Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
During Wednesday’s Chicago White Sox game against the Kansas City Royals, a broadcaster called Adam Dunn a “base-clogger” after Dunn drew a one-out walk with a runner on first in the top of the ninth.
Alexei Ramirez was on deck. The Royals led 3-1. The broadcaster said walking Dunn was good for the Royals since Dunn would “clog up the bases.”
Ramirez cooperated with those wishes that night, grounding into an game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
I noted three things.
First, I found the outcome unpleasant.
Second, I think it takes serious mental contortions to call walking the tying run a “good thing.” I think the Royals dodged a bullet.
Third, I am pretty sure the White Sox want their opponents to “clog the bases” with walked baserunners when the next spots in the order due to bat are numbers five through seven.
Adam Dunn established the third point with conviction Friday night against the New York Yankees. He did it twice.
The first time, Alexei Ramirez followed Dunn’s fifth-inning, two-out walk with a two-run home run that gave Chicago a 4-3 lead.
The Yankees rallied and re-took a one-run lead thanks to some hiccups on the part of the White Sox bullpen.
The second and more important time Adam Dunn turning clogged bases into a good result for the White Sox happened in the bottom of the ninth inning. Dayan Viciedo drew a lead-off walk from New York Yankees closer David Robertson. Adam Dunn followed, clearing the bases of all clogs by blasting a two-run, game-winning home run into the right field stands.
Base-clogging proved essential in the White Sox’s 6-5 win over the Yankees on Friday. I hope other teams clogging up the bases with White Sox runners all season long.
I think Adam Dunn does too.