Was Dansby Swanson Correct Running to 3B?

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[@AntonelliBaseball]

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[@MattLong101]

i thought it was a heads up play. I saw this live and was like, thats pretty cool. You take the great throw or play from the 3rd basemen to first base off the table.

[@Mitten4371]

Yea you are taught as a base runner that if the ball is hit in front of you like it is here with less than two outs to never run into an out. But with 2 outs it wouldn't matter if the runners are running or not because if it was a pop up or a fly ball to the outfield you run because you never know if they are going to catch the ball or not. So you don't let the defense dictate if they are going to catch the ball cleanly or not. But Dansby in this situation did the right thing because he knew where the third baseman was playing and you are also taught with the count 3-2 with two outs you are running on contact anyway. But Dansby read this perfectly because he knew that there was no way that the third baseman was going to get the runner at home and this was a tag play. But Dansby also knew that if he got in a rundown long enough that it would allow the run to score. So head's up baseball play by Dansby in this situation

[@BluAcou2]

It was genius! If he throws to first, the run doesn’t score. It is kinda like Javy Baez getting the first baseman to chase him back to the plate

[@BrianKoontz]

No, that's only if he gets the runner at first. A slow roller like Suzuki hit by a guy with decent speed is an infield single. That's precisely why the third baseman didn't hesitate to chase the runner instead of making the throw - he took the only out available. If Swanson immediately went back to 2nd on a good read of the ball off the bat, everyone would have been safe.

[@topliner9534]

Also very important that he got himself into a rundown long enough to make sure that the runner from third was able to score before he was tagged out.

[@EvanEscher]

exactly

[@leskobrandon3497]

You're ALL forgetting that there was no force out , so the smart thing to do would have been to appear to be taking third so that the fielder doesn't throw home , but not so far away thay you can't get back safely . With a 4 run lead he decided to risk it and lost , but in a closer game you conceded the possibilty of you being the tieing run or even the go ahead run by foolishly getting thrown out . Nn this situation if the runer scores , and he remains safe on second , then the " Run on anything " rule applies because of the force out .and first base runner has to advance so you do too .

[@Elagentejefe]

He might have been able to make it more of a rundown, but he was the dead duck from the beginning. He had to force the 3b to pay attention to him by getting down the line far enough. The batter may or may not have beat the throw, but get the fielder to chase you for a few seconds, easy run.

[@saulspeaks2557]

It was a great play. It allowed an extra run to score. Dansby's numbers aren't great this year, but he's the heart and soul of the locker room. Very happy to have him on my Cubbies.

[@ticnatz]

Good analysis.....

[@thechief_88]

Absolutely agree. Especially with two outs and two strikes on the batter. You read the swing. If you know he's swinging you automatically take off. I think he did the right thing. Love your content man!!! I'm just a jabroni compared to you, but appreciate every post you make.

[@Rowgue51]

You always go on contact with two outs because it puts pressure on the fielders, particularly if the play at first is not going to be easy. And while it would have been a tough play to first in this particular scenario it wasn't entirely impossible that he throws out the runner at first. But the runner going to third pretty much insured that the third baseman was going to take the easy out and concede the run. He would have looked really stupid if he ignores swanson and fires to first late to end up with the run scoring anyway and runners at first and third.

[@kaseyferguson39]

Smart play, got the run in.

[@SvanMagic]

The Rays just had a play with two outs, everyone went and the Boston outfielder misread the ball. It ended up as a triple for that batter, and the next batter hit a home run. You never know what can happen with 2 outs, so the runners always go, especially with two strikes.

[@markharbaugh4445]

I'd like to know where the batter was when the third baseman picks up the ball. If the third baseman legitimately has a play at first, this is genius by Swanson. Either way, it's the 8th inning and Cubs were up 4-0. After this they are up 5-0 going to the 9th.

[@MattLong101]

That’s what I said, he took the chance of the 3rd baseman making a remarkable play off the table. Who knows if Suzuki trips or stumbles out of the box and he makes that play. He got in his vision and he chased him long enough for the run to score and the runner to make it safely to first.

[@brianfischer3714]

Yea. 100%. Him running up to the 3B made the 3B not throw it to 1B. If he had thrown to 1B thats an out and the run does not count. I think he ran to get the non-force tag out which allows the run to score. Brilliant!

[@beckrw]

I feel like this logic is age group dependent. At the youth to even HS level, the possibility of a third baseman sailing or bouncing a throw are higher and I've seen many fielders opt for making the tag on a runner charging into 3B then make the throw. College/pro level, running on swing is absolutely the right call.

[@glennm.garcia6964]

How about this idea: The runner that was at 2nd base, came close to getting tagged out (not forced out) at 3rd base, for the 3rd out of the inning. Is there a cardinal rule to NOT make the 3rd out at 3rd base?

[@Elagentejefe]

Whether he intended to or not, he created a run because the third baseman did not throw to the force out. The way that ball was hit kind of handcuffed everybody. Swanson had to go, the runner on third had to go, the third baseman had to take the most opportune third out. One of those baseball perfect storms where everybody did everything correctly, yet Chicago manufactured a run that they probably didn't overtly earn.

[@tonywillis-u6q]

Wasn't it a full count with two outs. He should be running on the pitch

[@rayj3123]

Not on pitch because 1st base was empty. If it was ball 4, second base runner would be caught in

[@genghiskhan2012]

Would you try to get your hitter to hit the ball up the middle or right side of the infield especially since the ball was on the outside part of the plate?

[@zekevalverde8267]

This is crazy!!! (Also FIRST!!!!!)

[@chrisrgutierrez]

Last!

[@miked51]

Yeah, I thought it was a no-brainer but not everyone played or had coaches like Matt or mine growing up. GO CUBS GO! Our Chicago Cubs, this team is smart, talented and fun to watch. They are only getting better towards the end of the season. Steele for Cy.

[@cagedtigersteve]

You didn't even mention staying alive until the runner can score and hitter gets to first.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

He did that. I was more focusing on should he have gone in the first place

[@danlambesis1289]

Yes. This is what was smart about his base running - although with two out, the batter getting to first does not matter. The key was to buy time for the runner on 3rd to score.

[@williamyoste2812]

Ya I was waiting for him to say that. Make sure run scores. Matt broke this shit way way down. I was thinking just make sure run scores, but it’s so cool to hear the major league perspective he gives.

[@15X98]

Keep the play going is exactly what I was thinking.

[@Kurruptedwolf]

​@@AntonelliBaseballif he doesn't go does the run score? That's the biggest question. Can't trust in another hit but I'll always take another run.

[@genechristensen6900]

Two outs full count no force, go on contact not with the pitch. If the hitter ends up walking you could have two guys on third base. Secondly, run doesn't count if there's a force at first. Creating a diversion can take off the force and get the run.

[@alfashion]

There are two outs, and two strikes and you are up 4-0 with runners on second and third. The runner on third still has to make sure that a grounder on the right-side of the infield is through. If the ball is hit to the is left he is running regardless. If the ball is it any where in the air he is running. The only time he shouldn't run, if the ball is in front of him. I think he misread the hit ball, and possibly thought the ball wasn't hit as hard. And I don't think the batter would have would been thrown out at first. The ball was hit harder than you and the runner at second. If there was two outs the run at third wouldn't have counted if he was tagged out before the the runner at third crossed the plate. In my opinion, bad running decision.

[@Jeter2ss]

Disagree, he had the best eyes on the play and could have stopped and gotten back realizing their was no play at home or first being slow hit and down the line. Ball hit behind him or third baseman charging further in taking him off the bag then I'd say he did the right thing and would probably have been safe at third. If he played it safe, the run still scores, no outs made, and there's still two outs with another scoring opportunity. I agree you need to be aggressive and take risk in any scoring oportunity to capitalize but runner on second is never scoring on choppers hit to third like this.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

I don’t believe he thought he was scoring on this, I think he had a really bit primary and secondary lead because no one is holding him with man on 3rd and 2 outs and he is running on the swing so by the the time he could have stopped he’s already more than half way to 3B and can’t get back

[@Jeter2ss]

I'm with you on him not thinking he's scoring here and was just caught being aggressive on a good secondary but it looks to me like at the moment of contact he had made the decision to go all the way because he thought the third baseman would end up fielding that ball in front of third taking him off the bag, but for the same reason of the ball being chopped slow, he would have had time to get back. At the very first moment the camera switches from the batter to the field, he's half way (perfect to still decide) but the slow hit ball is almost already at the cut where I feel he could have read that better and pumped the brakes hard to return.

[@jsally66]

First 30 secs gang 👇

[@crimsonking440]

I think if he dove for it he had a chance of being safe, really running back is the issue that got him the sure out.

[@DavidDSimon]

But if he dove into the tag he's likely tagged out before the run scores. He clearly decided not worth the risk and just stalled long enough to add on the sure run.

[@SvanMagic]

Not likely. But forcing a run down gives the chance for the run to score, since a tag out can allow a runner to score with two outs.

[@markwoldin162]

What's more fun: watching a ball game or learning from M.A.?

[@jjparks9263]

He didn’t mention that it’s a full count so you are running on the pitch and also didn’t mention that holding out the tag long enough for the runner to score.

[@BigKevsPlace1]

Another poor analysis. No runner on first, the runner on second DOES NOT have to go on contact ESPECIALLY since ball is hit in front of him. Fundamentally, running on contact is the correct thing to do but Swanson should have employed his own good judgement, stop a lot sooner and go back to second. Even if he is tagged out there, he has forced the third baseman to make a throw, which could turn out to be wild.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

You need to start doing analysis videos!

[@skyy256]

If he stayed at 2nd the cubs would be still batting right now ….49-0 cubs …

[@Tonyyyyyyyshhh]

really no other way the giants could have gotten an out

[@randybailey3330]

He did it right because he let the run score.