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LOS ANGELES – Just one question. Do this in pairs.
Why the heck did catcher Luke Maile cover third base in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on Friday night?
And how did he get there?
Dodger DH Max Muncy was at first base with an out and it was 1-1 when Cody Bellinger grounded a grounder down deep second base. Andres Gimenez, who had been on a defensive clinic by then, rolled over the ball. He retrieved it but his throw for the first was late when Bellinger made an error.
The game took a while to develop, giving Muncy a chance to move from first to third place. It was a good idea because the defense was shifted to the right, which meant third baseman Jose Ramirez played shortstop. The hot corner was unprotected.
First baseman Josh Naylor saw Muncy take a wider turn than usual in second, leading him to believe he was going to third. Naylor came off first and threw for the third, but he wasn’t quite sure if anyone would be there to catch him.
However, Maile arrived just in time to take Naylor’s throw and tag Muncy, who must have been shocked when he was erased by a guy with shin pads. Zach Plesac pulled the next batter back to preserve the 1-1 deadlock that eventually turned into a 2-1 win in 10 innings for the Guardians.
“I thought Maile taking third place and Naylor’s throw probably saved us right there,” said manager Terry Francona. “They go from a heads-up baserunning (game) to something that is heads-up. That was huge.”
Maile knew the defensive shift left third base uncovered, but he had to consider several options before deciding to sprint to third.
“Sometimes it gets difficult because you don’t want to clear (the plate) if the ball goes all the way through (right field) like a long single,” Maile said. “You don’t want to retire home. You must be pretty sure. Sometimes your eyes just take over and you just do it.”
Maile added a little more depth to the situation.
“A lot of people have seen that play a million times,” he said. “But each of them is different. There are different runners. There are different grades. The same ball hit left or right with one foot determines where the third baseman plays. You just have to have instinct. That was all.”
Maile said the number of outs also came into play.
“It was a good play from Muncy’s part, especially since there was only one out,” Maile said. “If there’s nobody or two outside, they’re less likely to be that aggressive. With an out, you really have to reckon with them trying to get to third base with less than two outs.”
How enthusiastic were the Guardians about the play? Catchers Austin Hedges and Maile were demonstrating how it was done in the middle of the dressing room as reporters walked in. They were loud and enjoying themselves.
“To be honest, that’s where he saved the game,” Naylor said. “If Muncy is in third and Bellinger is in first, Bellinger can steal second and you are not allowed to throw at second. It changes the game. I think that’s what won us the game right there that he’s there.
Catchers make their living knowing exactly how each pitcher’s throw will go. When Maile got third place, he had no idea how Naylor’s shot would move. That worried him, but it wasn’t necessary.
“It was the most beautiful four-seam fastball I’ve ever seen,” Maile said. “I had never caught a ball from Naylor. If so, there were only a few.
“The ball caught me, that was such a good shot. It had a zipper. It was rolled back. It was nice. If he had stood closer, it would have hit me in the throat. That’s how surprised I was at how accurate and straight forward it was.”
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