Former Blue Jays back up Isiah Kiner-Falefa's play at the plate amidst online threats
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
No play was closer than Toronto Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa's dash to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the World Series.
As the replay of Kiner-Falefa's slide showed over the stadium's giant video screen, fans cheered.
They thought he was safe, driven in by Daulton Varsho's grounder to second. They thought, upon review, the Jays were about to celebrate a title.
An overturned call at home plate would have felt like a wild and fitting end to a tension-packed World Series.
Instead, the out call on the field was confirmed.
After receiving hateful messages following the game, Kiner-Falefa told reporters that his short lead was due to being instructed by coaches to stay close to the base.
«They told us to stay close to the base,» Kiner-Falefa told Sportsnet. «They don't want us to get doubled off in that situation with a hard line drive.»
Former Blue Jay Chris Colabello was the first to come to IKF's defense
The amount of scrutiny on the Isiah Kiner-Falefa lead/secondary is so out of control. The takes I'm reading - about "distance from the base" and "secondary lead distance measured to the inch" are absolutely bonkers.
If Rojas doesn't slip, he throws him out by 14 feet, regardless of how good his lead and secondary were.
The risk/reward there of being further off the base is so distorted, that it would have been egregious to even consider risking being even an inch further away from the bag.
As a matter of fact, I may have told whoever was on third to be no more than a step off the bag.
I'm willing to bet that 99% of baserunners on third in that moment are having ZERO consideration of scoring on a ball that is fielded cleanly by an infielder.
The fact that the play was even remotely close is so incredibly misleading.
Scrutinizing this play to this length is so flawed, and fully takes away from how incredible the game and series were.
The wild part about all of this is that every player and former player that I have seen comment on it, has absolutely no qualms with IKF's lead and/or secondary.
It's a shame that there is so much negativity surrounding the play, the "what if's" around it, and even more ridiculous is the backlash the public is putting on the player.
Former Blue Jay and Dodger Justin Turner was the second player to speak up on the play
Gonna chime in on this base running with IKF
To several former players point, the philosophy with the «bases loaded» is don't get doubled off on a line drive vs runners at «second and third» or «third» with infield in where it's a contact play, good lead, aggressive secondary, you're supposed to get doubled up on a line drive.
What's the difference and why is the philosophy different? I think traditionally it is considered a much tougher play and higher chances of being safe with a great break when there IS NOT a force play at home.
However, the assumption is, with a force play at home, most likely if an infielder catches the ball, the runner will be out at home. Therefore, you shorten up and don't increase the risk of being doubled up on a line drive.
This gives another hitter a chance to come thru with the bases loaded and 2 outs.
A line drive double play in that situation is 1000 times more of a momentum swing than a ground ball to the second baseman that results in a force out for the 2nd out of the inning.
The emotion in this is urging everyone to get on IKF and say if he had a bigger primary or secondary he would have been safe. The reality is he played it by the book, by the philosophy, and Rojas made a great play. It's painful, but yes, it is a game of inches. #FreeIKF
Whit Merrifield an excellent MLB baserunner was third former player to stand by IKF on the play
"It is a caution-first play... You are not counting on the baserunner to create a run."
Whit Merrifield was one of MLB's best baserunners throughout his nine-year career, and he stands by Isiah Kiner-Falefa's execution of the bases-loaded play.
Whit Merrifield was one of MLB's best baserunners throughout his nine-year career, and he stands by Isiah Kiner-Falefa's execution of the bases-loaded play.
That's the thing about losing the World Series in extra innings in Game 7, every missed play or squandered chance will be dissected for decades.
If the Jays capitalized on just one more moment, their magical season would've ended in a parade. They would be champions right now.
Instead, the missed opportunities linger.
TRENDING NOW
