Don Mattingly calls out who's to blame for the Blue Jays game 7 loss
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Toronto Blue Jays were two innings away from a World Series win in game 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and former bench coach Don Mattingly spoke on a major error that kept them from winning.
The play that everyone remembers when Isiah Kiner-Falefa was thrown out at home plate, after barely taking a lead off third base which could have resulted in a win.
Mattingly states Kiner-Falefa out cost Blue Jays the World Series.
Adam Laskaris of the Daily Hive reported on the costly mistake the Blue Jays made with Kiner-Falefa, while many were blaming him for the poor judgement, it wasn't entirely his call.
"«[The coaches] told us to stay close to the base. They don't want us to get doubled off in that situation with a hard line drive. [Daulton] Varsho hits the ball really, really hard. [Max Muncy's] right there. I can't get doubled off right there, so it's almost like a bases loaded. They wanted a smaller lead and a smaller secondary, so that's what I did.»-Kiner-Falefa
However Mattingly pointed out the obvious mistake that Varsho never hits to third base meaning the conservative lead made no sense with the logic from the coaches but stated that they all play blame in the wrongful move.
"The only variable that, if you look back at it, we could change a little bit and (Kiner-Falefa) would probably get more (of a lead) is Daulton (Varsho) doesn't really line the ball to third base, or hit the ball on the left side of the field that much.»-Mattingly
Mattingly added that no one person is to blame all the coaches and Kiner-Falefa should have been more aware of the situation but unfrotunately were not which resulted in the out.
«If you ask (Kiner-Falefa) now, he'd probably say: 'Man, I could have gotten another step,'» said Mattingly. «[Third-base coach Carlos Febles] would say: 'I probably should have pushed him down the line more.' And I would say: Man, we probably should have noticed that. Everyone's going to take accountability and I honestly love that.» -Mattingly
This lack of oversight could have potentially caused the World Series. While yes many things led to that moment in time, from blowing the 2 run lead in the first place but it's mistake that cannot happen on the biggest stage, and both the coaching staff and Kiner-Falefa should have known this.
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