Mookie Betts hustles on a play where he is out 99% of the time, Cole doesn't hustle on a play where Mookie is out 99% time. Both lead to unearned runs in a game where the World Series is decided. Young players - you cannot turn the hustle when it is important. It is every time, or it won't show up when you need it most.
Your comment is spot on my friend. It drives me nuts when players don’t hustle or stand to admire what they think is a homer only to see it bounce off the wall. This crap is allowed by the damn coaches. Enough said
Betts should have been called out for obstruction. He ran the entire way to 1st in the infield obstructing Cole's path so he bailed and counted on Rizzo. Outside the baseline is fine-But inside? for that long? On that play? Betts had nothing to lose so he "cheated" and got away with it. Rizzo was handcuffed and Cole didn't want a collision. Umpire fail more than Yankee f up.
The Yankees need to immortalize this play (and Cole) out in Monument Park. No team with *TWO* Aarons has ever won the World Series, so this epic Yankee fail should have come as no surprise.
I read a book "The Art of Pitching" by Tom Seaver and in it, he states that a pitcher should automatically move to cover 1st on ANY ball to the right side of the infield. I never forgot that.
I'm not a fan of the Yankees or Cole from his spider tack days w the astros. Sometimes pitchers do field balls in front of the mound on the first base side. Cole made a bad read much like an outfielder or like Volpe when he didn't score from second on the hard hit double. Trust me, when a player messes up on little league fundamentals, I call them out. I think the spin and lack of the ball being barrelled gave Cole the impression the ball would be leaving the bat w a significantly lower velocity.
Rizzo in his peripheral vision is seeing Cole come off the mound so he’s deep playing the weird hop only to come up and see Gerrit Cole’s ass standing in no man’s land pointing like he’s directing traffic LOL. Where they teach that? Groundball to 1B you’re on the mound you run sideways like you’re trying to tackle Mookie Betts then you point like a dummy. A dummy that makes $36M yr. Remarkable.
This is a great explanation and presentation. What I appreciate most is the nature of the way you explain it, without over the top claims, denigrating remarks, or anything of the sort. Cole make a misjudgment, and Betts hustle deserves praise for hustling hard and never taking the play for granted.
Cole clearly knows (at least he should know): 1. Betts is very fast, 2. Rizzo is slow, 3. Rizzo has 2 broken fingers and even routine plays could be a problem for him, 4. Balls hit with a bat often have this thing called - spin, 5. A pitcher ALWAYS covers 1st on GBs hit to his left. But my man was like - Nah, it'll be fine.
who would of thought a player named Mookie, playing a World Series game in NY, would hit a slow grounder to first and it would be talked about. It was mighty nice of Gerrit to tell Mookie where 1st base was.
Yes - this title is the correct characterization. Rizzo is taking too much heat for Cole not hustling to cover first. Even if a pitcher thinks the first baseman is taking it himself, he needs to hustle hard to the base. Period.
Everyone I've seen correctly blames Cole, but Rizzo didn't even try. I know that Cole missed a routine play contrary to Rizzo, who would have needed an exceptional effort. But this is the World Series. Did he save his efforts for an eventual game 7 ? It's a terrible look to not even try.
@@Pubicon Are you watching the same video? Mookie beats Rizzo by like 2-3 steps.. you make it sound like Rizzo sat indian style after he fielded the ball, lol.. He was expecting to see Cole going towards the bag when he looked up, but he wasn't there and he could see that Mookie had him beat.. Had Rizzo known that Cole wasn't going to be there from the get go, he acts quite a bit faster i bet you.. This is 98% on Cole, imo.. If the dumb dickhead did what he was told since little league, they might be playing tomorrow
It’s called getting frustrated with your fielders because of all the errors already. That frustration and stress just snowballs into a brain fart. When you are as careless with fundamentals as the Yankees are in fielding and base running it’ll bite you back when the pressure is at its highest.
This is not the first time this has happened to Cole/Rizzo. To me this is on Arron Boone fundamentals baseball 101 addressing problems the Yankees have been making for years. Mental mistakes, lack of focus, and laziness with a weak manager and front office for that matter not holding accountability They made so many errors and base running mistakes this postsesson other than game 3 against Cleveland this one cost them. Was only a matter of time before the Dodgers made them pay the price.
buh-bye Boonie? Or do they run it back? Hard to dump a guy who MAKES it to the world series...but (channeling Blofeld) OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER
It's on Cole too. He's a professional baseball player. Professional. Baseball. Also Rizzo should have at least dove head first to try to get the out after he saw Cole being stupid.
Yes! Exactly. Also Rizzo has been slow getting to balls this year. He actually wound up a better hitter than fielder after he got back. Not on throws' in the dirt. Still a master at that. But moving around on the field...not coming up with grounders the way he used to. Seemed less sure of himself out there.
Recently, there was a video where the ball hit the ground halfway between the first base line and the dugout. It had so much counterclockwise spin on it that it kicked sideways and went fair.
If you can find it, there is shot from the right field line camera looking in toward home, that really shows how much the ball was moving away from the line... Rizzo's momentum was clearly going toward second. You can see Mookie recognizing, then turning on the burners... I don't know why they don't show it on most highlight compilations.
As a Dodger fan- watching this is bringing back all the stress reminding me how evertyhing shouldn't have gone our way and how close it was to a game six.
Yup & as a Yankee fan how our team served it up. You have players there for sure. Kiki & Edman, they’re ballers & made a difference. Your bottom order far outplayed ours. Rizzo was an automatic out.
It was really tight and ultimately even though the Dodgers were WAY better in the clutch, the Yankees blew what should have been 2 closed and shut wins.
Oh you’re stressed as a dodgers fan? Really? STFU. I hate every single one of you and I genuinely hope this is your last World Series even though I know they will just buy more. There should be a salary cap in baseball. Bottom line
Spin no spin, Cole is responsible for getting to 1st, and he fails to do this. It’s not Rizzo’s fault. Moreover, Cole’s path isn’t towards 1st, it’s towards his dugout! It’s a dereliction of duty.
I am reminded of game 7 of the 1960 WS, Roberto Clemente hit a weak ground ball to first base, fielded by Bill Skowron, but Jim Coates did not cover first, and Clemente beat it out for a hit. This was followed by Hal Smith's 3-run home run. An inning later came Mazeroski's HR.
@@JonHenderson-tn4kw I remember the the play and so do many still watching baseball fans. Do not be such an A-hole. I guess we old folks have just seen a few more games than you younger folks.
Well made and explained. The two errors prior matter too but this was the chance to rectify those issues. Bummer this series ended so soon but this play is a great teaching point for young pitchers on what not to do.
Unforgivable error by judge, you need to use two hands to catch the ball, I'm sure I heard that somewhere oh yeah that's right Little League 55/60 years ago.
Yea I pitched from little league to highschool and at age 13 I played travel baseball for coaches that played pro or college. So as a pitcher you are taught that anything hit on the ground to the right side you have to get over to cover first base. But you also have to know the speed of the runner and also where the first baseman is playing. I also played firstbase and you have to communicate with the pitcher that you are having to play to pull and that anything hit to the right side that he needs help from the pitcher. But this drill is taught all the way down to youth level and so there's no excuse in why the pitcher shouldn't cover in this situation
@THOMASMckenzie-v7y I was listening to the panel after the Dodgers won the world series and I didn't get to watch the entire game. I just watched it when the Dodgers won it but after looking at these plays the Yankees let the Dodgers back into the game. You can't allow good teams like the Dodgers to get back in the game and play sloppy like the Yankees did because teams like the Dodgers will make you pay
He realized pretty quickly he wasn't beating Mookie in a foot race. The weird thing was the angle he took. I can only imagine brain fart. If the fix was in - it'd be so a Game 6 happens. There's more money in an extra game than all the gambling combined.
Yeah. Cole started his 3rd out stroll off the mound early. But championship nerves seem to challenge fundamentals. Buckner and the Red Sox/Mets series years ago. ALCS Red Sox/Yankees, years ago--routine ground ball, routine throw to first--bounces off glove. Momentum shift. Certainly, a 5-0 lead, early in the game, game-in-the-bag thoughts start happening, then an error--then fundamental mistake or two. Momentum shift.
24 дня назад+16
I am sorry but i blame cole for that play. You’re taught in little league to run to first base. He was still ahead of mookie if he busted it down to first base.
In the first inning with Mookie grounding out to Rizzo Cole was lazy and pointing Rizzo to the bag. He should have covered until Rizzo called him off not making the call himself.
Yep, I noticed this too. If you were going to make a fictional story out of this game, him doing almost this exact same thing in the 1st (and it working out) leading to him committing this egregious mistake later when it really mattered would be an instance of what those in the business call .... foreshadowing (DRAMATIC MUSIC!) Hopefully Cole learns this lesson to not take for granted the 1B doing his job for him in the future. Always book it to first until 1B calls you off!
Los Angeles was the better team and deserved to win. My Dodgers did a great job. Dave Roberts did a masterful job of managing his bullpen to keep it close enough. This play reminds us that baseball can be cruel. Cole was very tired at that point and of all places the ball could have gone it went to the right side of the infield where Cole needs to make a play. His legs are barking at him. Running to first is the very last thing he wants to do. If the ball is hit anywhere else he's not in the play and doesn't need to run. It was a tough situation. If Rizzo was superhuman he would have had the presents of mind to slide into first to avoid Mookie, but he's only human. NY gave Los Angeles 5 UNearned runs in that inning. That's got to be a World Series record.
@irtnyc I don't know, it almost looks like Mookie cuts inside a bit when he sees Cole going to cover and Cole slows down when he sees that he is on a collision course with Mookie. Look at Mookie and Cole and their lines to 1B - because of that inside cut, it actually does make it a bit more difficult for Cole to get there.
@@irtnyc I've noticed a few voices on social media clamoring that Rizzo was at fault for not running as hard as he could to first once he saw that Cole wasn't covering. But we see here that Rizzo had no chance to beat Betts to first because he had to turn his body away to field the spinning grounder.
100% on Cole. Once Rizzo lost momentum, since he had to wait for the spinning ball, there was not chance he was beating Betts to first. It would have been a touch play, even *WITH* Cole covering. But, what should have been a tough out, was a no-play at first.
@@johnreesekl6249It's Cole's mistake but his initial path was bad. By the time he stops and calls to Rizzo he sees it's already too late to safely beat Mookie on his own
Yes, pitcher's cover is something drilled into juniors from the time they take up pitch ball. I'm noticing that a number of runners, like Mookie here, are running inside the tracks to first which can be a distraction in like cases.
Does Cole actually beat Mookie to the bag even if he runs it out? Looks like Mookie might have beaten him no matter what, so Rizzo needs to run faster to the bag to get the out anyway.
So, a guy named Mookie hits a cue shot down the first base line, there is a fielding misplay, a run scores, and a World Series gets turned around. I wonder if we've ever seen that before...
Gerrit Cole, must blame himself for not covering 1st. base. The 5th inning was in his hands. Regardless of Aaron Judge’s outfield error. Cole’s mistake is within his control. Look in the mirror if you must blame anyone.
@@AntonelliBaseballDo you think that little cut inside by Mookie may have contributed to the bad angle? It looks to me like Mookie cuts in after a step or two and that sort of puts Cole in an awkward position as far as getting to the bag without running into Mookie. I could be seeing something that's not there, especially if Cole didn't say that's what caused his awkward line, but it did look that way to me.
@ no I think his line wasn’t that bad. I think he started pretty flat but all he had to do was turn up the line a bit. Instead he just stopped cause he thought Rizzo had it
The distance from the pitcher's mound to first base is only about 70% the distance from home plate to first base. But at the speed Mookie was flying towards first, the pitcher would have to hustle quite a bit to get there!
Mookie Wilson hit the spinning ball that went through Bill Buckner’s legs in the 1986 World Series Game 6 allowing the Mets to beat Boston in extras and then come from behind in Game 7. Two WS clutch players with speed.
Thanks for the breakdown. You don’t really hear this kind of analysis from the general media. I have more of an appreciation for what actually happened. ⚾️
Love your videos and insights, Matt :) This view is tough. Unfortunately, it’s really hard to see the ball. Two of my sons (10 & 8) play baseball, one on a select team. I played until high school and have learned a ton from you and a couple others here on RUclips. Thanks! This was an amazing inning to watch. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing from the Yankees defense. When it rains, it pours.
I had a play like that once playing first where the pitcher cover and I decided to take It myself but the dirt wasn’t soft and my first step was slide Stumble 💩 with the pitcher standing on first with an opened glove. It sucks
I will always remember the first time I saw a baseball fly off a bat with big-league-top-spin. It was surreal. Your video breakdown is a great perspective.
Watching replays of this play, I feel like Rizzo could have arrived at the bag before Betts even without momentum. Does it appear that Rizzo gives up pursuing the bag shortly after fielding the ball?
In Cole’s postgame presser he stated that initially he thought he had a chance to field the ball and when he didn’t it was too late for him to get to the bag. This is BS. He couldn’t have thought he could have fielded that ball. He assumed Rizzo would take it himself. Cole cost the Yankees that game.
@@dherche Yes, Cole had a fleeting, sickening moment of assumption. That's exactly what Kike didn't do on Judge's missed catch. Hernandez watched that play intently, reaching second on a close play to avert a forceout. Here, Cole assumed Rizzo would take first, and he guessed wrong! In the major leagues, never assume, and always hustle it out.
From what I could find (via Wikipedia) Cole has been pitching at least since his sophomore year in high school. And he was likely pitching before then. But if you use his sophomore year as when he started that means he's been pitching for at least 19 years. There is no way a pitcher with that much experience thought he could field that ball. That was an absolutely ridiculous excuse. It would have been better and more honest to say he had a brain fart. That's far more believable. Every pitcher from LL on knows go to first for a ground ball on the right side.
@edcasey9738 Possibly. I think in the case of this play, Rizzo had no chance, but one never knows. That's part of why hustle is so important. Then you have a better chance of knowing what's possible.
Noting that the ball was hit on the tip of the bat and so gave the ball a strong spin that altered the expected path was ... insightful. Spot on. Anyone could see the obvious components of the event ... but coming to understand how the spin affected Cole was informative. Thanks. ❤
1st thing a little league pitcher learns is to cover 1st base on anything hit up the 1st base line especially in a World Series game where your on the possible verge of elimination!! The Pitcher being Cole has to look at his options all around him, focus and be ready for anything including covering home plate on an errant throw or throwing home or first base on an infield hit anywhere near the pitcher.. Cole flat out was not focused nor did he attempt to execute on this ground ball from Betts.. It would be a different situation all together if he was running to cover the bag and Betts beat him out! but Cole didn't execute any effort to get there in the Biggest game there possibly is for a Big Leaguer and so that lack of execution cost him and the Yankees a shot at going to L.A. to go after the Championship plane and simple!! You can recover from Judges dropped ball, even the 3rd base throw, but you can't give the Dodgers runs for free or a hot team like this will capitalize on you.. All Little Leaguers take note of what your job is because it's not just pitching when you go to the mound!!
Way back in 1979 the Yankees were playing the Orioles in Baltimore. I had great seats in Memorial Stadium right behind the Yankees dugout along the 1st base line. Mickey Rivers of NYY was one of the fastest guys in MLB. He hit a routine grounder to the second baseman and he dogged it down the line.. easy out. I yelled "No Hustle Rivers" as he came back to the dugout. The next time up he hit an identical grounder to the second baseman, but this time he FLEW down to 1B like his hair was on fire.... SAFE!!! He stood on top of 1B and with his arms crossed across his chest staring right at me in the stands with a "What do you think of me now" look on his face. What I think now, is that an MLB player is paid to hustle all the time.
Combine that with the game 1 Otahni double where Torres couldn’t field Soto’s throw allowing Shohei to advance third and score on the sac fly. That proved to be the tying run that forced extra innings. If either Torres is more diligent stopping that ball or Soto makes a better throw, then Freeman never gets a chance to hit that walk off slam and the Yankees are headed back to LA with a 3-2 lead.
Mookie isn’t the most physically gifted player. But theman always has his head in the game. Watching him play the outfield. He never seems to be out of position nor does he take bad routes to line drives or flies. He is a pleasure to watch: Thanks Red Sox!
Many say Rizzo didn't try. He overshot the ball, tough play, his fault, no question. But, especially because he overshot, he then has to make the next play properly. A first basement catching a mid to high speed grounder is thinking toss before the catch. A toss requires balance, he didn't look like sprinting because he was set to throw. Why think throw first? Because the pitcher is supposed to always be there even if it's a ball that the firstbasement eventually takes it himself. Then finally he realizes he has to full sprint because the play broke down and by the time he sped up a bit, Mookie was already there.
I think another thing to consider is, why is Cole running to intercept Mookie, while Slothy is so slow to field the ball and was 100% expecting Cole to be covering the base? Mookie would've beaten them both but at least an attempt was made 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Bases loaded, No other fielder was close to their bag. The catcher was walking off like it was over, 2nd baseman was standing in the middle and the ss was not covering 2nd. 3rd looks ok.
Great breakdown of the play! I wonder if Mookie still would have been safe with how long it took Rizzo to get the ball and him hustling out of the box.
AB, you should break down the differences between how Cole misplayed this same play in the first inning as well. And compare both of Coles misplays to Banda’s play in the bottom of the second. Cole said he thought he might be able to field the ball because he didn’t know how hard the ball was hit. So he took the wrong angle. Horse hockey. Cole made the same mistake twice. And his coaches should have reprimanded him the first time and pointed out how Banda played it in the bottom of the second inning. Maybe then Cole would have realized his teammates and coaches were watching.
We’ll never know because he didn’t go to the bag, BUT with how it was hit and how the first baseman had to change directions and go get it, I don’t think Cole beats Mookie to the bag with the ball anyways.
Cole is completely to blame here. I think he was distracted by everything else that happened in the inning. Rizzo couldn't attack a ball with that much spin; he had to wait for it.
I was stunned when I saw this- happy as a Red Sox fan- but stunned. It still looks like Rizzo could have made more of an effort to get to the bag. He seems to give up once he sees Cole isn't there. Maybe he's in shock because everyone knows he's supposed to be there. All in all, hilarious. I love it.
It wasn’t a pivotal play, but I’d love to see a video on the balk call. My son and I watched that 3-4 times and we couldn’t figure out where the balk was.
Great breakdown. It was a bang bang play that left me barking at Cole. Now I see that it was a freak ball. Cole thought he could field it and took a line away from 1st. Rizzo was going away from the bag when he fielded it. He never had a chance. No Yankee made a mistake in this play. All credit to mookie. What looked like a sure out was salvaged by him hauling all out of the box. And that kids is why you run out every ball.
I occasionally follow baseball from the UK (after going to a few Dodgers games early 80s). I don’t watch enough to know, but I never saw a pitcher bale out of beating a runner to 1st base in case needed when it’s grounded close to 1st. Is this an extremely unusual mistake ? Seems likely to me. If you freeze frame when the ball is just passing the bag, Cole still has momentum and several yards on Betts. I liked how Cole seemed the most in control and calm player excelling with his pitching to try curtail the impact of the other errors, but maybe he was just too cool when it came to having to switch into making a reactive play. Whatever, it’s this unpredictable nature of sport that brings us all back for more.
A similar ground ball out happened earlier in the game. Rizzo was able to zip over to 1st without issues. Cole was clearly frustrated after Judge dropped a fly ball, and the Yankees manager refused to pay a mound visit.
With the above view. When your pointing things. I think you need to start using colored lines. I know where the ball went but it's hard tracking in the above view. I still like the view so you can see the whole field tho
Yes, I can point out one major factor which you missed and so did almost everyone else! Mookie did not, repeat, did not run all out to first UNTIL HE SAW NO ONE WAS GOING TO BEAT HIM TO THE BAG. You've been showing us the replay of the action in slow motion. Even in slow motion you will be able to see how Mookie 'shifts gears' about half way to first especially when he sees Cole run himself out of the play and stops. At first, Mookie thought he was an easy out. What's so sad about the play is THE INNING WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER WITH NO RUNS BEING SCORED!!!!! No blame should go to Rizzo. He did all he could do catching the ball while he was headed to first base. Believe me, when he picked up the ball and headed to first he was in shock, "Where the hell is Cole?" Judge and Volpe will have to live with their awful mistakes and no matter what they do they will ALWAYS be reminded of their blunders which 'could have' cost them a World Series win. But, Cole, guilty of not running to first base on a grounder to the first baseman? Excuse me, I don't want to hear how great he was up to that point and how wonderful he was to stay in the game and continue to do well. When he pitches he always has this look of determination on his face but how many times have we seen him 'lose his cool' in the middle of a game. I believe he is a pessimist and it must be difficult for him to play when something happens and negative thoughts start to cloud his thinking process.. What am I saying???? If he was clear headed he would have instinctively run to first base without hesitation and no runs would have scored in the inning. I cannot imagine how torturing it must have been to stay out there and absorb what happened afterward. I hope he doesn't depend on himself to live with this dilemma. Talk it over with someone who can offer professional help and ease his mind. It will be possible. The worse thing is to ignore it.
I disagree. He busted out of the box. It only looks like he didnt compared to the last half of the run because he already had momentum and hit top speed somewhere along the way.
@@bosstime2010 But that's exactly what I meant. Of course he's naturally fast but he turned it on half way to first. As you said, "hitting top speed" means he wasn't 'busting it' the entire run until he saw, MUCH TO HIS AMAZEMENT, no one was going to beat him to the bag!
@@s0n0faking No. Antonelli explained it perfectly. The ball was drifting away from Rizzo. He had all he could do to make sure he didn't fumble 'the spinning' ball! That was his major concern. After all, Cole would be on his way to cover first but, "Where was Cole?" Listen to the video again. Pitchers run toward first base every time a ball is hit to the first base side of the diamond, it's almost instinctive. Cole has no legitimate excuse for not running to the base to catch a toss from Rizzo.
Meh, Cole should get props for holding it together as much as he did although by the end of the inning he looked like he was undone. Overcoming paralysis and nerves is important to practice though, you're right
Even though that was all on Garrett to cover first, Rizzo just threw in the towel and gave up on the play way too early. I would have dove head first to the base. It’s the World Series for fucks sake.
EXACTLY. FINALLY SOMEONE SAYS THE SAME THING I'VE BEEN SAYING... His big lazy ass gave up on that shit... HUSTLE OR DIVE OVER THERE! 2 OUTS!! Wouldn't be surprised if Rizzo had bet money in Vegas on the Yankees losing, becausee wayyy too often do I see him botch plays and at bats...
The pitcher should always run to cover first on contact of any ground ball to that side especially in the world series with the bases loaded. It doesn't matter if its hit down the line close to the bag, what if the first baseman bobbles it? In the world series you can't be saying I could have run over to first, but I thought you could get it yourself. Cole was actually pitching great, such a weird time to not hustle. Cole went on to throw more than 20 pitches after that so it wasn't because he was so exhausted he couldn't run to cover first. If you are athletic enough to throw a 99 mph fast ball accurately for strikes, you are athletic enough to run over and cover first base.
With the Gibson -Freeman HR similarity, my first thought with Mookie and this roller along first base, behind the bag I really thought it was going between Rizzo legs down the line.
Cole has form in this game regarding not covering 1st base. In the first inning he did the same thing standing and pointing to Rizzo instead of covering 1st. That play resulted in an out but the signs were there.
The crowd who has never played or coached in a higher level of baseball will blame Riz. This basic level 100/101 infield defense practiced all year round was just simply lost. I think Cole was so intent upon saving his energy and pitches he just forgot in the moment needs. I feel really bad for anyone who has to live with this, thinking of the "could-a-would-a's" and "what-if's". This will haunt him forever and foot-note his career. God Bless ya Cole as a game is a game and a human life, a human life. Next year... as I don't think you would have won four in a row anyway.
I could understand it if it was a regular season game but it's an elimination game in the World Series. Rizzo has the ball. He needs to run. 20% Cole's fault 80% Rizzo's lack of hustle.
These New York teams as of late. This reminds me of when the Mets 1st baseman missed an easy throw to home plate in the 2015 WS vs. the Royals. Harvey also blew it that series!
Cole was on the move initially and then bailed on the play thinking that Rizzo had the play. This makes it even more of a "Cardinal Sin" committed by Cole, unlike when a Pitcher initially hesitates or freezes before breaking off of the mound to cover. Cole knew, immediately, that he needed to make a beeline toward 1st and yet after moving off of the mound pretty quickly, he bails and he loses any chance of receiving a throw from Rizzo.
Let's cut through all the BS! Cole's job is to run to first base, period. I don't want to hear about the spin. He runs to first even if he thinks it might go foul. He continues and stops only if the umpire raises his arms and says foul or if it's fair and the first baseman waives him off.
I’d like to see you, Matt Antonelli, get an MLB coaching gig..you’d make a great manager. You just know the game and it comes so natural. I can see you’d be easily relatable to both the veteran and younger players. Just look at this video here for example. I’ve seen so many guys on the MLB channel and sports networks talk about this play and they just go over it like oh well he didn’t cover the bag and blah blah blah. No one that I’ve seen mentioned and detailed how the ball came off the bat and the course it took, and how that screwed up the perception of Cole and Rizzo. Heck Cole and Rizzo didn’t even bring it up! I think you’d really help any team get better, and I can only imagine how cool it would be if you did it and simultaneously had this channel!
please explain should cole sprint directly to first or should he run to about 10 feet before first base and then run towards first base to give rizzo a clear throw as opposed to trying to lead him ?
I'm still surprised nobody brought up the fact that the exact same play was happened in the 1st inning! Betts hit to the right side, Rizzo get the ball and get to base in time, and Cole stop and point to the first base. The exact same play, except Betts was out. That is why Cole expected the same outcome in the 5th.
I CAN’T BELIEVE that one of the greatest pitchers in the game made this fundamental mistake. I guess he was cooked because of the other 2 errors in the inning but still unbelievable
This was a routine 3 to1 put out. Pitchers practice this in spring training and and it's routine. No idea why Cole stopped running to cover first base.
Things like the 5th inning are the kind of things that happened to the Red Sox all the time when they were in the middle of their "curse" years. Incredible that one of the most memorable plays from those years also in involved a batter named Mookie.
You should do a poll on this video and see who gets more of the blame, cole or rizzo. I see it more on rizzo but the comments are overwhelming cole. Guys, its the 5th inning of a game where he is pitching all hes got on every throw. Honestly at the point rizzo sees cole isnt covering, i think he might have been able to beat mookie but we'll never know because he didnt even try.
Bogus. Rizzo had to stop his momentum towards first to field the ball spinning to his right. Had Cole sprinted to first, Rizzo could make the flip to Cole and he would have beaten Betts.
That was crazy. I think even if Cole busted it to the bag, it would have been a bang bang play. But yes, he shouldn't have given up like that. That play, the Judge error and Boone leaving Garrett in pretty much sealed the deal. That and it took Judge 20 games to quit chasing pitches and let the game come to him. That's what really did it. I know playoffs and championships are a big deal. But as players, we don't change or deviate too much from what got us there. Just keep doing what you always do. Which hopefully is busting it every day. Then it really isn't any different than any other game. You're just doing what you always do.
At least that is how I played. Every day was a playoff game. But yes you're going intensify in the playoffs. If that's how you play normally then it shouldn't affect your game. Anyway, how ever you normally play don't change your game too much in the playoffs. Let the game come to you.
Mookie Betts hustles on a play where he is out 99% of the time, Cole doesn't hustle on a play where Mookie is out 99% time. Both lead to unearned runs in a game where the World Series is decided. Young players - you cannot turn the hustle when it is important. It is every time, or it won't show up when you need it most.
Pete Rose runnning right there!
This is the biggest difference in the series. Both teams have immensely talented players…the Dodgers are more fundamentally sound.
Your comment is spot on my friend. It drives me nuts when players don’t hustle or stand to admire what they think is a homer only to see it bounce off the wall. This crap is allowed by the damn coaches. Enough said
Good counsel for all of us, as well as athletes.
Betts should have been called out for obstruction. He ran the entire way to 1st in the infield obstructing Cole's path so he bailed and counted on Rizzo. Outside the baseline is fine-But inside? for that long? On that play? Betts had nothing to lose so he "cheated" and got away with it. Rizzo was handcuffed and Cole didn't want a collision. Umpire fail more than Yankee f up.
It's the potential LAST OUT OF THE INNING. Cole was obligated to make Rizzo call him off. Cole's responsibility 100%.
Is rizzo obligated to be lazy as fuck instead of just getting the damn ball?
The Dodgers pitcher ran to first for the out, why couldn't Cole do the same?
The Yankees need to immortalize this play (and Cole) out in Monument Park. No team with *TWO* Aarons has ever won the World Series, so this epic Yankee fail should have come as no surprise.
And AFAIK, no team with TWO Gavin's had ever won the World Series, though Gavin Stone was on the IL, and not pitching.
I read a book "The Art of Pitching" by Tom Seaver and in it, he states that a pitcher should automatically move to cover 1st on ANY ball to the right side of the infield. I never forgot that.
Cole's action on that play was not on the level.
Greg Maddux lived that every day. One of the reasons he has as many gold gloves as he does.
1969 I was 10 years old and a Mets fan. Seaver was a GOD.
He did and then stopped
I'm not a fan of the Yankees or Cole from his spider tack days w the astros. Sometimes pitchers do field balls in front of the mound on the first base side. Cole made a bad read much like an outfielder or like Volpe when he didn't score from second on the hard hit double. Trust me, when a player messes up on little league fundamentals, I call them out. I think the spin and lack of the ball being barrelled gave Cole the impression the ball would be leaving the bat w a significantly lower velocity.
Rizzo in his peripheral vision is seeing Cole come off the mound so he’s deep playing the weird hop only to come up and see Gerrit Cole’s ass standing in no man’s land pointing like he’s directing traffic LOL. Where they teach that? Groundball to 1B you’re on the mound you run sideways like you’re trying to tackle Mookie Betts then you point like a dummy. A dummy that makes $36M yr. Remarkable.
😂
All sports are rigged. Once you know what to look for it becomes obvious. NFL (National Fixed League) leads the charge in this regard.
He doesn't even have an excuse like if he were a lefty falling off the mount towards third. What a weird angle to take.
He claimed the post game that he thought he would be able to cut the ball off which is completely insane
Rizzo is not seeing anything but the ball. He knows it's got spin and doesn't wanna do a Bill Buckner '86. He is expecting Cole at the base.
This is a great explanation and presentation. What I appreciate most is the nature of the way you explain it, without over the top claims, denigrating remarks, or anything of the sort. Cole make a misjudgment, and Betts hustle deserves praise for hustling hard and never taking the play for granted.
No excuse. Full Stop. I'm a Yankee fan, but I know Schilling would have covered the bag in Game 6.
@@will27ns factually correct.
Cole clearly knows (at least he should know): 1. Betts is very fast, 2. Rizzo is slow, 3. Rizzo has 2 broken fingers and even routine plays could be a problem for him, 4. Balls hit with a bat often have this thing called - spin, 5. A pitcher ALWAYS covers 1st on GBs hit to his left. But my man was like - Nah, it'll be fine.
The point is the cherry on top
Cole would never beat Betts to the bag, Rizos play all the way, that was an infield hit all the way, dont blame Cole
@@kevinkwiatkowski7197 Yeah Mookie has some jets but Cole has to at least TRY to cover 1st. It’s always a pitcher’s job in that situation
@@kevinkwiatkowski7197 Rizzo is and has always been a soft-bodied, baby-faced sloth. Cement in his cleats!
who would of thought a player named Mookie, playing a World Series game in NY, would hit a slow grounder to first and it would be talked about. It was mighty nice of Gerrit to tell Mookie where 1st base was.
Lol.
I saw the similarities to 1986 also.
good call. Cole is the new Bill Buckner
lol. What was he pointing at?
@@garygreensmith858 the ball didn't go through Cole's legs
Yes - this title is the correct characterization. Rizzo is taking too much heat for Cole not hustling to cover first. Even if a pitcher thinks the first baseman is taking it himself, he needs to hustle hard to the base. Period.
Exactly my thought, Cole had a terrible angle combined with a lack of hustle.
What about fanduel doe duke 🏅📯📯
Everyone I've seen correctly blames Cole, but Rizzo didn't even try.
I know that Cole missed a routine play contrary to Rizzo, who would have needed an exceptional effort. But this is the World Series. Did he save his efforts for an eventual game 7 ?
It's a terrible look to not even try.
@@Pubicon Are you watching the same video? Mookie beats Rizzo by like 2-3 steps.. you make it sound like Rizzo sat indian style after he fielded the ball, lol.. He was expecting to see Cole going towards the bag when he looked up, but he wasn't there and he could see that Mookie had him beat.. Had Rizzo known that Cole wasn't going to be there from the get go, he acts quite a bit faster i bet you.. This is 98% on Cole, imo.. If the dumb dickhead did what he was told since little league, they might be playing tomorrow
It’s called getting frustrated with your fielders because of all the errors already. That frustration and stress just snowballs into a brain fart. When you are as careless with fundamentals as the Yankees are in fielding and base running it’ll bite you back when the pressure is at its highest.
This is not the first time this has happened to Cole/Rizzo. To me this is on Arron Boone fundamentals baseball 101 addressing problems the Yankees have been making for years. Mental mistakes, lack of focus, and laziness with a weak manager and front office for that matter not holding accountability
They made so many errors and base running mistakes this postsesson other than game 3 against Cleveland this one cost them. Was only a matter of time before the Dodgers made them pay the price.
Nah....this is little league shit
This is all on the manager. Everyone knows they committed mistakes all season, and he did nothing to put an end to it!
buh-bye Boonie? Or do they run it back? Hard to dump a guy who MAKES it to the world series...but (channeling Blofeld) OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER
It's on Cole too. He's a professional baseball player. Professional. Baseball. Also Rizzo should have at least dove head first to try to get the out after he saw Cole being stupid.
Yes! Exactly. Also Rizzo has been slow getting to balls this year. He actually wound up a better hitter than fielder after he got back. Not on throws' in the dirt. Still a master at that. But moving around on the field...not coming up with grounders the way he used to. Seemed less sure of himself out there.
Great breakdown. Didn't know the ball spinning so much and how that caused so much chaos
Recently, there was a video where the ball hit the ground halfway between the first base line and the dugout. It had so much counterclockwise spin on it that it kicked sideways and went fair.
If you can find it, there is shot from the right field line camera looking in toward home, that really shows how much the ball was moving away from the line... Rizzo's momentum was clearly going toward second. You can see Mookie recognizing, then turning on the burners... I don't know why they don't show it on most highlight compilations.
As a Dodger fan- watching this is bringing back all the stress reminding me how evertyhing shouldn't have gone our way and how close it was to a game six.
Yup & as a Yankee fan how our team served it up. You have players there for sure. Kiki & Edman, they’re ballers & made a difference. Your bottom order far outplayed ours. Rizzo was an automatic out.
It was really tight and ultimately even though the Dodgers were WAY better in the clutch, the Yankees blew what should have been 2 closed and shut wins.
It's so weird to see Dave Roberts make all the right moves and the other team gift us games. That's not how baseball works.
Oh you’re stressed as a dodgers fan? Really? STFU. I hate every single one of you and I genuinely hope this is your last World Series even though I know they will just buy more. There should be a salary cap in baseball. Bottom line
Put the ball in play and good things happen especially against a lineup poor at the fundamentals
Spin no spin, Cole is responsible for getting to 1st, and he fails to do this. It’s not Rizzo’s fault. Moreover, Cole’s path isn’t towards 1st, it’s towards his dugout! It’s a dereliction of duty.
Yep, well said, ball spin is irrelevant.
There's this really odd combination of Cole not running to first and Rizzo playing really deep. Can't have both.
I notice that also...he did not run to the 1st base and stop
He gets there in a slow trot.
Yupp,😂
I am reminded of game 7 of the 1960 WS, Roberto Clemente hit a weak ground ball to first base, fielded by Bill Skowron, but Jim Coates did not cover first, and Clemente beat it out for a hit. This was followed by Hal Smith's 3-run home run. An inning later came Mazeroski's HR.
You're "... reminded of game 7 of the 1960 WS ..." are you dead now?
Dude, it reminded me of the day I watched that play that injured the yankee first baseman and was replaced by the Lou guy…
@@kevinbergin9971 80 is the new 60.
@@kevinbergin9971 Try and be funny less and make the world a better place.
@@JonHenderson-tn4kw I remember the the play and so do many still watching baseball fans. Do not be such an A-hole. I guess we old folks have just seen a few more games than you younger folks.
Well made and explained. The two errors prior matter too but this was the chance to rectify those issues. Bummer this series ended so soon but this play is a great teaching point for young pitchers on what not to do.
Agreed 💯. Boone and the Yankees should watch these videos and address these mistakes for 2025
Unforgivable error by judge, you need to use two hands to catch the ball, I'm sure I heard that somewhere oh yeah that's right Little League 55/60 years ago.
Of all of them, Volpe's was by far the most understandable.
Yea I pitched from little league to highschool and at age 13 I played travel baseball for coaches that played pro or college. So as a pitcher you are taught that anything hit on the ground to the right side you have to get over to cover first base. But you also have to know the speed of the runner and also where the first baseman is playing. I also played firstbase and you have to communicate with the pitcher that you are having to play to pull and that anything hit to the right side that he needs help from the pitcher. But this drill is taught all the way down to youth level and so there's no excuse in why the pitcher shouldn't cover in this situation
Bingo! Absolutely NO EXCUSE whatsoever for Cole not covering.
@THOMASMckenzie-v7y
I was listening to the panel after the Dodgers won the world series and I didn't get to watch the entire game. I just watched it when the Dodgers won it but after looking at these plays the Yankees let the Dodgers back into the game. You can't allow good teams like the Dodgers to get back in the game and play sloppy like the Yankees did because teams like the Dodgers will make you pay
Unless the game is fixed.
@paulfornaro6320
No I think he just forgot to cover first I mean this is stuff that you work on nonstop in spring training
He realized pretty quickly he wasn't beating Mookie in a foot race. The weird thing was the angle he took. I can only imagine brain fart. If the fix was in - it'd be so a Game 6 happens. There's more money in an extra game than all the gambling combined.
Yeah. Cole started his 3rd out stroll off the mound early. But championship nerves seem to challenge fundamentals. Buckner and the Red Sox/Mets series years ago. ALCS Red Sox/Yankees, years ago--routine ground ball, routine throw to first--bounces off glove. Momentum shift. Certainly, a 5-0 lead, early in the game, game-in-the-bag thoughts start happening, then an error--then fundamental mistake or two. Momentum shift.
I am sorry but i blame cole for that play. You’re taught in little league to run to first base. He was still ahead of mookie if he busted it down to first base.
So glad to hear you,credit Mookie for busting down the line. Many big leaguers dog it on that play.
If it was Gleyber Torres he probably would've been having a relaxed jog down the base path.
Not in a world series game , but Cole did it though 😂😂 and I'm a Yankees fan ( but not a boone fan)
In the first inning with Mookie grounding out to Rizzo Cole was lazy and pointing Rizzo to the bag. He should have covered until Rizzo called him off not making the call himself.
Exactly right.
Yep, I noticed this too. If you were going to make a fictional story out of this game, him doing almost this exact same thing in the 1st (and it working out) leading to him committing this egregious mistake later when it really mattered would be an instance of what those in the business call .... foreshadowing (DRAMATIC MUSIC!)
Hopefully Cole learns this lesson to not take for granted the 1B doing his job for him in the future. Always book it to first until 1B calls you off!
Which is precisley what every knowledgable fan has been saying
Los Angeles was the better team and deserved to win. My Dodgers did a great job. Dave Roberts did a masterful job of managing his bullpen to keep it close enough. This play reminds us that baseball can be cruel. Cole was very tired at that point and of all places the ball could have gone it went to the right side of the infield where Cole needs to make a play. His legs are barking at him. Running to first is the very last thing he wants to do. If the ball is hit anywhere else he's not in the play and doesn't need to run. It was a tough situation. If Rizzo was superhuman he would have had the presents of mind to slide into first to avoid Mookie, but he's only human. NY gave Los Angeles 5 UNearned runs in that inning. That's got to be a World Series record.
Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. I think it offers a reasonable explanation of Cole’s actions on that play.
There were two on Twitter who chimed in on this that played major league baseball. They both put this on Cole.
Who else could this possibly be on? He has to cover.
@irtnyc I don't know, it almost looks like Mookie cuts inside a bit when he sees Cole going to cover and Cole slows down when he sees that he is on a collision course with Mookie.
Look at Mookie and Cole and their lines to 1B - because of that inside cut, it actually does make it a bit more difficult for Cole to get there.
@@irtnyc I've noticed a few voices on social media clamoring that Rizzo was at fault for not running as hard as he could to first once he saw that Cole wasn't covering. But we see here that Rizzo had no chance to beat Betts to first because he had to turn his body away to field the spinning grounder.
100% on Cole. Once Rizzo lost momentum, since he had to wait for the spinning ball, there was not chance he was beating Betts to first. It would have been a touch play, even *WITH* Cole covering. But, what should have been a tough out, was a no-play at first.
@@johnreesekl6249It's Cole's mistake but his initial path was bad. By the time he stops and calls to Rizzo he sees it's already too late to safely beat Mookie on his own
Yes, pitcher's cover is something drilled into juniors from the time they take up pitch ball.
I'm noticing that a number of runners, like Mookie here, are running inside the tracks to first which can be a distraction in like cases.
Does Cole actually beat Mookie to the bag even if he runs it out? Looks like Mookie might have beaten him no matter what, so Rizzo needs to run faster to the bag to get the out anyway.
So, a guy named Mookie hits a cue shot down the first base line, there is a fielding misplay, a run scores, and a World Series gets turned around. I wonder if we've ever seen that before...
Exactly what I thought. Who else remembers 1986? Also a NY team was involved (although on opposite end of the play) And Betts used to be a Red sox.
No need to wonder....
it did...
Glad to see this analysis for my own confirmation bias. I keep seeing people trying to put this on Rizzo, and I'm completely confused by it.
Gerrit Cole, must blame himself for not covering 1st. base. The 5th inning was in his hands. Regardless of Aaron Judge’s outfield error. Cole’s mistake is within his control. Look in the mirror if you must blame anyone.
As a Dodgers fan this is the most satisfying season ever
Just to add to your analysis, Cole said 1) he had misjudged the speed of the ball; 2) he took a bad line to first base
It makes no difference. He should be running as hard as he can until Rizzo says "I got it," whether by signal or by saying it.
I agree he misjudged the ball. I think he would have been fine if he kept running and just turned up the line a bit
The inning was over for him. On the way to the dugout.
@@AntonelliBaseballDo you think that little cut inside by Mookie may have contributed to the bad angle?
It looks to me like Mookie cuts in after a step or two and that sort of puts Cole in an awkward position as far as getting to the bag without running into Mookie.
I could be seeing something that's not there, especially if Cole didn't say that's what caused his awkward line, but it did look that way to me.
@ no I think his line wasn’t that bad. I think he started pretty flat but all he had to do was turn up the line a bit. Instead he just stopped cause he thought Rizzo had it
THIS is the PERFECT EXAMPLE on WHY coaches tell players to ALWAYS 'run-it-out.' Had Mookie JOGGED, end of inning. Plain and simple. ALWAYS RUN IT OUT!
The distance from the pitcher's mound to first base is only about 70% the distance from home plate to first base. But at the speed Mookie was flying towards first, the pitcher would have to hustle quite a bit to get there!
I doubt Cole would have beaten Mookie to the bag even if he played it correctly. Rizzoli and Coles speed added together equals Mookie.
@@jamesswift5545 Well, if he bothered to make that effort, he wouldn't be looking like a damn fool now.
I agree with this...I thought I heard them say on Talkin Baseball channel that it was the fastest speed Mookie ran the whole year.
Great analysis.
Mookie Wilson hit the spinning ball that went through Bill Buckner’s legs in the 1986 World Series Game 6 allowing the Mets to beat Boston in extras and then come from behind in Game 7. Two WS clutch players with speed.
Thanks for the breakdown. You don’t really hear this kind of analysis from the general media. I have more of an appreciation for what actually happened. ⚾️
Love your videos and insights, Matt :) This view is tough. Unfortunately, it’s really hard to see the ball. Two of my sons (10 & 8) play baseball, one on a select team. I played until high school and have learned a ton from you and a couple others here on RUclips. Thanks! This was an amazing inning to watch. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing from the Yankees defense. When it rains, it pours.
I had a play like that once playing first where the pitcher cover and I decided to take
It myself but the dirt wasn’t soft and my first step was slide Stumble 💩 with the pitcher standing on first with an opened glove. It sucks
I will always remember the first time I saw a baseball fly off a bat with big-league-top-spin. It was surreal.
Your video breakdown is a great perspective.
Watching replays of this play, I feel like Rizzo could have arrived at the bag before Betts even without momentum. Does it appear that Rizzo gives up pursuing the bag shortly after fielding the ball?
In Cole’s postgame presser he stated that initially he thought he had a chance to field the ball and when he didn’t it was too late for him to get to the bag. This is BS. He couldn’t have thought he could have fielded that ball. He assumed Rizzo would take it himself. Cole cost the Yankees that game.
Absolute BS is right. It is fair to say that Cole cost the Yankees the game.
@@dherche Yes, Cole had a fleeting, sickening moment of assumption. That's exactly what Kike didn't do on Judge's missed catch. Hernandez watched that play intently, reaching second on a close play to avert a forceout. Here, Cole assumed Rizzo would take first, and he guessed wrong! In the major leagues, never assume, and always hustle it out.
From what I could find (via Wikipedia) Cole has been pitching at least since his sophomore year in high school. And he was likely pitching before then. But if you use his sophomore year as when he started that means he's been pitching for at least 19 years. There is no way a pitcher with that much experience thought he could field that ball. That was an absolutely ridiculous excuse. It would have been better and more honest to say he had a brain fart. That's far more believable. Every pitcher from LL on knows go to first for a ground ball on the right side.
Maybe Rizzo could’ve pressed harder. He had a horrible series!!!
@edcasey9738 Possibly. I think in the case of this play, Rizzo had no chance, but one never knows. That's part of why hustle is so important. Then you have a better chance of knowing what's possible.
Noting that the ball was hit on the tip of the bat and so gave the ball a strong spin that altered the expected path was ... insightful. Spot on. Anyone could see the obvious components of the event ... but coming to understand how the spin affected Cole was informative. Thanks. ❤
The video is also a teaching moment for outfielders. Notice the Yankees outfielders react.
And the catcher! He just wanders away from home plate.
cole was running to the dugout anyway lol, no idea what the angle was
Bizarre. All he has to do is run the 63.6 feet to first, at 75% of the speed Mookie has to run 90 feet.
Yep. He’s running to no place.
ANY ball hit to the right side requires the pitcher to run as hard as possible to first. That simple. No fault for Rizzo. ALL Cole’s fault!
Rizzo could have hustled and at least made it close.
This result is what makes baseball so special. Fundamentals from t-ball !
1st thing a little league pitcher learns is to cover 1st base on anything hit up the 1st base line especially in a World Series game where your on the possible verge of elimination!! The Pitcher being Cole has to look at his options all around him, focus and be ready for anything including covering home plate on an errant throw or throwing home or first base on an infield hit anywhere near the pitcher..
Cole flat out was not focused nor did he attempt to execute on this ground ball from Betts.. It would be a different situation all together if he was running to cover the bag and Betts beat him out! but Cole didn't execute any effort to get there in the Biggest game there possibly is for a Big Leaguer and so that lack of execution cost him and the Yankees a shot at going to L.A. to go after the Championship plane and simple!! You can recover from Judges dropped ball, even the 3rd base throw, but you can't give the Dodgers runs for free or a hot team like this will capitalize on you.. All Little Leaguers take note of what your job is because it's not just pitching when you go to the mound!!
The Zapruder film of the Yankees.
I agree that Cole gave up but why didn’t Rizzo dive. Even if he didn’t make the play the team would feel better about it.
Superb description of the error at 1st base.
Way back in 1979 the Yankees were playing the Orioles in Baltimore. I had great seats in Memorial Stadium right behind the Yankees dugout along the 1st base line. Mickey Rivers of NYY was one of the fastest guys in MLB. He hit a routine grounder to the second baseman and he dogged it down the line.. easy out. I yelled "No Hustle Rivers" as he came back to the dugout. The next time up he hit an identical grounder to the second baseman, but this time he FLEW down to 1B like his hair was on fire.... SAFE!!! He stood on top of 1B and with his arms crossed across his chest staring right at me in the stands with a "What do you think of me now" look on his face. What I think now, is that an MLB player is paid to hustle all the time.
Crazy how they’d probably be playing in game 6 on Friday if that play was made
Definitely
If candy and nuts......🤔
Combine that with the game 1 Otahni double where Torres couldn’t field Soto’s throw allowing Shohei to advance third and score on the sac fly. That proved to be the tying run that forced extra innings.
If either Torres is more diligent stopping that ball or Soto makes a better throw, then Freeman never gets a chance to hit that walk off slam and the Yankees are headed back to LA with a 3-2 lead.
Maybe.
I don’t think there is any probably about it. This cost them 5 runs
Best analysis I've seen yet. Well done.
Mookie isn’t the most physically gifted player. But theman always has his head in the game. Watching him play the outfield. He never seems to be out of position nor does he take bad routes to line drives or flies. He is a pleasure to watch: Thanks Red Sox!
Many say Rizzo didn't try. He overshot the ball, tough play, his fault, no question. But, especially because he overshot, he then has to make the next play properly. A first basement catching a mid to high speed grounder is thinking toss before the catch. A toss requires balance, he didn't look like sprinting because he was set to throw. Why think throw first? Because the pitcher is supposed to always be there even if it's a ball that the firstbasement eventually takes it himself. Then finally he realizes he has to full sprint because the play broke down and by the time he sped up a bit, Mookie was already there.
Anyone remember the Buckner play in '86? What was that batter's name? Oh yeah... Mookie as well. Baseball is crazy!
I think another thing to consider is, why is Cole running to intercept Mookie, while Slothy is so slow to field the ball and was 100% expecting Cole to be covering the base? Mookie would've beaten them both but at least an attempt was made 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Next spring training, when it's time to work on covering first base during PFP, what do you think will be on Cole's mind?
What was Cole doing running half way up the baseline? The play was at first base.
It’s almost like Mookie knew this was the Workd Series.
Bases loaded, No other fielder was close to their bag. The catcher was walking off like it was over, 2nd baseman was standing in the middle and the ss was not covering 2nd. 3rd looks ok.
Regardless of spin, Cole should of been at the bag.
Isn't that what is ingrained in you by the time you get to Major League?
Great breakdown of the play!
I wonder if Mookie still would have been safe with how long it took Rizzo to get the ball and him hustling out of the box.
AB, you should break down the differences between how Cole misplayed this same play in the first inning as well. And compare both of Coles misplays to Banda’s play in the bottom of the second.
Cole said he thought he might be able to field the ball because he didn’t know how hard the ball was hit. So he took the wrong angle. Horse hockey.
Cole made the same mistake twice. And his coaches should have reprimanded him the first time and pointed out how Banda played it in the bottom of the second inning. Maybe then Cole would have realized his teammates and coaches were watching.
We’ll never know because he didn’t go to the bag, BUT with how it was hit and how the first baseman had to change directions and go get it, I don’t think Cole beats Mookie to the bag with the ball anyways.
Cole is responsible for the outcome and his unwillingness to acknowledge this speaks to his character.
Cole is completely to blame here. I think he was distracted by everything else that happened in the inning. Rizzo couldn't attack a ball with that much spin; he had to wait for it.
I was stunned when I saw this- happy as a Red Sox fan- but stunned. It still looks like Rizzo could have made more of an effort to get to the bag. He seems to give up once he sees Cole isn't there. Maybe he's in shock because everyone knows he's supposed to be there. All in all, hilarious. I love it.
It wasn’t a pivotal play, but I’d love to see a video on the balk call.
My son and I watched that 3-4 times and we couldn’t figure out where the balk was.
The balk was called becaue of the 3rd throw over to first without pickinng him off.
New 2023 rule states three pickoff attempts without a successful out tag results in a balk.
Great breakdown. It was a bang bang play that left me barking at Cole. Now I see that it was a freak ball. Cole thought he could field it and took a line away from 1st. Rizzo was going away from the bag when he fielded it. He never had a chance. No Yankee made a mistake in this play.
All credit to mookie. What looked like a sure out was salvaged by him hauling all out of the box. And that kids is why you run out every ball.
What a lazy bum. I was so happy Cole did this 😂😂😂
Interesting analysis!
I occasionally follow baseball from the UK (after going to a few Dodgers games early 80s). I don’t watch enough to know, but I never saw a pitcher bale out of beating a runner to 1st base in case needed when it’s grounded close to 1st. Is this an extremely unusual mistake ? Seems likely to me. If you freeze frame when the ball is just passing the bag, Cole still has momentum and several yards on Betts. I liked how Cole seemed the most in control and calm player excelling with his pitching to try curtail the impact of the other errors, but maybe he was just too cool when it came to having to switch into making a reactive play. Whatever, it’s this unpredictable nature of sport that brings us all back for more.
A similar ground ball out happened earlier in the game. Rizzo was able to zip over to 1st without issues. Cole was clearly frustrated after Judge dropped a fly ball, and the Yankees manager refused to pay a mound visit.
Cole opted out of his contract and is now a FA. His lasting memory is losing this World Series for the Yankees.
With the above view. When your pointing things. I think you need to start using colored lines. I know where the ball went but it's hard tracking in the above view.
I still like the view so you can see the whole field tho
2:38 I love you Matt but I cannot see the ball at all 😅
Dunno anything about baseball but this was talked about a lot on sports talk. Had to look it up, thanks for the explanation!
Best baseball channel on RUclips.
Yes, I can point out one major factor which you missed and so did almost everyone else! Mookie did not, repeat, did not run all out to first UNTIL HE SAW NO ONE WAS GOING TO BEAT HIM TO THE BAG. You've been showing us the replay of the action in slow motion. Even in slow motion you will be able to see how Mookie 'shifts gears' about half way to first especially when he sees Cole run himself out of the play and stops. At first, Mookie thought he was an easy out. What's so sad about the play is THE INNING WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER WITH NO RUNS BEING SCORED!!!!! No blame should go to Rizzo. He did all he could do catching the ball while he was headed to first base. Believe me, when he picked up the ball and headed to first he was in shock, "Where the hell is Cole?"
Judge and Volpe will have to live with their awful mistakes and no matter what they do they will ALWAYS be reminded of their blunders which 'could have' cost them a World Series win. But, Cole, guilty of not running to first base on a grounder to the first baseman? Excuse me, I don't want to hear how great he was up to that point and how wonderful he was to stay in the game and continue to do well. When he pitches he always has this look of determination on his face but how many times have we seen him 'lose his cool' in the middle of a game. I believe he is a pessimist and it must be difficult for him to play when something happens and negative thoughts start to cloud his thinking process.. What am I saying???? If he was clear headed he would have instinctively run to first base without hesitation and no runs would have scored in the inning. I cannot imagine how torturing it must have been to stay out there and absorb what happened afterward. I hope he doesn't depend on himself to live with this dilemma. Talk it over with someone who can offer professional help and ease his mind. It will be possible. The worse thing is to ignore it.
I disagree. He busted out of the box. It only looks like he didnt compared to the last half of the run because he already had momentum and hit top speed somewhere along the way.
@@bosstime2010 But that's exactly what I meant. Of course he's naturally fast but he turned it on half way to first. As you said, "hitting top speed" means he wasn't 'busting it' the entire run until he saw, MUCH TO HIS AMAZEMENT, no one was going to beat him to the bag!
wrong, rizzo showed no urgency, if rizzo hustled to the 1st, inning over.
@@s0n0faking No. Antonelli explained it perfectly. The ball was drifting away from Rizzo. He had all he could do to make sure he didn't fumble 'the spinning' ball! That was his major concern. After all, Cole would be on his way to cover first but, "Where was Cole?" Listen to the video again. Pitchers run toward first base every time a ball is hit to the first base side of the diamond, it's almost instinctive. Cole has no legitimate excuse for not running to the base to catch a toss from Rizzo.
Meh, Cole should get props for holding it together as much as he did although by the end of the inning he looked like he was undone. Overcoming paralysis and nerves is important to practice though, you're right
Even though that was all on Garrett to cover first, Rizzo just threw in the towel and gave up on the play way too early. I would have dove head first to the base. It’s the World Series for fucks sake.
EXACTLY. FINALLY SOMEONE SAYS THE SAME THING I'VE BEEN SAYING... His big lazy ass gave up on that shit... HUSTLE OR DIVE OVER THERE! 2 OUTS!! Wouldn't be surprised if Rizzo had bet money in Vegas on the Yankees losing, becausee wayyy too often do I see him botch plays and at bats...
The pitcher should always run to cover first on contact of any ground ball to that side especially in the world series with the bases loaded. It doesn't matter if its hit down the line close to the bag, what if the first baseman bobbles it? In the world series you can't be saying I could have run over to first, but I thought you could get it yourself. Cole was actually pitching great, such a weird time to not hustle. Cole went on to throw more than 20 pitches after that so it wasn't because he was so exhausted he couldn't run to cover first. If you are athletic enough to throw a 99 mph fast ball accurately for strikes, you are athletic enough to run over and cover first base.
With the Gibson -Freeman HR similarity, my first thought with Mookie and this roller along first base, behind the bag I really thought it was going between Rizzo legs down the line.
Cole has form in this game regarding not covering 1st base. In the first inning he did the same thing standing and pointing to Rizzo instead of covering 1st. That play resulted in an out but the signs were there.
The crowd who has never played or coached in a higher level of baseball will blame Riz. This basic level 100/101 infield defense practiced all year round was just simply lost. I think Cole was so intent upon saving his energy and pitches he just forgot in the moment needs. I feel really bad for anyone who has to live with this, thinking of the "could-a-would-a's" and "what-if's". This will haunt him forever and foot-note his career. God Bless ya Cole as a game is a game and a human life, a human life. Next year... as I don't think you would have won four in a row anyway.
I could understand it if it was a regular season game but it's an elimination game in the World Series. Rizzo has the ball. He needs to run. 20% Cole's fault 80% Rizzo's lack of hustle.
These New York teams as of late. This reminds me of when the Mets 1st baseman missed an easy throw to home plate in the 2015 WS vs. the Royals. Harvey also blew it that series!
Cole was on the move initially and then bailed on the play thinking that Rizzo had the play. This makes it even more of a "Cardinal Sin" committed by Cole, unlike when a Pitcher initially hesitates or freezes before breaking off of the mound to cover. Cole knew, immediately, that he needed to make a beeline toward 1st and yet after moving off of the mound pretty quickly, he bails and he loses any chance of receiving a throw from Rizzo.
Let's cut through all the BS! Cole's job is to run to first base, period. I don't want to hear about the spin. He runs to first even if he thinks it might go foul. He continues and stops only if the umpire raises his arms and says foul or if it's fair and the first baseman waives him off.
I’d like to see you, Matt Antonelli, get an MLB coaching gig..you’d make a great manager. You just know the game and it comes so natural. I can see you’d be easily relatable to both the veteran and younger players. Just look at this video here for example. I’ve seen so many guys on the MLB channel and sports networks talk about this play and they just go over it like oh well he didn’t cover the bag and blah blah blah. No one that I’ve seen mentioned and detailed how the ball came off the bat and the course it took, and how that screwed up the perception of Cole and Rizzo. Heck Cole and Rizzo didn’t even bring it up!
I think you’d really help any team get better, and I can only imagine how cool it would be if you did it and simultaneously had this channel!
Thanks for explaining that. I didn't have a clue why Cole let up so early.
please explain should cole sprint directly to first or should he run to about 10 feet before first base and then run towards first base to give rizzo a clear throw as opposed to trying to lead him ?
Was mookie allowed to run on the grass as he did ? Great analysis.
I'm still surprised nobody brought up the fact that the exact same play was happened in the 1st inning! Betts hit to the right side, Rizzo get the ball and get to base in time, and Cole stop and point to the first base. The exact same play, except Betts was out.
That is why Cole expected the same outcome in the 5th.
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Is that a smoke detector chirp at 00:26?!
I CAN’T BELIEVE that one of the greatest pitchers in the game made this fundamental mistake. I guess he was cooked because of the other 2 errors in the inning but still unbelievable
This was a routine 3 to1 put out. Pitchers practice this in spring training and and it's routine. No idea why Cole stopped running to cover first base.
Things like the 5th inning are the kind of things that happened to the Red Sox all the time when they were in the middle of their "curse" years. Incredible that one of the most memorable plays from those years also in involved a batter named Mookie.
You should do a poll on this video and see who gets more of the blame, cole or rizzo. I see it more on rizzo but the comments are overwhelming cole. Guys, its the 5th inning of a game where he is pitching all hes got on every throw. Honestly at the point rizzo sees cole isnt covering, i think he might have been able to beat mookie but we'll never know because he didnt even try.
Bogus. Rizzo had to stop his momentum towards first to field the ball spinning to his right. Had Cole sprinted to first, Rizzo could make the flip to Cole and he would have beaten Betts.
That was crazy. I think even if Cole busted it to the bag, it would have been a bang bang play. But yes, he shouldn't have given up like that. That play, the Judge error and Boone leaving Garrett in pretty much sealed the deal. That and it took Judge 20 games to quit chasing pitches and let the game come to him. That's what really did it. I know playoffs and championships are a big deal. But as players, we don't change or deviate too much from what got us there. Just keep doing what you always do. Which hopefully is busting it every day. Then it really isn't any different than any other game. You're just doing what you always do.
At least that is how I played. Every day was a playoff game. But yes you're going intensify in the playoffs. If that's how you play normally then it shouldn't affect your game. Anyway, how ever you normally play don't change your game too much in the playoffs. Let the game come to you.
Heartbreaking? I found it hysterical.