In the box score, it was recorded as a simple stolen third base of third…in an intrasquad game. But in the big picture of the game, it was more. Much more. That stolen base not only told a story; it taught a lesson to those smart enough to be paying attention.
With runners on first and second and nobody out, the bunt was on. When the hitter squared around, the third baseman mistakenly took a few hard steps in from his position, vacating the base he was responsible to cover unless the ball was bunted hard in his direction. The runner on second astutely noticed the defensive mishap and immediately broke for third. The pitch was a ball, the batter pulled back the bunt, and by the time the third baseman realized his mistake, it was too late. The runner was sliding in to the base uncontested without a throw from the catcher or anyone close to cover the bag. In the big picture of our 2024 Miami Hurricanes season, that extra 90 feet in a random pre-season intersquad meant nothing. But that lesson could mean everything for us.
The steal of third was the type of instinctual, baseball play that those who appreciate the game and its nuance would absolutely love. It’s the kind of play that happens with split-second recognition, in this case, of the third baseman leaving his spot, and just as important, having the guts to trust what you see to go for the bag.
After that stolen base, the runner was asked why he decided to run. “I saw the third baseman start towards home as soon as the batter squared around to bunt…” he started, confirming what most of us thought. He then continued, “…but I was looking for him to do that because he did the same thing when we worked on bunt defense last week.”
In one sentence, a baseball player defined.
There comes a point when raw talent isn’t enough. Kids hit their growth spurt at different times and often players find success simply because they’ve developed sooner than the competition. Out of sheer physical maturity, they can hit a ball further and throw a ball harder than most. But there comes a point and time when the rest catch up. The older you get and the higher you go, the harder it is to rely on talent alone. You have to add thought to your game. Your head can’t just be a hat rack.
That stolen base was the epitome of a player using his mind as a tool to play winning baseball. He had recall on something so small that had happened the week prior and used it as a means to gain a competitive advantage. Every single part of the game can be viewed in a similar light, from the last time you may have played a team to the last time you faced a specific hitter or pitcher, even within the same game a few innings prior.
Every single pitch matters and can change the course of an at-bat and, in turn, an entire game. Recognizing that a certain pitcher throws a specific pitch in the same situation can take out some of the guesswork for the hitter and give him a better opportunity to do damage with the bat. A relief pitcher may see a hitter look foolish on a change up early in the game and remembers that later in the game upon coming in from the bullpen to face the same hitter and have a better chance of getting the out. A team may run a unique first and third play that stole a run in the first game of a series, but when you recall the same situation in game three, you’re prepared to prevent that from happening. In every inning of every game, the information is endless.
The game is always talking to us. It’s always giving us the answers to the test. But if you never open your eyes and don’t listen to the what the game is telling you, it will be that much tougher to ace that test against the opposing club. The game has a voice. Learn to listen to it. The wins will come if you do.