ALDS Game Five Review: Tampa Bay

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October 12, 2010

Cliff Lee was masterful once again, making it the fourth time (of five matchups) that he struck out double digit Rays. He’s going to be the story of this game (hell, this series) and rightfully so. It’s hard to think Lee isn’t the best pitcher in the American League right now – and that’s not just because only two teams remain.

The other big plays involved baserunning. Let’s give them each a quick look:

1) Elvis Andrus scoring from second on a groundball to first base

Carlos Pena picked up the ball and flipped it to David Price. By the time Price heard Evan Longoria screaming to throw it home, Andrus was successfully across the plate. Rangers up 1-to-0 after three batters. The gain here is .041 despite an out being made on the play. Pretty nifty, considering Andrus also added .035 WPA on his single and .015 on a stolen base.

2) Nelson Cruz scoring from second on an error by Kelly Shoppach

Cruz took the weirdest route of the three. After driving a ball to the deepest portion of the park (and admiring it so), Cruz had to hustle to get into second base after the ball hit off the wall. He then took off for third base on a steal attempt and got up to run home after Shoppach’s throw sailed into left field. Just like that, the Rangers regained the lead. Add .027 WPA on the double and .099 on the steal and further advance.

3) Vladimir Guerrero scoring from second base on a grounder to first base

Price received the ball at first again, but this time argued with the umpire on the safe call before turning and firing home. Guerrero slid in before Shoppach could apply the tag and the most unlikely of events put the Rangers up by two in the sixth. Add .057 on this play.

That’s .206 WPA off baserunning and .477 for Lee, or about 70% of the win.

Congrats to the Rangers, who now advance to the ALCS.





 

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dorasaga
13 years ago

Shoppach was a “joke” yesterday. NOt only had he allowed Cruz to come home, he allowed the “mammoth-paced” Molina to steal second; he allowed Vlad to return home partly because he didn’t position himself to block the plate before the ball was passed, and mainly because Shoppach failed to lead the fielders as a catcher.

A catcher has a significant role to see through all movements on the field due to his better angle on all things. I wonder why Maddon wouldn’t try Jaso, who is a better bat and a quicker mind behind the plate.

Not to compare the two, but stand-alone his late performance as a Ray-man, Shoppach’s day as a catcher seems to be done.

==D==

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Matt
13 years ago
Reply to  dorasaga

Agreed. Other than the ridiculousness of Cliff Lee (as a Phillies fan, is it okay to get nostalgic watching a pitcher they only had for 3 months?), what will always stick out to me most about last night is just how bad Kelly Shoppach really was defensively. Cruz got an awful jump from second, but instead of easily eliminating him with any kind of decent throw, Shoppach missed Longoria by a wide margin. Then he stood around and watched in as much amazement as everyone else as Bengie Molina stole second. If the slowest runner in MLB is halfway to second when you catch the ball, you should probably throw him out by a good 10 feet.

I don’t watch Shoppach enough to really comment on his defense, but that was one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen behind the plate in a long time.

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