Brandon Hyde referred to as it a “miscommunication.” Gunnar Henderson mentioned Hyde made the decision. Aaron Hicks declined to say what the signal was, echoing his supervisor’s description.
So … what really occurred?
When Henderson singled to steer off the ninth inning of Saturday’s playoff sport, it gave the Orioles a glimmer of hope as they trailed the Texas Rangers, 3-2, in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
Hicks was on the plate with the depend in opposition to reliever José Leclerc at 2-1. Henderson then took off for second and was thrown out by Rangers catcher Jonah Heim to calm Camden Yards’ roaring crowd. Hicks struck out, and Adam Frazier grounded out to finish the sport, placing the Orioles down 1-0 within the best-of-five sequence.
As Henderson tried to steal, he regarded again at house plate a number of occasions, as if he was anticipating Hicks to swing for a hit-and-run. Hicks took the pitch, referred to as a ball regardless that it was within the strike zone, and Heim, an Orioles draftee in 2013, nabbed the 22-year-old rookie at second. Heim is rated as an above-average throwing catcher by Baseball Savant and ranked second amongst certified catchers in caught stealing share this season.
Hyde mentioned there was “a little miscommunication” on the deflating play, however the fifth-year skipper didn’t elaborate additional. Henderson mentioned he was making an attempt to get into scoring place to enhance the Orioles’ probabilities of tying the sport, noting Leclerc’s gradual supply to house plate.
“I thought it was a good time to try and take it,” Henderson mentioned. “It didn’t happen, so … I hate that it didn’t happen, but if it did, we would have had a better chance to score.”
Added Henderson when requested if Hyde referred to as for the try: “Yeah, it was his. I was just trying to get out there and play hard, and we felt like we had a good chance to do it. … It was a good opportunity right there.”
Hicks wouldn’t say what the miscommunication was.
“I don’t know how else to explain it besides it being a miscommunication,” Hicks mentioned. “But, you know, we move on.”
When requested whether or not the signal was a straight steal or a hit-and-run — a play when the runner is stealing second anticipating the batter to swing at any pitch in or near the strike zone, hoping to make the most of the defenders transferring out of place to cowl second base for the steal — Hicks once more mentioned, “We move on.”
So, not one of the three Orioles defined what occurred on the pivotal play. If neither Hyde nor third base coach Tony Mansolino had been the reason for the miscommunication, there may be realistically considered one of two explanations. The name was both a hit-and-run and Hicks missed it or didn’t swing; or the decision was a straight steal and Henderson misinterpreted it as a hit-and-run.
The failed steal was removed from the one mistake within the Orioles’ loss, and there’s no assure had there not been a miscommunication that Baltimore would’ve tied or received the sport. In reality, it’s not sure Henderson would’ve been protected at second had Hicks swung by way of the pitch or if Henderson had centered his sights totally on the bag as an alternative of towards house plate.
Either means, errors like that one will likely be even tougher to beat in Game 2 in opposition to Rangers ace Jordan Montgomery. Hicks mentioned he believes within the Orioles’ capacity to bounce again from the powerful loss.
“We’re a team that is not going to give up,” Hicks mentioned. “We’re going to fight until the end.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com