9th inning shift last night

[JimR]

A reporter asked Hinch about Crawford’s hit, and Hinch replied he’s rather him swing to beat the shift than hit one out. I understand the general purpose of the shift: we are going to take away your power/pull side so go the other way if you think you can.

I get it, but I think there should be situational defense too. Crawford’s AB could not tie the game; a solo HR would still have us in front 3-2.  What would tie the game is a Crawford shift-beating single and then a HR. Seems to me keeping him off base was a big deal in that situation. Why not play him straight up with a 2-run lead, especially if the plan was to pitch him away?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Agree.

Especially since they pounded him away.

I don't know his spray chart and how unusual that ball to third was or wasn't,  but in real time I was elated to see the soft contact then deflated/surprised to see that third base was unoccupied given the pitching strategy. .

[MRaup]

Luhnow and Co. have said time and again that they will happily give guys the pokey base hit against the shift vs. pitching to their power zones.

Crawford's hot/cold: http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/hotzones/_/id/30469/brandon-crawford

While your point that keeping him off base is valid, pitching to his weakness and hoping/expecting a rollover ground out in to the shift statistically pays off more than it doesn't, or they wouldn't be shifting there.

Expecting them to abandon the shift because he might hit one down the off field line is a massive exercise in futility.

[Jacksonian]

Luhnow and Co. have said time and again that they will happily give guys the pokey base hit against the shift vs. pitching to their power zones.

Crawford's hot/cold: http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/hotzones/_/id/30469/brandon-crawford

While your point that keeping him off base is valid, pitching to his weakness and hoping/expecting a rollover ground out in to the shift statistically pays off more than it doesn't, or they wouldn't be shifting there.

Expecting them to abandon the shift because he might hit one down the off field line is a massive exercise in futility.

I think massive exercises in futility is one of the things we do best.

[BizidyDizidy]

I think it's also a mistake to assume someone can execute that pokey base hit everytime; still have a decent shot at an out.

[Snuffy]

I think massive exercises in futility is one of the things we do best.

...not just in baseball.

[toddthebod]

What I thought was really strange last night was the personnel changes that took place in the 8th/9th innings.

I totally understood that you didn't want Maldonado and Morton to hit.  And that you are going to need to do some double switches.  But the result was that Kemp had to leave the game.  And so Stassi ended up batting for Kemp to lead off the 9th, which meant that the Astros lost one of their hottest hitters in the 9th.

 

[JimR]

Luhnow and Co. have said time and again that they will happily give guys the pokey base hit against the shift vs. pitching to their power zones.

Crawford's hot/cold: http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/hotzones/_/id/30469/brandon-crawford

While your point that keeping him off base is valid, pitching to his weakness and hoping/expecting a rollover ground out in to the shift statistically pays off more than it doesn't, or they wouldn't be shifting there.

Expecting them to abandon the shift because he might hit one down the off field line is a massive exercise in futility.

Not expecting abandonment of it, of course. Just saying I wish situational defense were a part of it. The rollover point is a good one.

[JimR]

What I thought was really strange last night was the personnel changes that took place in the 8th/9th innings.

I totally understood that you didn't want Maldonado and Morton to hit.  And that you are going to need to do some double switches.  But the result was that Kemp had to leave the game.  And so Stassi ended up batting for Kemp to lead off the 9th, which meant that the Astros lost one of their hottest hitters in the 9th.

 

Worked out great. The closer was a LHP. No doubt Hinch knew that.

[toddthebod]

It worked out great, but not because of anything that Hinch did.  Fisher struck out, Gattis grounded out, and Stassi popped up. 

[HudsonHawk]

Not expecting abandonment of it, of course. Just saying I wish situational defense were a part of it. The rollover point is a good one.

This is my feelings on the shift as well.  I don't object to it in principle, only being a slave to it without regard to the situation.  "Right handed hitter up...three infielder on the left side" should not just be the automatic default.  Likewise, I don't agree with it for every hitter, or most every one. 

[Astros Fan in Big D]

It worked out great, but not because of anything that Hinch did.  Fisher struck out, Gattis grounded out, and Stassi popped up.

NL games with a short bench.

You can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want.
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get a 3 run homer in the 9th after the 2 best hitters in your lineup have great ABs and draw walks
(Jagger/Richards)

[JimR]

It worked out great, but not because of anything that Hinch did.  Fisher struck out, Gattis grounded out, and Stassi popped up.

Last I heard, Hinch does not play. He got the matchups he wanted. Stassi has to hit.