Straight outta Little League
With the Seattle Mariners going for the sweep in Colorado, manager Eric Wedge decided to take a chance on a extremely delayed double steal in the 1st inning.
Kyle Seager took second, and Dustin Ackley stole home. Seager then took third on the errant throw to the plate. National League managing at it’s best. As they say, “when in Rome.”
The play worked, better yet, it caught the Rockies way off guard, and gave the Mariners a 1-0 early lead.
The pitch
With Jesus Montero at the plate, Eric Wedge decided that with a 1-2 count to the power hitter, this would be the best time to catch the sleeping Rockies defense off guard.
With a play that was tailored for the little league diamond, the 1-2 pitch was in the dirt. Kyle Seager didn’t even take off for second until the ball crossed the plate.
This was what set the whole play in motion.
With a play out of little league, Dustin Ackley swipes home (zimbio.com)
The throw to second
The throw to second was way left of the bag, and with the second baseman getting such a late jump on the play, Seager was into second easily with a head first dive.
At the very moment the throw was air born to second, Dustin Ackley took off for home. Had the Rockies been ready for this, it would have been a double play no problem.
But the first errant throw set off a second bad throw to the plate, missing the catcher all together and rolling to the backstop.
Ackley scores easily, Seager takes third without contest.
It’s the gutsy play calling like this that will help the M’s get out of the cellar.
I just hope Wedge takes some of this National League prowess back into American League play.
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