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Bases Loaded with the winning run at 3rd with 1 out
Squeeze bunt, 1957 World Series
Chris asked: I had the bases loaded with one out and a winning run at 3rd, in the last inning. If it works, you are a genius. If it doesn't, everyone says they would have done it the other way. The life of a baseball coach. I had a similar situation in a State Tournament final. We were down 1, with 2 outs, runners on second and third. Our best and fastest base runner on third, our three hitter at the plate. The batter hit a fly ball to left, on the borderline of being deep enough for the runner to tag and go. Any other runner and I keep him there. The left fielder had pitched a complete game for them the day before, had a decent arm; but wasn't a major velocity guy. I took the chance to send the runner, figuring it would take an absolute strike to get him at the plate. Catch is made, runner gets a great jump, fielder crow hops into his throw and I could see the ball out of his hand was dead on line. One hop, a slide, cloud of dust and he was out. Game over, runner up instead of tied, and maybe State Champs. Just like Vegas, you pay your money and you take your chances. This play was 35 years ago and I still think about it. What if ..... We didn't have the option to squeeze with 2 outs; but I did have the option to keep him at third and take our chances on our number 4 hitter. After he was thrown out at the plate, most everyone said they would have held him. It all makes baseball the great game it is. There is always another game, another situation, another pitch, ground ball, fly ball, stolen base, at bat ... Good luck as you go forward. As long as you are thinking through the situations and making decisions based on the information you have, I believe, over time, you will come out ahead more times than not. Yours in baseball, Rick
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