic probably gets walked to load the bases.

Is it possible that the Indians first base coach kept Travis at first to FORCE a showdown with Vic, hoping that Vic would respond and perhaps snap out of his doldrums?

If that was the case, then Vic had to know that a base was still open and that he would not be getting the best pitches to swing at, yet Vic swung at the first two pitches and fouled out.

If Hafner goes to second, and Vic is walked, that loads the bases Ben Broussard, who hits very well with the bases loaded.

A lost opportunity, a lost game. Why didn't Hafner take the extra base on the throw home AND the fact that the throw rolled several feet behind the plate after hitting Boone (the runner going home) in the back.

The replay clearly shows Travis rounded first and then looked to see what was happening. A very disappointing sequence of events, and events that don't add up.

[Alex]

One day later and a late inning walk by Victor results in eventual game winning run scoring. That is big time stuff, to accept a walk rather than swing at a bad pitch and make an out. The temptation to try and win the game with one swing of the bat was overruled by playing smartball, and just taking the walk. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]