Murray Chass of the New York Times details the "3-4" defense used by Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon when Tampa Bay faced Boston's David Ortiz.
There is a graphic in the story. Basically, the third baseman plays left field while the shortstop moves to the second base side. The left fielder moves over to center.
Is this the "three-four" defense (three infielders, four outfielders) or the "thirty-four" defense (as in: now batting for the Red Sox, number thirty-four, David Ortiz)?
I'm not a NYT registered member, so I cannot read the article but I assume they would only do this with two strikes and nobody on base since it would be a gauranteed single to bunt down the 3B line and a possible double if the bunt dribbled down the 3B line into the grass. vr, Xei
"There's so much information. If you have information, why not use it?"
You are indeed correct with that assumption.
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