Hoopstarr wrote:"If you play for one run, that's all you'll get." -- Earl Weaver
That should be posted in every clubhouse in baseball
Sometimes, even one run matters, and this is when strategy like squeeze and double stealing come in.
It is all depends on the situation and the player who are doing the execution. However, with the influence of sabermetrics baseball, and the steroid era when most hitter can just hit the ball out of the ball park easily, those strategy became less appreciated. However, Mike Scioscia may not be popular among fans, but he is considered as a good manager. Most recently, he ranked 1st as Best Manager in the AL by Baseball America.
Evermore wrote:The situation was this...
Top of the 7th...Bautista on 3rd with 1 out...game tied at 5
Rivera and his .150 AVG at the plate
Believing strongly that the squeeze play is an effective way to score a run...I was in favour of it in that situation
For reasons unknown to me...there are those on this forum who feel that play isn't an option
There are many ways to advance the runner on 3rd to home plate.
A hit
A double
A triple
A home run
A Sac fly
Squeeze
Wild pitch
Runner stealing home
pitcher balked
When the hitter is Rivera, I think a sac fly might had a higher chance to score the run than making him execute a squeeze. If manager really want to get a squeeze, it is better to pinch hit, get a good bunter at the plate. Also get a pinch run, get a better runner than Bautista and prevent Bautista from injury during the action.
Even though I am pro small ball in some situation, but this is not the right situation.