I somehow missed the original NSA article, but Rays era Kevin Kiermaier had the ultimate NSA play I will remember for the rest of my life. It was against the Orioles at Camden Yards in a meaningless September game in either 2016 or 2017, I can't remember which. Adam Jones hit a line drive missile toward the gap - the kind that from the second it leaves the bat, everyone who watches baseball knows is going to bounce up against the wall for an easy standup double. Except instead of rolling to the wall, a full sprint Kevin Kiermaier who got a perfect jump on it came flying in from off screen, played it off a hop with a backhand slide like a shortstop deep in the hole, and then popped right back up to throw it into second base. Adam Jones had rounded first but had to sheepishly throw on the brakes and retreat with a ~108 off the bat line drive in the gap single.
It was maybe the best defensive play I have ever seen, and it didn't even get as much as a mention from the booth, because who cares about a double that got turned into a single. I rewound the broadcast to watch it about seven times, because I could not believe someone had made that play. It wasn't even an important game or a game at a major turning point. It was a play that I doubt anyone except me gave a second thought to ever again after they watched it (and let's be honest, not that many people were even watching it when it happened live), but I still think about it all the time.
Not quite as hard hit as you remember but I definitely also thought it was gonna go for two. And the O's were in the thick of a wild card chase that September (it was 2016)!
The Orioles' broadcast uses a slightly different camera shot. The plus: Kiermaier drops completely out of the shot and he feels so far away from the ball that he might as well not even exist. The negative: Because of that you don't get to see the acceleration in his sprint. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=1a1b8b40-66ae-47a1-aaa1-4916240160ed
The Orioles color guy did eventually credit Kiermaier but only after he ragged on Jones for not hustling. Then they show the replay of Jones clearly sprinting from the moment of contact until Kiermaier does the impossible and the color guy STILL criticizes Jones. Talk about a quick 0-2
I can't stop watching the Skenes play. The physical discrepancy between the two men and the outcome reminds me immensely of play-fighting with my 4-year-old.
Skenes comes so fast, but then slows down in consideration of Nuñez's safety, and then Nunez does this extremely strange gesture with his arms and body that make it look as if he is commanding Skenes to fall and roll over, and then Skenes does with a roll so huge, it looks performative.
So in this scenario the outcome is perfect. Skenes can't win. If you actually catch your little bud or knock him down from playing too hard, that's the last time you play. But as it is, the danger feels real enough to be fun, but the outcome was never in question: the little guy is safe; he always was.
was watching the wade leap live and couldnt really make sense of it either. the only explanation i can think of is that he was trying to leap over the ball if the first baseman missed it which would give him the opportunity to advance to second.
I somehow missed the original NSA article, but Rays era Kevin Kiermaier had the ultimate NSA play I will remember for the rest of my life. It was against the Orioles at Camden Yards in a meaningless September game in either 2016 or 2017, I can't remember which. Adam Jones hit a line drive missile toward the gap - the kind that from the second it leaves the bat, everyone who watches baseball knows is going to bounce up against the wall for an easy standup double. Except instead of rolling to the wall, a full sprint Kevin Kiermaier who got a perfect jump on it came flying in from off screen, played it off a hop with a backhand slide like a shortstop deep in the hole, and then popped right back up to throw it into second base. Adam Jones had rounded first but had to sheepishly throw on the brakes and retreat with a ~108 off the bat line drive in the gap single.
It was maybe the best defensive play I have ever seen, and it didn't even get as much as a mention from the booth, because who cares about a double that got turned into a single. I rewound the broadcast to watch it about seven times, because I could not believe someone had made that play. It wasn't even an important game or a game at a major turning point. It was a play that I doubt anyone except me gave a second thought to ever again after they watched it (and let's be honest, not that many people were even watching it when it happened live), but I still think about it all the time.
Not quite as hard hit as you remember but I definitely also thought it was gonna go for two. And the O's were in the thick of a wild card chase that September (it was 2016)!
https://youtu.be/eQTkO8NXlLA?si=HjlXOwQ2nfaursyO&t=2884
The Orioles' broadcast uses a slightly different camera shot. The plus: Kiermaier drops completely out of the shot and he feels so far away from the ball that he might as well not even exist. The negative: Because of that you don't get to see the acceleration in his sprint. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=1a1b8b40-66ae-47a1-aaa1-4916240160ed
The Orioles color guy did eventually credit Kiermaier but only after he ragged on Jones for not hustling. Then they show the replay of Jones clearly sprinting from the moment of contact until Kiermaier does the impossible and the color guy STILL criticizes Jones. Talk about a quick 0-2
I can't stop watching the Skenes play. The physical discrepancy between the two men and the outcome reminds me immensely of play-fighting with my 4-year-old.
Skenes comes so fast, but then slows down in consideration of Nuñez's safety, and then Nunez does this extremely strange gesture with his arms and body that make it look as if he is commanding Skenes to fall and roll over, and then Skenes does with a roll so huge, it looks performative.
So in this scenario the outcome is perfect. Skenes can't win. If you actually catch your little bud or knock him down from playing too hard, that's the last time you play. But as it is, the danger feels real enough to be fun, but the outcome was never in question: the little guy is safe; he always was.
The arms! I missed it, but you're right, it's like he's casting Skenes over!
I think this PCA throw makes the all-time Outfielder throw reel if the out call holds up upon review:
https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/matthew-boyd-in-play-out-s-to-jared-triolo-lgs0eb?q=HomeTeamId%20%3D%20%5B134%5D%20AND%20AwayTeamId%20%3D%20%5B112%5D%20AND%20BattingTeamId%20%3D%20%5B134%5D%20AND%20PitchingTeamId%20%3D%20%5B112%5D%20AND%20Season%20%3D%20%5B2025%5D%20AND%20Date%20%3D%20%5B%222025-04-30%22%5D%20AND%20Inning%20%3D%20%5B4%5D%20AND%20TopBottom%20%3D%20%5B%22BOTTOM%22%5D%20AND%20RunnerOnBase%20%3D%3D%20%5B1%2C2%2C3%5D%20AND%20HitResult%20%3D%20%5B%22Out%22%5D%20Order%20By%20Timestamp%20DESC&cp=MIXED&p=0
Honorable mention to this one (albeit the inverse of ruled safe then overturned): https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/shota-imanaga-in-play-out-s-to-gabriel-moreno
was watching the wade leap live and couldnt really make sense of it either. the only explanation i can think of is that he was trying to leap over the ball if the first baseman missed it which would give him the opportunity to advance to second.