Major baserunning gaffe to end O's/Angels game.

Major league baseball is supposed to be the level to which baseball is played at its highest form.

This summer, a game occured in which the Angels beat the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game ended when Vladimir Guerrero threw out an Orioles baserunner at home plate to end the game. That isn't necessarily unusual. What is unusual is the manner in which the trail runner reacted.

Here is the setting. Runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out. A fly ball was hit to rightfield. Guerrero had an obvious play on the ball. Brian Roberts tagged at 3rd base to prepare to score. The major issue was that the man on 1st did not tag on the play. What an egregious error. Because he did not tag, the outfielder could for all intents and purposes eliminate the cutoff man. He could throw a strike to home plate to end the game. Furthermore, it put absolutely zero pressure on the cutoff man to make a decision.

Here is what should have happened. As soon as the routine fly ball is hit the runner at 1st should race back to the bag because the lead runner is tagging. When the ball is caught he should sprint to 2B to incite a possible cutoff from the 1B. If the 1B allows the ball through the game is either over or the tying run scores. If the tying run scores then the man on 1st is now in scoring position as the go ahead run. If the 1B cuts the ball off the game is at least tied and we're heading for extras.

This is another example of how teams should be thinking about running into an out for a run. It doesn't usually occur in this manner but it certainly could. Two major points of emphasis.

1) The 3B coach should have a signal telling the trail runner that he is indeed sending the runner home. The most common would be lead arm extended. The last thing you want is the trail runner running into an out if the lead runner doesn't run.

2) The 1B coach must alert the baserunner to this play prior to the ball being hit. 1st and 3rd 1 out flyball is the situation.