Yadier Molina knows what the other team is going to do, a breakdown

May 18, 2022 3.0M views 5:58

What Happened

In a 1-0 game against the Giants in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals faced runners on the corners with two outs. Yadier Molina, reading both the Giants' habits and their signs being relayed from the dugout to the third base coach to first base coach to baserunner, recognized a planned steal of second by Joc Pederson. Molina waited until the pitcher reached his set position, called a pitchout, popped up and gunned Pederson down at second to end the inning. The play killed a Giants rally that could have tied the game.

Why This Matters

This is the rare defensive sequence that shows why a catcher's brain matters as much as his arm. With first and third and two outs, the Giants like to put the trail runner in motion to force a throw or sneak a run home on a hit-and-run. Molina called for a pitchout, the safest counter because it gets the ball to the catcher early and clear of a hitter. The risk is tipping it too soon, which freezes the runner. Molina timed it perfectly. Pederson never looked back at home, his eyes locked on the pitcher to avoid a pickoff, so he had no warning. In a one-run game, erasing that runner mattered. Molina was 39 in his final season, and moments like this explain his reputation as a field general long after his bat had faded.

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Key Moments

Who / What Is Involved

Players: Yadier Molina.

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Full Transcript

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two teams that have an inner looping s in their logo are facing off it's one nothing cardinals

are up top of the fifth inning giants have runners on the corners two outs this one is brought to you

by shady rays get you some sunglasses because summer is here the manager comes out to talk to

the pitcher and yadi melina says i'll talk to him skip i got this he just gets in his face says hey

let's go at this guy probably let's attack him with fastballs i'm only saying that because