Rob Wilfong

[japetus462]

Wilfong...Rbi Legend...Hall Of Shame member?





Here's the situation: Rupert Jones is on 2nd base with one out, Angels down 6-5. Rob Wilfong singles to right field, where Dwight Evans (who may have had the greatest arm in baseball history) fields it and fires home to try and get Jones. It's a close play, very close actually, but Jones scores. BUT Wilfong stopped at first base and watched the play at the plate.

Wilfong should have known that Evans was throwing home and he should have been heading to 2nd base the whole time. Even if the throw is cut off and Wilfong is thrown out at 2nd base, the Angels still tie the game.

With Wilfong on 1st base, light hitting shortstop Dick Schofield then singles Wilfong to third. Had Wilfong been on 2nd base, he scores, the Angels go to the Series, and Bill Buckner never gets the chance to hand the Mets a World Championship.

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

I would need to see the play.  If the first baseman was in the "cut line" and Evans threw a pea that could have been cut off, then Wilfong is right not to be potentially hung out.

Also, don't assume Schofield singles if Wilfing was on second.  You can't assume same thing would have happened (different pitch selection, fielders in different places etc.)

[ultimate7]

I've seen this brought up before (Was it here?) maybe in the book "One pitch away".  I've seen the play, but I'd have to see it again, the ball could certainly be cut off even if Evans threw home.  Fact is he was still on 3rd with 1 out and Decinces didn't get the job done.

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

Al Michaels yet another great call in that game.  Simply the best.

[Stock]

If the play was that close,  catcher would have never yelled "Cut".  Wilfong should have went to second.  I agree that you cannot assume a single in the next at-bat, but you also cannot assume a ground-out.

Who would have been due up after Schofield?  That late in the game, chances are Schofield would have been walked with a runner on second.

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

If the play was going to be that close, Wilfong perhaps should have sold out in an attempt to induce the first baseman to cut the ball off (in effect sacrificing himself for the run).

I'd love to see a video of that play- I wonder if I can get it online anywhere.

[ultimate7]

ESPN classic shows this game once in a while.

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

i just did a google search for wilfong evans 1986 play... guess what came up in the top 10.... dee-nee.com Gantry's RBI Baseball Page

How sweet is that?