The Mets almost walked Mike Trout with the bases loaded because he was the go-ahead run
The Angels fell to the Mets on Saturday, 7-5, but it wasn't without some late drama. The Angels put together a bit of a ninth-inning rally with three singles and two walks, transforming a previous 7-2 deficit into a dicier 7-4 score with
For anybody not on the Angels, Trout is the last person you'd want to see in that context. He recently had a four-homers-in-four-nights stint and is generally capable of the amazing every time he steps into the box.
On Saturday, Trout represented the potential go-ahead run.
That's according to Mets manager Terry Collins, who explained his position postgame:
"The first thought is, I'd almost try to walk this guy [rather] than pitch to him. Those are the kind of situations where you look back at the time when Buck Showalter walked [Barry] Bonds with the bases loaded rather than pitch to him. It was the same feeling. I might want to walk, pitch around this guy, than give him a chance to hit. But fortunately [Reed] made some good pitches."
That was quite a scene in 1998, when then D-backs manager Showalter, nursing an 8-6 lead, walked Bonds with the bases loaded. It worked, as the D-backs held on for the win:
Collins didn't make the tough decision to do it on Saturday night, but did he seriously consider it? "Oh absolutely," he told reporters.
This unique situation happened again in 2008, when Joe Maddon opted to do it with
So no, Trout hasn't joined this club just yet. But it isn't hard to see him getting there someday, is it?