Tampa Bay Rays: Manuel Margot made the correct decision

We can arm-chair manage the decision of Manuel Margot attempting to steal home all we want. The fact of the matter is he made the right decision, it just didn’t pay off.

With the Tampa Bay Rays trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 4th inning, Manuel Margot attempted to steal home to tie the game. He was unsuccessful. The two-on, no out, beginning to the inning, ended on that play, without any runs scoring.

I do not fault Margot for his efforts.

Margot took the initiative to force the defense to make a play, similar to what Randy Arozarena did the night before by attempting to score from first on a shallow single, followed by a defensive error.

For Arozarena, the play worked. For Margot, it didn’t. For this, we should applaud the Dodgers defense more than we nitpick Margot.

One can assume Margot attempted to steal home based on ability with a little bit of emotion tied in.

Trailing by one, he was on third base with no-outs and watched as two Rays hitters (Wendle infield pop-out, Adames strikeout) failed to drive him in. Now the Rays would have to have a hit to cash him in. Having already stolen second base earlier in the inning, he figured he would put pressure on the Dodgers defense to “make the play”.

And they did.

Taking advantage of Clayton Kershaw’s exaggerated arm motion, while his back was to the runner, Margot broke for home. Kershaw stepped off the rubber and his throw home wasn’t even the best, though it was just in time to nab Margot.

Margot, who led the Rays in stolen bases during the regular season, should not be faulted for trying to force the issue here either. In a one run game, with five innings remaining one would think there would be other scoring opportunities to come.

Kershaw is Kershaw, though through four innings he’d already allowed seven baserunners. With the Dodgers bullpen having been depleted from the night before, facing the relievers could provide scoring chances as well.

This is one of the reasons the Tampa Bay Rays are an exciting team to watch. They can’t hit the ball out of the park at the rate the Dodgers do, so they need to manufacture runs the best they can.

I applaud the effort of Manuel Margot, unfortunately he wasn’t rewarded with better results.