Another frustrating double-play...

[Alex]

runners on first and second, Travis Fryman hits a ball to the shortstop...

This leaves runners on 3rd and first for Johnny Mac.

My complaint is why can't we just get BOTH runners over! Johnny Mac's inning ending double-play could have actually driven in the runner from third and allowed the runner at second to go to third.

The result would have been one run in, a runner on third with two outs.

Because Travis could not move the runners over, Johnny Mac's grounder leads to an inning ending double-play.

[Alex]

Odd Stat of the Day.

We hit into four double-plays, all were after the fourth inning. Two of them came after we started the inning with consecutive singles. Either one or both of those had a botched attempt at a sacrfice.

Runners on 2 & 3 with one out is a very strong position to be in. The opposition almost wants to load the bases to create a force at any base.

Usually, Base loaded favors the offense. We seem to get two runners on, but can't get them over to 2nd & 3rd a good portion of the time.

[Alex]

We just scored 7 runs in an inning. Lets break down a key component to the inning.

First two hitters get hits. We have runners on first and second. Einar hits a sacrifice and both runners advance.

Now, with one out and runners on second and third, the pitcher is in all probability going to either walk the next hitter because they don't want to give them anything good to hit, or try and strike him out. For the most part, they don't want the hitter to put the ball in play.

Omar struck out. But that was OK, because we have taken the double-play out of the situation. So instead of runners on second and third with one out, there are now two outs, but the basic run scoring opportunity is still in effect. We then scored 7 runs with two outs!

If the sac by Einar had not happened, it's quite possible that Omar is given a better pitch to hit, and hits into a double-play, and the inning would have been over.

Whenever a no-out sacrifice takes away the double-play, you go for it!

[The Genius]

You are absolutely correct, sir.
My beefs have been about scrificing a runner from 2nd to 3rd with nobody out early in a game.

[Alex]

I remember that discussion from a couple of months ago.

I qualified my statment by saying if the no out sacrifice removes the chance for a double-play, it should be tried.

A runner on second, no outs, is not likely to be doubled up, so sacrificing them to third would have to be done on a case by case basis.

If you're facing Pedro Martinez and are locked in a pitchers battle, I would probably sac a guy at second over to third (assuming there are no outs at the time)

But in other situations, I would not sac them over to third. It just "Depends".