Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch says he spoke with George Springer about the slugger’s lack of hustle on a double in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night.
Springer hit a deep ball to right-center that brought in Kyle Tucker from second to make it a 5-4 game. Springer pimped the hit and didn’t start running hard until he reached first base, potentially costing himself a shot at making it to third. That proved costly as he may have been able to score the tying run on Jose Altuve’s flyout to right field.
Hinch says he and Springer met about the play and Springer got “caught up” in the moment.
"In a perfect world, (Springer) gives himself a better chance to make a decision by getting into the play a little faster. But I think it was more of a mediocre baserunning play than an egregious showboating play. Both sides of it ran into some issues."
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 23, 2019
George Springer called AJ Hinch after the game last night to talk about his baserunning when he wound up with a double instead of a triple by slowly getting out of the batter’s box
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 23, 2019
Some have questioned whether Springer would have been able to make it to third due to Tucker being in front of him, waiting to see if the ball was caught before breaking for home. That was part of Springer’s defense. Either way, there is no excuse for not running hard. Both Hinch and Springer seem to recognize that.
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