Joe Maddon is already working with his players to gain an edge — even the slightest ones — that can come from being prepared for the new instant replay challenges.
According to The Tampa Bay Times, Maddon was running his players through a drill in spring training Thursday where the guys were coached to continue plays even after a third out was recorded in case a play is reviewed by instant replay. Maddon’s thinking is that if a call for an out is overturned — or vice versa — it could be left up to the umpire’s discretion to decide what to do with the baserunners. So if Maddon teaches his players to not stop on the third out for close plays, they could get extra bases or prevent extra bases by continuing the play.
Maddon and other managers obviously cannot possibly plan for all possible instant replay scenarios, but that is a really good start.
We’ve always lauded him as being a guy who thinks outside the box, and this is just another example of how he’s one step ahead of the game. Unfortunately for him, now his secret is out and other teams may follow his example.
Forearm bash to Deadspin
