2011-05-28 Giants (Sanchez) at Brewers (Wolf) - [Brewers win, 3-2, Lucroy walk-off squeeze]

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Fun fact...Brewers now 3-0 in games where Yuni gets an intentional walk.

[Oxy]

Rockies have scored 6 runs against Garcia and the Cards in the first inning. Hopefully this is just what Garcia needs in order to remember that he isn't any good, and sets off a downward spiral for the Cards.

[dlk9s]

Don't know why people think the squeeze call was "terrible." Obviously, we all know the big risk is that if the pitcher gets to the ball quickly, he can throw to home for the force. But in my opinion, while it's a more likely out than without the force, I still don't think it's that likely of a scenario. Plus, there was pretty much no way the Giants were expecting it, allowing Lucroy a little leeway on the quality of his bunt. I'm also working under the assumption that Lucroy doesn't whiff or pop it up - unless he's known as a truly horrific bunter.

 

I loved the call. I wouldn't go to the well too often with something like that, but it was awesome.

[Schlitz001]

Fun fact...Brewers now 3-0 in games where Yuni gets an intentional walk.

The Brewers are 5-1 when Yuni gets a non-intentional walk.

[rluzinski]

Don't know why people think the squeeze call was "terrible." Obviously, we all know the big risk is that if the pitcher gets to the ball quickly, he can throw to home for the force. But in my opinion, while it's a more likely out than without the force, I still don't think it's that likely of a scenario. Plus, there was pretty much no way the Giants were expecting it, allowing Lucroy a little leeway on the quality of his bunt. I'm also working under the assumption that Lucroy doesn't whiff or pop it up - unless he's known as a truly horrific bunter.

I agree that the Brewers had the element of surprise, so any half way reasonable bunt would have scored Braun. I also think that "terrible" is probably too strong of a word to use. The two scenarios I believe that make the suicide squeeze to a poor strategy in general is:

1. Fouled bunt. It adds a strike to the batter, which dramatically shifts the probability of the AB ending poorly for the batter. I believe this occurs fairly often.

2. Missed foul attempt. Very good chance that the runner at 3B is out. Even if this only occurs 5% of the time, it really makes the suicide squeeze look bad.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 9th, the Brewer win the game about 5 out of 6 times without the suicide squeeze. I dunno...

Plus now RR will just remember that play when he's trying to justify making the 100th out at home plate in mid August. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[MoreTrife]

Don't know why people think the squeeze call was "terrible." Obviously, we all know the big risk is that if the pitcher gets to the ball quickly, he can throw to home for the force. But in my opinion, while it's a more likely out than without the force, I still don't think it's that likely of a scenario. Plus, there was pretty much no way the Giants were expecting it, allowing Lucroy a little leeway on the quality of his bunt. I'm also working under the assumption that Lucroy doesn't whiff or pop it up - unless he's known as a truly horrific bunter.

 

I loved the call. I wouldn't go to the well too often with something like that, but it was awesome.

i think the bigger risk is lucroy missing the bunt and then braun is a sitting duck. but i agree, it isn't the horrible call people are making it out to be. lucroy is a good contact hitter, maybe he has demonstrated to be a good bunter. all he needs to do is to make contact. fair or foul game is either over or he gets another chance.

[ilovebeer]

cards losing 12-1 bottom 5 and reds just took the lead on the braves.

[chickinbrickin]

I think Lucroy got the squeeze sign after that first ball. Did you notice how long it took him to get back into the batters box, and he showed no signs of bunting on that first pitch? If so that was a great call. You would assume the pitcher is going to be throwing something over the plate, because no way he wanted to fall behind 2-0 with the bases loaded. If it backfired and Luc missed and Braun gets out it is still 1 and 1 with runners on third and second. Still a chance to get a base hit to win it. There was no way to lose the game right there; so it makes more sense.

[derflotr]

If Betancourt or Nieves got ABs in that situation I think I would've been looking for a squeeze, but with Lucroy's bat coming off the bench for that AB the squeeze play didn't even occur to me. I can't speak for Bochy but maybe that's what he was thinking. How often does a guy pinch-hit to lay down a bunt in any scenario?

[Bombers]

That was an awesome call and an awesome play. IMO laying down a bunt should be easier than a sac fly

[endaround]

Except that you might get a curve ball, slider or split finger fastball in the dirt or a high outside fastball and you can't bunt

[razzzorsharp]

If it's in the dirt there is a chance that Braun scores without a bunt.

[NievesNoNO]

Nice win and a well executed play! I'd like to give RR credit for a well managed game. That's going to annoy some, but if he's going to be ripped on for some of the losses he should also get some credit when things are going well. I don't know if I'd have made that call, but it worked to perfection. While I believe the Brewers have been a bit reckless on the base paths under RR, I will say I give him credit for being true to his word and not backing down with the baserunning. If you're going to be uber aggresive on the base paths then I like to see it consistently and RR has done it that way so I can respect it.

 

Let's finish off the home stand with a series win tomorrow!

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

my 79 year old father said the brewers should use the squeeze in that situation . i laughed and they did. he said to me i told ya

[NYChez]

With a 1-0 count, the bases loaded, and the winning run on 3rd, the pitcher's basically going to lob a pitch down the middle of the plate. The chances of Lucroy swinging at that pitch and hitting a hard-hit double play grounder or lining it to someone are probably higher than him missing or popping up the bunt - again on a pitch that you know is going to be medium speed, right down the middle.

Whether it's a percentage play comes down to the quality of the batter as a bunter, and he looked pretty darn good on this attempt.

Thumbs up from me.

[pretendastronaut]

It was put together so well, I'm half convinced Braun could have actually stolen home safely even in Lucroy missed the bunt. Braun's jump was perfect.

 

I don't think it was a horrible call, ballsy, yes, but not horrible. Lucroy could have bounced into a double play just as well. For as much as we've defended Sedar sending runners around third lately because of the likelihood of the next batter making an out, I don't see how this gets so panned. Just be happy that for once the Brewers perfectly executed something like this.

[Dragonbait]

The thing about it for me...

 

The Giants still had the double play.. thus nullifying the run...

 

Watch it again.. If Mota takes the time to field it clean... throw to 2nd... they'd easily double up Lucroy...

[TheCrew07]

Watch it again.. If Mota takes the time to field it clean... throw to 2nd... they'd easily double up Lucroy...

I didn't see either the SS or the 2B moving to cover a base live, so I thought I missed something. I just watched it again, no one was covering 2nd, so even if Mota fields it clean there is no double play.

[hurricanecrush]

The thing about it for me...

 

The Giants still had the double play.. thus nullifying the run...

 

Watch it again.. If Mota takes the time to field it clean... throw to 2nd... they'd easily double up Lucroy...

Except that the infield was in and there was nobody covering second... or first, for that matter.

[PrinceEatMeat]

The thing about it for me...

 

The Giants still had the double play.. thus nullifying the run...

 

Watch it again.. If Mota takes the time to field it clean... throw to 2nd... they'd easily double up Lucroy...

Except that the infield was in and there was nobody covering second... or first, for that matter.

Yep, I think you need to watch it again Myday. No way they have a chance at a double play on that. Even if people were covering, Lucroy probably beats it out at first.

[rluzinski]

That was an awesome call and an awesome play. IMO laying down a bunt should be easier than a sac fly

People always talks about how easy a bunt "should" be. Ironically, it's usually after a failed bunt attempts. Bunt attempts fail fairly often so apparently it simply isn't as automatic as some suggest.

[ilovebeer]

On baseball tonight they went over that play and when Ed gave the sign to Jonathan he was supposed to tap the plate if he understood which Jonathan never does. Also the Brewers have the best winning percentage in baseball and 20 wins at home, last year thety did not get there 20 win at home until mid July.

[Dragonbait]

I get that he wasnt covering 2nd at the time.. but they had pleanty of time to turn it..

 

I just think the shock and awe tatic got them off...

 

I'm just saying though... if they played it right, they coulda gotten the double play.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Calls like that are always brilliant when they work.

 

I just don't see how they double up Lucroy on that though. He's not a fast guy, but he's not 'catcher' slow, either. If Mota fields that clean, he still has to do a 180 turn to 2nd, and make a good throw, followed by beating Lucroy to first. I honestly don't see that happening, even if the Giants played it right.

[pretendastronaut]

That was an awesome call and an awesome play. IMO laying down a bunt should be easier than a sac fly

People always talks about how easy a bunt "should" be. Ironically, it's usually after a failed bunt attempts. Bunt attempts fail fairly often so apparently it simply isn't as automatic as some suggest.

 

Except he didn't say bunts are easy, he said in his opinion, a bunt should be easier to get down than getting a sac fly. That's not the same thing as saying bunts are automatic.

 

And I agree, watching the replay, there is no way they turn two there. Yes, in a different scenario sure, but on how that one played out, no. All the infielders were breaking in on the ball, they'd probably have a hard time getting the out at second the way they played it.