Baseball Chat

[DewDiligence]

Can you please tell our manager that he should have walked Longoria in the 13th with two out and a runner on 3rd. What was he thinking (and I use the term sparingly)?

He should have intentionally walked Longoria, IMO, but not the reason most people probably think. Inasmuch as the winning run was on 3B with 2 outs, Longoria’s power numbers and tendency to hit fly balls were immaterial; in that situation, he was no more dangerous than the players hitting behind him in the lineup.

The reason for walking Longoria in that situation is to set up a force at 2B, which might take away an infield hit on a ball up the middle. This is an unlikely scenario, of course, but there is no reason for the manager not to take advantage of every vig available.