5 MAN INFIELD

Whilst working on an article review in class we were watching the end of the Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs game on MLB. A great opportunity to analyse a late in the game situation arose so we stopped to check it out.
With the score at 3-3 in the 13th inning the Pirates had loaded bases with none out. If a run scores they lose! They had a meeting on the mound and went for what is called in baseball terms the '5 man infield'. Here the defensive team brings in an outfielder and puts them somewhere on the infield. In this incidence there was a right hand hitter so the Cubs put an extra person on the left side of the infield and the outfielders play more towards the alley.

The strategy:
Any regular fly ball will score the runner so whether the outfielders catch the ball or not they will still lose if the ball is deep enough.
Protect the percentages- there is a right hand hitter so they put an extra person on the left side of the field because percentages would say if they hit a ground ball it will go that way. The pitcher also threw inside to his field with a fastball/ changeup combination.
Mental- the shift in fielding position can make the hitter think about something different at the plate, worrying about the field or the result rather than getting a good pitch to drive.

The result:
The batter hit a weak ground ball to third base, causing a double play through the catcher to first base. The next hitter then grounded out and the rally was ended. In this scenario the Cubs were able to get out of the inning with out giving up a run.

In the 16th:
The Pirates in the bottom of the 16th have runners on 1st & 3rd with one out, and this time the Cubs choose not to bring in the 5th infielder. The result, a soft ground ball between short stop & third base for a hit and WALK-OFF win! It is often a managers 'gut' feeling to decide what to do with positional changes, with the game changing very quickly from hitter to hitter or pitch to pitch!