Bottom of the 7th

hs baseball... it is the bottom of the 7th, game tied, bases loaded, 1 out, best hitter at the plate, and best closer on the mound...you pick if you are the home team or the visitor...what do you do?

 

1 step further...pitcher is throwing from the stretch...



are we having fun yet?

 

Bump for answers

 

I'm a small ball kind of guy...squeeze him..may catch folks off-guard being the best hitter. Sure hope he knows how to bunt.

 

If I am the visitors, I would have my infield in and outfield in enough to make the throw home on a flyball to the outfield. I would tell my infielders to make sure of the out at home. (Basically forget trying for 2 just make sure the winning run does not score) At this point also, you have to have a lot of confidence in the catcher and pitcher. The catcher to keep the ball in front of him and the pitcher to locate.
If I am the home team, I would give my best hitter one crack at trying to hit the ball hard somewhere and then it is the squeeze play. If he is the best hitter for my team, he WILL know how to bunt. If the squeeze play fails I should still have bases loaded and could always have the threat of a passed ball/wild pitch happen.

 

Is the pitcher righty or a lefty?

 

just so happens he is ambidextrous!

 

I love the squeeze to, but my best hitter ain't bunting.

 

No, if I'm the offensive team my best hitter aint bunting either,,,,,,, if I'm the defensive team, it would make a difference if I just brought my best closer in the game to put out that fire,,, or is he the one that got us into this bases loaded/ 1 out mess? Depending on what options you have in your bullpen, he may not be your best closer that day.

 

Trickery first...

I'm the visiting team... and I'm pitching (ok, i'm not pitching because this will only work with a righty on the mound).
Slow pick-off to 3rd base... after I throw to third, I take a peak at the runner on first base to see how far off he is.
Next I fake pick to third- spin and throw to first. Runner is caught for out #2.

I put my infield and outfield back to regular depth and pitch to the #1 hitter.

(however, if the pick play doesn't work... pull my corners in, middle infield regulard depth and pitch him outside, until 2-0 count. If he ain't biting on that- I've got to give him somethig to hit)