We’ve done a top ten list for the Indians best defensive plays every since 2011, but the term best is relative and many of those seasons featured some pretty poor overall defense. This year, things were completely different. According to FanGraphs’ defense stat, the 2016 Indians team was the greatest in franchise history and according to UZR/150 (only available from 2003 on), they were the best by more than a run and a half.
With that being said, 93 plays were considered for the the top ten and those were whittled down to the 21 best. Below are 11-15 (in no particular order, follow the links to watch), then the top 10 with a couple plays doubled up because they were very similar to other plays.
August 31st: A one man Party at Napoli’s
May 5th: A flying Kipnis appears
May 30th: Michael Martinez plays all fields
April 30th: Bauer ups the level of difficulty, Lindor complies
May 8th & July 16th: Plays at the plate for Kipnis and Lindor
10. July 5th vs Detroit: The Inverted Double Play
[mlbvideo id=”898064183″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]This play wasn’t necessarily spectacular, but it showed the incredible awareness of Francisco Lindor as he was able to end the inning and a credible scoring threat. The Tigers had started the fifth with two straight walks, but Carlos Carrasco retired James McCann to leave two on with one out. On a slow roller to Jason Kipnis it didn’t appear they could turn two and the inning would continue with runners on the corners. After the flip to second, however, Lindor saw the slow-footed Steven Moya still heading to third and was able to beat him to the bag with a throw to Jose Ramirez. If you liked that, here’s another play where Lindor couldn’t go to first, but was able to get an out at third. Bonus points for Juan Uribe‘s unique tag.
9. April 23rd vs Detroit: I get knocked down, but I get up again (you’re never gonna keep me down)
[mlbvideo id=”616832983″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]There wasn’t much on the line for this play as the Indians had a nine run lead late in the game and Detroit no runners on with Miguel Cabrera running to first, but it was still one of the funnest for the season. Cabrera smashed a ball to Lindor, who was playing extremely deep, knocking the shortstop onto his back, but he was still able to recover to retire the plodding slugger at first.
8. May 24th vs Chicago: Where do you think you’re going?
[mlbvideo id=”734152283″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]In the past, I’ve tried to avoid using too many plays featuring the same player, but Lindor may be the greatest defensive player any Indians fan has ever seen, so get used to seeing his smiling face. On this one, Brett Lawrie was caught too far off base on a grounder to the shortstop and was thrown out going to third. This didn’t make it that great of a play on it’s own, but Uribe then threw to first to nab Avasail Garcia, who was inexplicably heading to second. He decided to stay at first too late and a fielder’s choice turned into an inning ending double play.
7. September 9th vs Minnesota: Rajai Davis Earning Bonus UZR Points
What would a top ten defensive plays list be without a dive? Yes, there are full flight dives from Jason Kipnis and Michael Martinez in the group from 11-15, but this is the only outfield dive included in the top ten. Against the Twins Davis had to range far the to the left most part of left field to catch this ball that was tailing away from him. Making this play even bigger is that it was against Max Kepler, who otherwise destroyed the Tribe this year, and that it helped the Indians beat the Twins, a rare occasion early in the season.
6. July 26th vs Washington: Dan Otero, Kung Fu Master
[mlbvideo id=”973647283″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]While there are times when a pitcher touching a ball just complicates the situation (see Lindor play from April 30th), the Indians actually had a few really incredible snares by their pitching staff this year. For this one, the Nationals already had a run in and had runners on the corners with none out. Ryan Zimmermann crushed a ball back up the middle and somehow Otero was not only able to snare it, but with Anthony Rendon running on the play, was able to throw to first for the double play. The Nats didn’t score that inning and the Indians won the game by a run, further promoting the importance of PFP.
5. August 16th vs Chicago: Challenge that, Miller Doesn’t Allow Runners
[mlbvideo id=”1060348883″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]This play is one that Lindor makes so often it almost seems routine, but no one should ever stop appreciating how difficult this is. This time, the play was so close that Omar Narvaez was originally called safe, but the umpires in New York ultimately realized the mistake and the play was challenged and reversed for the first out of the inning. If you don’t believe me that Lindor does this all the time, here was his second most impressive such play this year.
4. August 3rd vs Minnesota: Where Do You Think You’re Going? Part II
[mlbvideo id=”1006104983″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]Looking back at all the Indians great plays this year in an effort to separate the best of the best, it occurred to me that an inordinate amount of them came due to poor baserunning, particularly on the part of the Minnesota Twins. On this one there were so many things that went wrong. First, even though he was protecting with a 1-2 count, Eddie Rosario had no business swinging at a pitch that almost hit him in the knee. Cody Anderson was pitching (very poorly) and had allowed two triples and a walk already in the inning, so if anything, Rosario should have been waiting for something over the plate. Instead, he hit a ground ball to first and Joe Mauer, who was very slowly running home on contact, got caught in a run down. Roberto Perez did a good job limiting the throws on this play and Miguel Sano was apparently expecting otherwise as he was headed to third. He was caught out as well in another run down as the Indians ended an inning that could have went much worse.
3. June 24th vs Detroit: Davis Tricks Kinsler, Maybin, Cabrera & Underwood
[mlbvideo id=”852791683″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]It was the situation here made this play as big as any this season and depending on your point of view, these last three plays are interchangeable. With one out, one run already in and runners at first and second with just a two run lead, things couldn’t have been more intense. Add to that the Indians closer, who has been one of the best relievers in baseball facing off against Cabrera, arguably baseball’s best hitter since he joined the Marlins in 2003. Cabrera launched one to deep center that was obviously not going out of the park, but looked like it could fall, a situation that would have likely tied the game. Davis ranged deep to center to corral it though and unintentionally bobbled the ball before obtaining full possession. The runners were blocked from the play in it’s entirety and only saw the ball fly back into the air so both Cameron Maybin, who was on first, and Ian Kinsler, who was on second, continued to run until it was far to late. Davis threw to Kipnis, who continued the relay to the plate where Roberto Perez finally tossed out Maybin, who was nowhere in sight, at first. If there were none out, it would have been an easy triple play as Kinsler had already crossed the plate from second.
2. August 30th vs Minnesota: McAllister’s Hacky Sack
[mlbvideo id=”1115417583″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]So much of baseball is random luck and this play was one of the luckiest ever. It might not even belong on this list as it involved little actual talent, but I think everyone can appreciate something this rare. Kurt Suzuki‘s comeback liner hit off McAllister’s left leg, which was planted after his delivery. Most likely just a reaction to being hit, Zach kicked his leg up and the ball followed, landing easily in his glove (after he completed a spin move) for the out. The whole play lasted about one second from contact to catch and, while he likely would have thrown out Suzuki even if he hadn’t caught the ball in the air, it was pretty incredible that he did catch it. To prove that McAllister was more than just lucky with the glove this year, here’s another play where he dove to catch a sac bunt attempt in the air. PFP rules again!
1. June 4th vs Kansas City: Style Points
[mlbvideo id=”776817683″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]This is yet another Lindor clip showing yet again how aware he is of his surroundings and the situation on the infield. Wearing the always classy 1970’s blues, Lindor makes an all out dive to smother a ground ball, but would never have been able to recover and throw to first in time to get even the less than fleet footed Kendrys Morales. Instead, he flips the ball without hesitation to Ramirez, who in turn fires it to Carlos Santana for the out.
If you want to see something even more incredible, ten days later, he did it again. Wearing more modern uniforms, Lindor dove on a Morales grounder up the middle (again playing on the second base side) and this time he flipped it from his glove to Ramirez’s bare hand with Ramirez turning it even quicker to first for the out. This was probably the more impressive play, so I’ll embed it here as well, but it looked cooler in the throw backs.
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