Yadier Molina tells runner to steal then throws him out, a breakdown
What Happened
In a 2021 spring training game, Yadier Molina is catching in the seventh inning when the Cardinals walk Martin Maldonado, and rookie Jose Siri comes in to pinch run at first base. Siri, who hadn't yet appeared in an MLB game, takes off to steal against one of the best defensive catchers of his era. Molina calls an outside fastball, eyes Siri the whole way, and after a foul ball works the count to 2-2. He calls a changeup, then guns Siri down at second on a perfect throw, staring him down the entire time.
Why This Matters
This is a clinic in how a catcher controls a running game beyond just arm strength. Molina was reading the rookie before a pitch was even thrown, calling pitch types and timing his throw based on the situation rather than reacting to it. The changeup matters here: an off-speed pitch gives a catcher extra time to receive and release, since the ball reaches the plate slower. Molina knew that and called it on purpose. Siri eventually broke through and reached the majors with the Astros, becoming a regular outfielder by 2022. For Molina, this was just another spring rep in a career that included nine Gold Gloves and a record streak of Opening Day starts at catcher. The lesson for a young runner: experience and anticipation beat raw speed.
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Key Moments
Who / What Is Involved
Players: Yadier Molina.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentseventh inning of a spring training game
and yachty still behind the dish they
walk
maldonado so now there's a base runner
out first and they bring in
the young gun siri i don't think he's
played a day in the mlb
he gives his gold chain to the first
base coach he's on first
and he's gonna try and steal against the
catcher who set the record for opening
day
starts in a row last year and will break
it himself this year
so yadi says right away you know what
pitch let's check on this rookie make
sure he doesn't get ahead of himself
over there
just because it's 7th inning of a spring
training game doesn't mean i'm not
coming for him
look at that calls for the outside
fastball
eyes him down says yeah all right i'll
come your way
is not where he wants it still goes for
the pick off almost
gets him sliding back to first now siri
shaking and said no no no no no
no no no no no no no you don't do that
to me no no no no no not he goes uh okay
still then take off let's see what
happens next pitch
foul ball so nothing going then high
dude didn't run
now it's a 2-2 count yachty calls for
the change-up
you know pitchers still got to work on
things off speed pitch boom
nails him and now yaddy's saying you
want to make eye contact you're going to
look at me you're going to look at me no
no no no okay fine all right
nice knowing you see you later hey woody
nice pitch by the way
called the change up off speed pitch
look at this throw
just an absolute thing of beauty dead
i wouldn't stand up and look at yachty
either