Worth Another Look… or 2… or More

Oct 4, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (19) tags out Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon (9) on a stolen base attempt in the ninth inning of game two of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

I think it’s getting about time to stop referring to Andrelton Simmons making “Ozzie Smith-like” plays.  Instead, how about “Ozzie Smith once made Simmons-like plays.”

Last night, top of the second inning, two outs.  Click once to watch; twice to embiggen:

an extended version…

Okay, maybe most major league shortstops are expected to reach this ball.

Probably 14-18 of them would have stopped the ball – maybe 8-10 of those fielding it cleanly on a good day.

Maybe two or three of those would have tried to get themselves righted and looking in the direction of first base.

Seeing the fast runner, nobody else would have even attempted a throw, since it would have clearly been a long-arcing rainbow that would arrive 3 seconds too late.

But this shortstop… well, I think we have a new mantra for him:

You think Ervin Santana isn’t happy to be in Atlanta with this kind of defense behind him?