Baseball is a funny and complex game. Strategy and instinct are two aspects of the sport that seem to come into play more than any other sport. As I watched Game 5 of the National League Division Series, I saw two plays that reminded me of an integral judgment made in the 1986 World Series between the Mets and Red Sox – a decision that may have changed history.
The first play happened in the bottom of the fourth inning. At the time, St. Louis led Pittsburgh 2-0 with one out and one on. Yadier Molina hit a slow groundball up the third base line, Pedro Alvarez charged the ball urgently, barehanded the ball, and threw wildly to first – failing to get the out while committing an error in the process.
The outcome of the play, however, is not what I focused on.
It was the immediate decision to try to make the play and get the out as opposed to just “eating” it and making no throw. The instinct to attempt the throw was derived from knowing the runner, Molina, and his propensity to make that kind of play with relative ease. Alvarez used quick decision and aggressive instincts.
The second play occurred in the seventh inning when the Pirates staged their mini rally. With a runner on first and two outs, Marlon Byrd hit a slow ground ball up the middle that Pete Kozma fielded behind the bag. Justin Morneau, the runner on first base, was hustling to beat a force play at second base where Matt Carpenter was covering. Kozma though, hesitated to toss the ball to Carpenter or run to the bag himself.
After a short pause, he tossed a weak throw to first base missing the hustling Byrd by a half a step. The clear indecision is what cost Kozma from getting an out and prolonging the inning. The slow, unfolding nature of the play no doubt aided to the confusion.
A weak groundball, multiple base options, two runners’ speeds, and the ability to take the ball to the bag himself all played a part of the decision making process. Replays showed his best option might have been to field and race to the second base bag for the out.
Kozma exuded indecision and passive instincts.
That brings me to the tenth inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series; perhaps the most famous or infamous inning in baseball history.
All Mets fans know about the rally, but there is one detail that continuously goes unnoticed. With two out, and two on in the inning, Ray Knight was batting against Calvin Schiraldi with a 0-1 count. The next pitch, Knight chopped a slow roller down the third base line that Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs proceeded to charge. After a few urgent steps toward the ball, he stepped aside and decides to let the ball roll foul thus 0-2 and the at bat continues.
You know the rest.
What’s fascinating to consider is if Boggs would have charged hard at the ball the way Alvarez did Wednesday night. Could Boggs have barehanded the ball and thrown out the slow-footed Knight and ended the World Series right there? The Knight ball was more choppy than the Molina grounder, and a little closer to the line, but if charged could definitely been fielded in fair territory.
Mets fans see David Wright make that charging, barehanded throw maybe more than any other fan base on a yearly basis. Robin Ventura was maybe the best at it during his tenure. Did Boggs have an indecisive moment like Kozma did?
Hindsight is 20/20 and looking back he probably made the right decision. I can’t recall the broadcasters commenting on the play or anyone else the days after.
It does reveal how important instincts are on the baseball diamond, before and after the ball is hit. The snap decisions that need to be made could make or break a baseball game. How many times do we think an outfielder should dive for a ball instead of letting it drop or vice versa?
If Boggs fielded that ball and Knight was safe, history would’ve been re-written to at least some extent. It still poses the question to Boggs: Was it indecision or instinct that made him let that ball roll foul?
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I remember the play. Wow … that was nearly 30 years ago, and its like yesterday.