On a Monday night at Tropicana Field, in the third game of baseball's World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson showed in two innings how a single gift can both help and harm. His speed, among the best the sport has seen, first cost his team an out on a bold attempt to steal second, then rescued a moment as he ran down a fly ball at the wall and absorbed the collision. The Milwaukee Brewers went on to win 10-1, and the evening became one more reminder that athletic brilliance and its price often arrive together.
Chandler Simpson Robs Frelick With Leaping Catch Despite Early Base-Running Gaffe in World Series Game 3
The Rays had a runner who beat the throw and still lost the out.
On a Monday night at Tropicana Field, in the third game of baseball's World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson showed in two innings how a single gift can both help and harm. His speed, among the best the sport has seen, first cost his team an out on a bold attempt to steal second, then rescued a moment as he ran down a fly ball at the wall and absorbed the collision. The Milwaukee Brewers went on to win 10-1, and the evening became one more reminder that athletic brilliance and its price often arrive together.
Two innings into Game 3 of the World Series at Tropicana Field, Chandler Simpson had already been both the Rays' problem and their solution. His speed, among the best in the sport, was the story of a night that Milwaukee would win 10-1.
The trouble came first. Simpson reached base on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first, then tried to steal second with two outs. Running at 30.5 feet per second, a pace well within the elite range, he beat the throw from Brewers catcher William Contreras to the bag. But his slide carried him past second, and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang tagged him out to end the inning. A runner who had won the race still lost the out.
He got his chance to answer in the top of the second. With one out and a runner on first, Sal Frelick lined a ball toward left field, and Simpson broke for the short wall near the foul line. He caught up to it, leapt, and got his glove on the ball just before he hit the wall, holding on through the impact. The catch denied Frelick a hit and sent him back to the dugout.
Simpson fell and was shaken for a moment, but he got the ball back into the infield and stayed in the game. Speaking on the FOX broadcast, he described the play plainly: he knew he would have to leave his feet, and he was glad to corral it. The impact, he admitted, did not feel good, but knowing he had made the catch made it feel a little better.
The night belonged to Milwaukee. For the Rays, those early innings showed both what Simpson brings and what it can cost, and whether the collision leaves any lasting effect will be something to watch as the series goes on.
Two innings into World Series Game 3 at Tropicana Field, Chandler Simpson had already been both the Rays' problem and their solution. The Tampa Bay outfielder's speed, among the best in the sport, shaped the first two frames of a night that ended in a 10-1 Brewers win on Monday.
The trouble came in the bottom of the first. Simpson reached base on a fielder's choice groundout, then tried to steal second with two outs. He was running at 30.5 feet per second, a pace that clears the 30-feet-per-second mark generally considered elite. By that measure he beat the throw from Brewers catcher William Contreras to the bag.
The slide was the issue. Simpson's momentum carried him past second base, and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang tagged him out to end the inning. The Rays had a runner who beat the throw and still lost the out.
He got his chance to answer in the top of the second. With one out and a runner on first, Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick lined a ball toward left field. Simpson broke toward the short wall near the foul line, chasing a ball that looked likely to drop or carry out of reach.
He caught up to it. Simpson leapt, got his glove on Frelick's fly ball and held it, just before he hit the wall. The catch took a hit from Frelick and sent the Brewers hitter back to the dugout.
Simpson fell to the ground and was shaken up for a moment. He still got the ball back into the infield, and he stayed in the game.
Speaking during an in-game interview on the FOX broadcast, he described the play plainly. He said he was heading toward the wall and knew he would need to leave his feet, and that he was trying to get a glove on the ball and was glad to corral it. On the impact, he was candid: it did not feel too good, he said, but it felt a little better knowing he had made the catch.
The night belonged to Milwaukee, which won by nine runs. For the Rays, the early innings were a compact illustration of what Simpson brings, and what it can cost. Whether the wall contact leaves any lingering effect is something to watch as the series continues, though he finished the moment on his feet and stayed in the lineup.
Citações Notáveis
It didn't feel too good, but, I mean, it feels a little better now that I know I made the catch.— Chandler Simpson, on the FOX broadcast
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