On the one hand, making an out on the basepaths is the best way to make an out. An out on the basepaths doesn’t show up in your batting average or your OBP. An out on the basepaths is less statistically visible than an out at the plate, and so in time, people will forget it ever happened.
Rangers Vs. Royals: Danny Duffy Debuts, But Texas Wins Messy Affair In 11
On the other hand, making an out on the basepaths is the worst way to make an out. An out on the basepaths means that, where once there was a runner, there is no longer a runner. An out on the basepaths takes a promising situation and cuts its balls off, and is a lot more frustrating for everybody than an out at the plate. And so it's with that in mind that, after Wednesday night, a couple Royals are going to be kicking themselves.
It was on Wednesday that the Royals and the Rangers went head-to-head at Kauffman Stadium in top prospect Danny Duffy's much-anticipated Major League debut. Duffy flashed quality stuff, but he had all kinds of trouble with his command and departed after throwing four innings, allowing two runs and six walks.
Rangers starter Alexi Ogando was a great deal better, allowing two in the second but blanking the Royals the rest of the way until coming out after seven. But because of some good work by the Kansas City bullpen, the score at that point was still tied 2-2, and it remained that way into the top of the ninth, when Elvis Andrus singled home Craig Gentry for the go-ahead run.
No matter. Leading off against shutdown closer Neftali Feliz in the bottom of the ninth, superprospect Eric Hosmer blasted a tying home run out to right field. Kauffman came alive, and that's when the craziness started.
Jeff Francoeur drew a seven-pitch walk, only to see pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson get caught leaning the wrong way and picked off. Moments later, Billy Butler drew a four-pitch walk, only to see pinch-runner Mike Aviles get caught leaning the wrong way and picked off.
According to Baseball-Reference, only two other times in Major League history has a pitcher inherited a save situation and gone on to pick off two runners. The Royals insisted after the game that Feliz was balking, which, naturally, the Rangers denied, but even if that were true, it becomes hard to explain the second pickoff. After the first one, you’d think they would’ve learned their lesson.
The consecutive pickoffs destroyed a potential rally before it could begin, and the game advanced to extras. In the tenth, the Rangers made a baserunning mistake of their own - this one by Adrian Beltre, who was standing on third and broke for home on a grounder to third baseman Wilson Betemit. Beltre was tagged out, giving the Royals a break in a dangerous situation.
But still, the tally of critical baserunning mistakes was 2-1 in Kansas City's favor, so it was only fair that, after the Royals failed to come through in the bottom of the tenth, the Rangers took the lead in the 11th on a bases-loaded single up the middle by Beltre. Consider it redemption, if you like. Up 5-3, Mark Lowe allowed a run in the bottom half, but struck out Chris Getz to nail down the win.
So now the Royals - and, more specifically, Dyson and Aviles - get to reflect on a missed opportunity to get back to .500. While there was no guarantee that the pickoffs prevented them from winning in the ninth, they did greatly reduce the likelihood against a closer who allowed a homer, a walk and a walk to the first three batters he faced. There was a chance there, and because of their over-aggression, both Dyson and Aviles helped give that chance away.
But maybe Feliz was balking. Whatever helps them sleep.
For more on the Rangers and Royals, please visit team blogs Lone Star Ball and Royals Review.
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