Off-Topic Forum

Here's a nice scenario for you guys. Tuesday afternoon's game of the Tigers at STL. When I tuned in just before 4pm EDT, it was the top of the 8th with DET down 2-1. STL got both runs from solo HR's by Goldschmidt. Other than Goldy's hits, STL was striking out a lot. DET had a lot of base hits but were popping out trying to lift the ball out of the park. Top of the 9th with 2 outs and Miguel Cabrera bounces a hit off the right field wall for a double. The next batter lines one b/t 1st and 2nd and Miggy scores from second easily to tie the game. The next batter struck out trying to give them a lead. The Cardinals did nothing significant in the bottom of the 9th and the game goes to extra innings. Since the 2nd-base runner in extra innings goes to the last player to get to the plate in the previous inning, that should have been the guy that struck out. However, that guy subbed in the pitcher's spot in the order (pinch-hitter). So the guy that drove in Miggy gets to start the inning on 2nd base. The first batter deep-flies to centerfield, but the baserunner didn't tag-up and therefore didn't move at all. The next batter hits a grounder to third and gets on 1st base while the other guy doesn't get to move again. The next batter hits into a double-play to second and first to end the top of the 10th inning.

The Cardinals start the inning with Edman on 2nd base and Goldschmidt at the plate. DET intentionally walks Goldy immediately. The next batter strikes out. The 3rd batter hits a line drive that is caught and no base runners move. The 4th batter takes a strike as the Cardinals pull off a double steal and Edman gets to 3rd and Goldy to 2nd. DET walks that 4th batter with the next pitch to load the bases since 1st base was open (still not sure why they did that as it was intentional). Tied game - bottom of the 10th inning - bases loaded - 2 outs - and a rookie coming to the plate. The RC hits a line drive between 1st and 2nd to score Edman and win the game.

SO, what would you have done different if you were DET after you tied the game? Also, what would you have done if you were STL before Miggy scored the tying run?

IMO, DET did exactly what they needed to do to tie the game. But the base-runner failed badly in advancing his position in the 10th inning. If he had moved to 3rd on the deep-fly, he would have scored on the hit that produced the double-play but that whole play would have been worked differently by the Cardinals with a runner on 3rd base. Who knows what could have transpired there?! As for the Cardinals, that worked to perfection and I was really surprised to see them do a double-steal in the 10th inning! No batter showed the attempt to bunt and that is why the Cardinals were able to pull off the double steal. The infield was shifted to the left (towards first base) and the steals took 2nd and 3rd base. The throw from the catcher went to 3rd but it was too late. THAT is how you beat the shift too! When DET shifted back to normal fielding positions, the rookie split the difference between 1st and 2nd base to drive in the winning walk-off run.

The rules may change and the mentality may change, but the real game is all about strategy in moments like that as that game showed. I think DET had 11 hits in that game and struck out about the same amount of STL batters, but they only scored 2 runs. STL had 3 hits and 3 runs. But STL won the game on strategy (and a little bit of luck).

I won't try to suggest strategies for those situations. But I'll say that it all sounds exciting. Double play. Double steal. Hit off the wall. Strikeouts and home runs really aren't exciting. So kudos to both teams. 
v3

I watched that game on TV!

Now that was some really good baseball 

I smile imagining the grin on Tris Speaker's face if he came up to bat with one today's defensive shifts in place.

Wow, hadn't seen that.  That was a high price for the White Sox to pay for an aging closer.  Especially considering what they had already paid Liam Hendriks.  I think paying for a bullpen is absolutely bonkers unless you have money to burn (i.e. Dodgers, Yankees).

It WAS exciting for the final two innings. I'm kind of glad I missed the previous innings b/c strikeouts and pop-ups are not exciting. I really did want to see the STL rookie launch a grand slam for the walk-off though. If I had known the game was on earlier, I would have watched the whole thing. I'd have been bored for most of it as the scoring was early and then late. I didn't know the game was on because it was on MLB Network and they usually just say an either/or game. Usually in NC, that means east coast teams.

At least the DET | STL game is what they had in mind with the new extra innings rule. Relatively quick ending with some strategy involved.

The LAD | SD game on Wednesday illustrates what happens when things don't go to plan. Sixteen innings. Five hours, forty-nine minutes. Nineteen pitchers. Thirty-four strikeouts. Zero runs for the first five extra innings. So much for bunt, sac fly, game over. MLB.com called it "epic." I would have chosen a different word.