Attempting to pick-off a runner at first base is always a risky move for a pitcher, as so many things could go wrong, from not stepping off the mound properly resulting in a balk to throwing the ball away.
The worst-case scenario might be if the first baseman doesn’t even cover first base and you attempt the pickoff anyway, and unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to one poor pitcher last night.
With Josh Naylor on first base after a walk in last night’s Los Angeles Angels vs. Cleveland Guardians game, Angels pitcher Roansy Contreras attempted to pick him off first base in the top of the 8th inning while down 10-3, and the only problem was first baseman Nolan Schanuel didn’t expect a throw and didn’t cover the bag, resulting in one of the worst pickoff attempts you’ll ever see.
Naylor isn’t exactly known for his speed and has just 22 career steals in 494 games, so it’s not likely he’d choose to go for it while up seven runs in the 8th inning against a last-place team.
Luckily for Contreras, he got out of the inning unscathed and pitched two hitless innings, making him the only pitcher of the night for the Angels who didn’t get shelled.
Patrick Sandoval started the game and surrendered eight runs in just 3.2 innings of work, bringing his season record to 2-7 with a grotesque 5.60 ERA.
It hasn’t been a banner season for the Angels with Shohei Ohtani leaving in the offseason and Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon already taking their usual places on the injured list.
This just made things a little bit worse.
