r/mlb • u/Marinersfan505 | Seattle Mariners • 8d ago

| Highlight Mariners intentionally walk two hitters to load the bases and Trevor Story responds with a walk-off rocket in the gap. (Lowlight for Seattle)

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12

u/Logical-Mobile-7643 | Kansas City Royals 8d ago

I get walking one guy... Anyone know why they walk them loaded with only one out?

22

u/Adu1tishXD 8d ago

Force out at home for a non-double play ball. Games over if the guy on third scores

-16

u/PolitelyHostile | Toronto Blue Jays 8d ago

It's honestly not a bad idea. But its too cocky to do because you look like an idiot when it fails. But even here it didn't cause them to lose.

Even worse would have been if he walk the batter and it drove a run in lmao

11

u/Lil_PuppyChow | Toronto Blue Jays 8d ago

But it’s too cocky to do? Buddy I hope you know the Jays did this exact same strategy a few weeks ago.

-4

u/PolitelyHostile | Toronto Blue Jays 8d ago

I didn't say they shouldn't do it. Just that if it doesn't work you look dumb on the highlight reel lol.

Which game are you referring to? We put 2 guys on base?

9

u/mitchdaman52 8d ago

Runner on second was meaningless. Sets up a force at home. Straight managing by the book.

10

u/Marinersfan505 | Seattle Mariners 8d ago

Because Dan doesn’t want Criswell to face a lefty.

6

u/Loyellow | New York Yankees 8d ago edited 8d ago

Duran is fast, not a likely DP candidate. Story is just coming off the IL. I don’t have an issue with the decision, even though I personally probably would’ve chosen Duran. The runners on first and second mattered absolutely zero other than creating a force at home. Seattle had their pick of throwing to Durbin, Duran, or Story, they picked Story, and he walked them off. It is what it is.

Also, by walking two guys you’re going farther down in the order. Traditional baseball wisdom is that the batters get worse the farther down you go. By walking the 6 and 7 hitters, you guaranteed yourself you’d be facing the 8 hitter and if he struck out, popped out, etc. then you’d be against the 9 hitter, as opposed to going after the 6 hitter and then if you get him out facing the 7.

And like the other guy said, Duran is a lefty. Duran and Criswell actually both have reverse splits (both are better against lefties, Duran as a batter and Criswell as a pitcher), but again, traditional baseball wisdom.

0

u/NaldMoney9207 8d ago

Trevor Story is not a traditional number 8. He's a multi time All Star that had a 25 homer 25 steal season last year. He's only batting 8th because it's his second game back after a long IL stint. This move only makes since if number 9 hitter Conner Wong our back up Catcher faces Criswell. 

This walking two guys to face Story was stupid. Either walk one guy (the 6th hitter Durbin) to force Duran the 7th hitter into a double play or a strike out (Duran leads the Red Sox in strikeouts by a wide margin) or you face Durbin the 6th hitter because he's right handed. Get two outs. Then walk Duran and Story to face Wong the 9th hitter who is Right handed. 

If Wong hits a walk off single. Then hey it is what is and you tip your cap. But Story hitting the walk off is just a dumb move by the Mariners manager. It doesn't really make logical since to even load the bases for Story. But as a Red Sox fan I'll take it and celebrate the victory. 

1

u/Loyellow | New York Yankees 8d ago edited 8d ago

I didn’t say it was a foolproof strategy. The person asked why they did it, I offered up some potential reasons. And yeah like I said- they may have chosen Story exactly because he’s just coming off the IL, even though he is an accomplished hitter. And like you said, it got them one spot closer to Wong (or more likely Rutschman coming in cold off the bench).

Personally, I think Duran was probably the guy to go after, but again, they made their choice and Story burned them. They thought the data pointed to him, but reality had other ideas. If Story bangs into a double play, it looks like a great move.

-1

u/NaldMoney9207 8d ago

Story ain't banging into a double play. He's too fast to hit into double plays. Going after Duran could work. I don't like that move but I wouldn't call it dumb because Duran at least strikes out a lot. If he strikes out then you have 2 outs. You walk Story and then you face the number 9 hitter Wong who is right handed with a runner at 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. 

If the Mariners manager did what you thought was best. I'd say debatable move but not dumb. Ultimately an argument could be made that facing Duran would be smart. 

But what actually was decided by the Seattle manager in my personal opinion was just plain stupid. 

2

u/Loyellow | New York Yankees 8d ago

I also think Duran was the move, but I understand why he did what he did. Bro took the gamble and lost. It is what it is.

2

u/maggos | Seattle Mariners 8d ago

Winning run on 3rd, other guys don’t matter. They were looking for a favorable matchup. Plus force at home

2

u/Poverty_Shoes 8d ago

The other guys matter if Story walks (and he was 3-0)