The Cubs win game six of the 2016 World Series 9-3. Facing Josh Tomlin, a pitcher known for inducing contact, the Cubs put the ball in during the game and good things happened. Chicago sent 42 batters to the plate. Only six struck out and only three walked. That’s 33 balls in play. Three of those left park, and another ten found holes, including the fly ball in the first that no one bothered to catch.
Meanwhile, the Indians sent 38 batters to the plate. Ten struck out, six walked, and one was hit by a pitch. It’s tough to generate much offense with just 21 balls in play, and with league average BABIP, the Indians would expect about six hits. That’s what they got.
By the way, here is the explanation of what happened on that dropped fly ball.
“It’s Naquin’s ball. He was playing on that side, and he’s the center fielder,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I think at the end there, as Lonnie was kind of pulling off, Naquin was yelling, ‘It’s yours. You got it.'”
Chisenhall, a 28-year-old converted third baseman in his sixth big league season, appeared to follow protocol.
Still, he shouldered the blame.
“I should have caught that ball. I made the aggressive move on it,” Chisenhall said. “The ball’s moving towards me, and somebody’s got to catch it. It should have been me. … He said he saw me moving towards the ball, and I should have continued my route, and I kind of felt him coming, so I pulled up. But I should have kept going.”
Basically, Chisenhall thought Naquin was calling him off the ball, due to the loud crowd noise. The Indians, like the Cubs, are a very good defensive team, but a big lapse at an important moment put them in a hole early. When someone talks about how much luck is involved in a sporting event, that kind of play is what they mean.
from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2fh2ExB
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