The Hunter Misplay; The Kotsay HR
This play may be remembered as the turning point in the ALDS, when the A’s went from being “dark horses” who managed to win a rare one against Santana, to acknowledged title contenders.
Aaron Gleeman has a great write up of the reasons behind the misplay, and why it happened to Hunter.
Failing to make a spectacular play is not what makes Hunter’s decision a poor one, because you can’t properly judge something like that on the result. Rather, what made what Hunter did a mistake is that he attempted that type of high-risk play despite his diminished abilities. In other words, there was little chance of Hunter making the play now, but because he had a chance to make the play in the past he went ahead and tried anyway.
I’ve got to agree with Gleeman. Hunter has failed to realize that he simply can’t make that play anymore. He’s got to think, and just keep the ball in front of him. Hunter has never been a player who stops to think about the play, though. He crashes and dives, and goes after everything. A few years ago, it worked for him. He got to those balls. But he can’t now, and his failure to adjust cost the Twins.
The entire team’s failure to adjust in the series so far is hurting them, though. They’re still swinging at bad pitches from the A’s, and not working counts. Luis Castillo is still trying to steal bases at odd times, and getting thrown out. Ron Gardenhire is still using his bullpen in an odd way. The failure to adjust is what is ultimately going to cost the Twins the series.