KC Royals: Alex Gordon Should Have Been Sent Home

Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4)  Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Having watched the play over and over, and now having typed out the scenario, and really analyzing all the parts of this play that broke down for the Giants fielders, I’d have sent Gordon without hesitation.

If Crawford makes a good throw, Gordon is probably out by a fair margin. Given all that already transpired in that play, however, and the difficult throw off of a short-hop from 110+ feet away that Crawford would have had to make, it’s certainly not unreasonable to think Gordon makes it, and ties the game.

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I mean there’s still so much that could have happened. Would Crawford have gotten the ball to the catcher, Buster Posey, all the way in the air? Maybe it would’ve been up the line, or maybe wide of the plate on the first base side.

Or, with that throw not being very common, would Crawford’s throw to Posey have bounced? Fielding a bouncing ball with a catcher’s mit isn’t the easiest thing to do. Would it have bounced off the infield grass, or off the dirt in front of the plate? That difference alone is huge.

No matter, we’ll never know. I’ve just attempted to illustrate all the different factors in this fateful play, and how I believe there’s a reasonable chance Gordon would’ve made it.

However, my belief that Gordon should have been sent has nothing to do with anything I’ve just typed. My belief has nothing to do with Gordon, Coach Jirschele, or any of the Giants players. My belief that Gordon should have been sent has EVERYTHING to do with… Wait for it… Salvador Perez.

Next: Salvy?