Freeze Frame: Ninety feet too many, and twice too often taken at PNC Park (Pirates)

JOE SARGENT / GETTY

Rodolfo Castro's tagged out at the plate by the Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt in the second inning Friday night at PNC Park.

Rodolfo Castro was thrown out trying to take the final 90 feet for home plate when a ball got away from the catcher.

He didn't exactly exercise pristine execution -- not a lengthy enough lead, not a crisp enough break -- but, in general, it was no big deal. It's a brand of baseball that's been a prominent part of the Pirates' stirring start, and it's a brand that'll keep opposing pitchers and defenders on edge all summer long if it's applied smartly. 

So for this specific setting, with two outs and the No. 8 hitter up in what'd wind up a 4-0 loss to the Blue Jays on this Friday night at PNC Park, it's the correct call by the athlete.

But the same sure couldn't be spoken for two other baserunning outs, both at third base, both of them ... just mindnumbing.

Ji Hwan Bae led off the Pittsburgh first with a walk, then stole second about as easily as he tends to do. But then, with Bryan Reynolds, the team's best and currently their only productive hitter at the plate, Bae tried to take third, as well. Which he did ... until he overslid and Toronto third baseman Matt Chapman slapped down a bonus tag:

      

Why'd Bae go?

He wasn't available in the clubhouse afterward because he fouled a ball off his ankle in the eighth inning, but Derek Shelton observed, "Reynolds was at the plate, and Chris Bassitt wasn't into a rhythm and then he got into a rhythm … yeah, I think we just got overly aggressive."

It's fair to point out that Bae would've been safe if he hadn't overslid, as Shelton also would do, and the attempt was too aggressive.

Somehow, that still got topped:

      

Huh?

Carlos Santana?

Trying to take third with two outs?

After a hesitation around second?

“Once he hesitates,” Shelton would say, “he can’t go.”

I asked Santana about the scenario at his stall, and he calmly replied, "Keep going. We have to do that. We have to push. We know that. Everything's not perfect."

I offer this respectfully, since Santana's production and leadership have both been pivotal for this group: Not this time.

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