Both. Rizzo could have attacked the ball more strongly, but I’d put 70 pct fault on Cole and 30 on Rizzo.
Edit: Turtle…you almost dragged me into am MLB salary discussion!! Veryyyyy tricky.
So apparently the Dodgers didn’t have FOUR starting pitchers, nevermind five? Based on them having a BP game in game four, nor do they have a closer?
It was more Cole’s fault for not covering - casually walking towards the dugout as if completing the play was a mere formality is a really bad look. However, as a small point in his defense, Betts groundout to first earlier in the game, and Rizzo made the play by himself - it was a nearly identical hit.
To my mind a play that fails due to lack of effort is always worse than one that fails due to a poor instinctive reaction (Rizzo dropping back rather than charging). So for me it’s 100% on Cole.
Absolutely. It’s the pitcher’s job to sprint to first base until it’s obvious that the first baseman will make the play himself. On Betts’ earlier groundout to first, the ball wasn’t hit nearly as hard (it was hit off the end of the bat) and Rizzo was much closer to the bag when he fielded it. Plus, Cole was charging to the bag on that play!
I did say it was just a “small point” in his defense (or lack thereof…). I just went back and watched - the 5th inning play was much more off 1st base than I remembered. I don’t know if Cole would have made it, but he sure as hell should have tried.
I do feel bad for Volpe - he has a fun “Yankee fan from birth” story, and flubbing that throw to 3rd can eat at you.
You know what kills me? Aaron Judge has played 225 games in CF (1835.2 innings) and has never been charged with an error. That inning was choke city. Too bad, we could have another day of baseball.
So I guess it’s time to start the “MLB Offseason Thread.”
Indeed.
The Dodgers’ parade is tomorrow. Then it’s off-season.