Guarding the Lines...

[Alex]

If you saw last nights game you saw a ball go down the first base line that was catchable by Ben Brossard, if only Ben Broussard was guarding the line.

Broussard was already holding a runner on first so he was already guarding the first base line, but because Ben's not officially guarding the line, Ben began to creep off the line as just as the pitcher threw to home.

The result is Broussard was caught leaning towards second on a potential game ending double play. Instead of a game ending double play it was a hit that put us perilously close to losing the game.

Wedge needs to flexible with his decisions late in games once there are opposing runners on base. It's one thing to say don't guard the line with no runners on base late in a game, but once runners are on base, guarding first base means you get a double play out of any ball hit down the line (step on the bag, throw to second and tag the runner out going to second). Guarding the first base line with a runner on first prevents a double and causes a double play.

Works for me.

In the seventh inning, Blake made a decent play on a ball headed down the third base line. There were runners on first and second, two outs, and not only did Blake actually get to the ball hit down the third base line, his momentum took him right to third base and Blake made the easiest ****ut of his life by just trotting over and stepping on the bag.

Blake wasn't right on the third base line, but he was close enough to spear a hard hit ball. Broussard should have been doing the same.

My point is Wedge is giving the other team extra base hits and extra outs on plays that should go the Indians way, this makes our ineffectual relief pitching look even worse, hard as that is to imagine.

[Alex]

If a ballplayer gets a hit against us late in the game, and it was down the line, perhaps that is a signal to cover the lines better.

If the ball went through the infield anyway, then keeping the fielder away from the line did not help!
This is why the late inning strategy MUST be flexible and adjustable from the 7th inning on.