Welcome again to a different installment of 5 issues that caught my consideration in baseball this week. Cease me if you happen to’ve heard this earlier than, however I acquired the thought from the estimable Zach Lowe, who writes a similar column about basketball each week that I completely love. Now that the sugar rush of residence openers and new gamers is beginning to put on off, we’re into the grind of the common season.
However the grind of the common season is superior. There’s a lot occurring, on a regular basis, that there’s at all times one thing value being attentive to. It’s only a matter of preserving your eyes open – and watching an ungodly quantity of baseball, in fact, which is the very best a part of my job.
1. Authorities Catcher Overreach
No person likes to be interfered with once they’re at work. I can’t stand it when it’s noisy outdoors, or when my web is on the fritz. I don’t even prefer it when somebody buzzes into my condo after I’m mid-paragraph. I’m busy right here! Go away me alone. Baseball gamers are product of hardier stuff than I’m, although; they’ve their fair proportion of over-served followers and over-zealous hecklers on their case every single day at work and appear to cope with it simply effective.
That’s all oblique interference, although. Think about the way you’d really feel if the lengthy arm glove of the legislation Matt Thaiss saved you from doing what you needed to. Final Saturday, two Boston hitters had that very expertise. It began with a foul bunt. Raimel Tapia was making an attempt to advance the runner on first with the Pink Sox trailing by a run within the backside of the eighth, however he couldn’t do it. After a foul bunt, he swung away and fouled off one other ball to succeed in 0-2. Then he lofted a fly ball to left that Tyler Wade Taylor Ward flagged down simply shy of the Monster:
However wait! Watch that replay once more, and you may see umpire Cory Blaser gesturing animatedly simply earlier than the digital camera pans to observe the ball. He was calling catcher’s interference; Tapia went to first robotically. The replay confirmed that Thaiss was far sufficient ahead that he caught Tapia’s bat earlier than Tapia made contact:
That put the Angels in sizzling water. After Ryan Tepera struck out Triston Casas, he confronted Reese McGuire. On 1-0, McGuire swung at a juicy changeup, and, properly:
Once more! This one was much more apparent than the primary, significantly in gradual movement:
The Angels didn’t a lot as complain on that one. Each runners who have been interfered with scored, they usually offered the two-run margin of victory for Boston. Hey, generally getting interfered with isn’t so dangerous – simply as long as huge authorities Cory Blaser is there to offer restitution.
2. The Curler Coaster Pink Sox
That sport resulted in a Boston victory, however like a lot concerning the group this yr, it was something however easy. The Pink Sox are 10-10, however that .500 mark doesn’t replicate the way it feels to observe certainly one of their video games. You’re simply as prone to see a spectacular play or a rollicking comeback as you’re a gaffe or decisive loss. Typically you’ll see each in the identical sport! Take a look at this spectacular defensive play by Enrique Hernández:
That’s Superman stuff proper there. Not many shortstops make this throw, and fewer nonetheless make it look so fairly:
Stick round, although, and also you may see him stand flat-footed whereas a grounder skips proper previous him, due to an incredibly poor learn off the bat:
No group has dedicated extra errors that the Pink Sox this yr. They’ve made their fair proportion of spectacular performs, too, although. General, Statcast charges them because the Twentieth-best protection, nearer to the center of the pack than the underside. Their hitters have mimicked these highs and lows. Masataka Yoshida is off to a glacial begin, however Alex Verdugo is mashing. Adam Duvall was on fireplace till he acquired damage. That’s regular this early within the yr, but it surely someway feels exacerbated in Boston.
It’s not simply particular person performances: their video games are stuffed with peaks and valleys, with oddball circumstances round each nook. That catcher’s interference sport was clearly unusual. Their annual Patriot’s Day sport featured copious rain delays, a heroic 6.1 inning aid look by Kutter Crawford, and a livid ninth-inning rally that fell simply brief. That’s simply enterprise as common lately in Boston, the place bizarre is regular.
Victories are slugfests. Defeats is likely to be 1-0 nail-biters or 10-4 blowouts. Certainly, 10-4 was the ultimate depend on Wednesday of their loss towards Minnesota, however regardless of the lopsided rating, the Sox managed to load the bases with nobody out within the ninth inning to make issues fascinating. They got here again the subsequent day and received 11-5 whereas letting the Twins load the bases within the ninth themselves, preserving the alternating cycle of highs and lows going. Even their walk-off celebrations are unusual. Their Tuesday victory needed to be reviewed, which meant a bunch of awkward milling about ready for an umpire to take heed to somebody in one other state:
After which, in fact, an umpire speaking juxtaposed with an on-field social gathering:
Up to now, the twisting path has left the group in final place within the aggressive AL East regardless of a good report. I do know I’ll be tuning in to see if they will flip issues round. If nothing else, their season to this point means that they’ll be an entertaining watch. Simply don’t neglect to pack some Tums.
3. Travis Jankowski, Bunt Bully
After an exuberant opening weekend, the Rangers offense has been up and down. They’ve put up 48 runs in six video games towards the Royals, however have struggled other than these two collection. Corey Seager’s damage actually didn’t assist; each offense appears worse once you take away its greatest hitter. And so they weren’t a deep unit to start with, which is how you find yourself with Travis Jankowski, who signed a minor league contract with Texas this offseason, batting second for a playoff contender.
In the long term, Jankowski is miscast in that spot. He got here into the yr with a profession 77 wRC+ in additional than a thousand plate appearances. His profession line doesn’t appear to be a fluke; he doesn’t hit for sufficient energy or attain base at a excessive sufficient clip to make the entire bundle hum. However when the Rangers have wanted him most, he’s put up the very best stretch of his profession.
In 36 plate appearances, Jankowski is hitting .300/.400/.467. He’s not doing it with residence runs – he hasn’t hit one this yr. He nonetheless has gap-to-gap energy, although, and hey, once you’re sizzling, you’re sizzling. Check out this completely positioned double:
Saying that is all a sizzling streak doesn’t give Jankowski sufficient credit score. He’s making his personal luck, too. Right here’s the primary play of Monday’s Royals-Rangers tilt:
Certain, he’s not Seager, however Jankowski noticed a gap in Hunter Dozier’s errant throw. On the primary pitch, he pounced, in his personal approach:
It may not appear to be a lot, however I like this play. Nobody on the sector was much less concerned with making a tough fielding play than Dozier. It’s doubtless that nobody was extra in their very own head than Dozier. Lastly, c’mon, he’s Travis Jankowski! A sacrifice bunt wasn’t the tip of the world on this scenario, even when Dozier rose to the event.
In the long term, Jankowski isn’t going to ship top-of-lineup manufacturing. So what? For a depth-strapped group just like the Rangers to make a playoff run, they want both good well being or contributions from surprising locations. The primary has predictably eluded them, however Jankowski is dealing with the second half for now.
4. Jeremy Peña Loves Free Bases
Jeremy Peña can completely fly, however he didn’t present it final yr within the majors. Regardless of taking part in all the season, he swiped solely 11 baggage. He was solely caught twice, and he racked up stable baserunning worth total, however steals merely didn’t appear to be a giant a part of what he dropped at the desk.
Because it seems, all he wanted was a sea change within the guidelines, a change that has unleashed a flood of newly-minted base stealers. Peña is a member of that group; give him a strolling lead and hold pitchers from checking in on him too intently, and he’ll take off with the very best of them.
That’s nothing particular in go-go 2023, however I loved Peña’s three stolen bases on Sunday a lot that I needed to write about them. To start out issues off, he vacuumed up a freebie towards Andrew Heaney within the backside of the second inning:
Heaney hadn’t thrown over this whole plate look, and Peña hadn’t even bluffed going. When Heaney glanced over at first after which again to the plate, although, it was all programs go. That was the primary time that Heaney had glanced again at first base after coming set all plate look. When that look didn’t finish in a throw, Peña was off to the races:
That’s all on Heaney if you wish to assign blame, or all right down to Peña’s observational abilities if you happen to’re into handing out credit score. However Peña took issues up a notch within the fourth inning. He reached base after being hit within the toe, which you’d assume would curtail any extracurricular actions. You’d be flawed, although, as a result of Peña got here up operating. Similar glance-and-reset motion by Heaney, similar consequence:
I’m not going to hassle displaying the reverse angle, as a result of it was equivalent to the primary. Heaney acquired taken for a trip, roughly, and Jonah Heim didn’t have a lot of an opportunity. Two stolen bases off of the identical lefty starter, whereas he’s staring you proper within the face? That’s good dwelling. But when two is nice, can I curiosity you in three? Right here’s the subsequent pitch:
Oof. Heim didn’t even try a throw there, which was an excellent choice; all he might have executed was throw the ball into left subject. Heaney most likely wasn’t pondering a lot concerning the runner – third base isn’t significantly necessary when there are already two outs – however that was really easy for Peña that he nearly had no alternative however to take it.
There’s most likely some breakeven level previous which stolen bases will really feel tiresome. Pitchers haven’t provide you with a counter but; we’re holding regular round 1.4 steals per sport this season, with a hit fee over 80%. An excessive amount of of an excellent factor may be dangerous. I’m not there but, although, significantly when it’s enjoyable younger gamers doing the stealing. Pitchers, don’t let your guard down: Jeremy Peña is liable to choose up a learn and steal three bases off of you.
5. Steals Aren’t Computerized
Okay, effective, I simply spent a complete part speaking about how steals really feel automated this yr. Don’t inform the Brewers that, although. Milwaukee has been urgent the difficulty early and infrequently, with seven gamers combining for 15 steals, Tenth-most in baseball. They’ve executed it with a mix of traditional steals and choreographed performs. How’s their success fee? Let’s simply say it’s not 100%. I needed to attain again earlier than this week to seek out the very best proof of it, however I believe it’s value it.
The traditional little league play, a delayed steal of second base with the runner on third bolting residence because the catcher throws down, is a questionable choice in a serious league sport within the first place. That play works quite a bit higher once you strive it towards 11-year-olds as an alternative of massive leaguers, by no means thoughts a serious league infield jam-packed with Gold Glovers and anchored by a catcher with a well-earned fame for controlling the operating sport. The Brewers tried it towards the Cardinals, and it didn’t work such as you draw it up at residence:
Pitchers are handing out steals like sweet this yr. Jordan Hicks isn’t precisely the toughest pitcher to steal on, and he’s additionally liable to throw a wild pitch at any second. If Brian Anderson took off usually, he most likely would have stolen the bottom with no throw. However he wasn’t making an attempt a straight steal. He was making an attempt to bait a defensive miscue, and Willson Contreras wasn’t having any of it.
That play wasn’t significantly near scoring a run. Contreras took his time trying Garrett Mitchell again to 3rd, and the play doesn’t work if Mitchell can’t bolt for residence straight away. In principle, Contreras taking his time there ought to have given Anderson an opportunity to take second simply, however the steal was so delayed that Anderson was nowhere close to second base even after Contreras held the ball for 3 seconds.
Sadly, neither broadcast offered an alternate angle of this play – it was a meaningless out in a 4-0 sport, in any case. That’s a disgrace, as a result of I actually need to know what Anderson was doing on the market. Was he having a snack? Was he sitting cross-legged beginning at Contreras? Maybe he was pondering the good mysteries of life. No matter he was doing, he frolicked between first and second base in no man’s land for an interminable period of time. I’m certain he needed to attract a throw, however in some unspecified time in the future you need to commit to at least one base or the opposite.
There’s quite a bit to love on this GIF, although, even when it doesn’t have the angle I hoped for. Take a look at Tommy Edman sneaking a number of peeks towards third to ensure the runner isn’t going. Between his vigilance and Contreras’s bluff to 3rd, Mitchell had no shot at coming residence. Talking of bluffs, Contreras’s preliminary pump faux to second base doubtless helped to gradual Anderson to a halt, despite the fact that we will’t see it for certain. Even after Paul Goldschmidt utilized the inning-ending tag, he assumed nothing and checked residence in case Anderson was dominated secure. The Cardinals get a whole lot of reward for his or her basic infield protection, and performs like this are a giant purpose why.
None of that’s even my favourite half, although. I can’t cease watching Hicks, crouching and confused out on the mound all through the play. He thinks a throw is coming to second base, so he geese and turns. However wait! No baseball. Did it go to 3rd? He peeks over there too, realizes it should nonetheless be at residence plate, and begins to get out of his crouch – solely to see Contreras rise and fireplace in his path. Again to the crouch!
That’s all of the observations I’ve time for right now, however don’t fret. There’s loads of baseball on, everytime you need it, all season. It’s even getting heat sufficient that you simply may not want a jacket to soak up a sport in individual:
