The ball is hit towards the hole between second and third. You take off from second base with the thoughts of scoring, but something has happened. Without noticing, the shortstop re-positioned himself to where the ball was hit and has now thrown the ball to third where the tag is awaiting for you. The only thing you can do now is get into a rundown and hope a mistake is made where you can somehow avoid getting tagged out.
Instances similar to this has happened to Josh Harrison twice this season and, somehow, he was able to escape both pickles.
“You just hope someone fumbles the ball or something to give you a little window,” said Harrison. “A throw-away or something is what you hope for.”
Harrison didn’t quite get that window from the Mets in his first rundown, but he created his own by diving out of danger twice while reversing paths five different times.
“You just react off of how things are going,” said Harrison. “A bad throw will certainly allow you to continue to go one way or take another step, but it’s all in the heat of the moment.”
That reaction, as Harrison explains, is not planned. There is rarely any time to plan your next move before it happens due to the actions of the defensive players involved. Luck plays the biggest part, but having good footwork and evasive skills can go a long way, as well.
“I think it takes a little bit of luck involved,” said Harrison. “Yeah, having footwork can help, but more than not, you need the defense to do something to give you a window of opportunity. Whether they fumble the ball or they throw it offline a little bit. We’re professionals. We run and throw the ball. If it’s on target then it’s pretty much a done deal.”
Harrison was able to avoid the “Done deal” a second time in Colorado when he overslid second base on a steal attempt. Instead of trying to go back to the bag, he attempted towards third and pulled off another Houdini act.
Harrison is one of few to be able to escape more than one rundown in a season. While he enjoys the fact, he would much rather be able to move along the basepaths more freely.
“It was fun, but I try and stay out of them as much as possible,” said Harrison. “It was cool, though.”
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(Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
