Mike Scioscia Defends His Suicide Squeeze

Looking back on game four of the ALDS between the Angels and Red Sox, there's one clear moment during the game that we can blame the Angels loss on. That would be the suicide squeeze Mike Scioscia called for from Erick Aybar in the 9th inning with Reggie Willits on third and one out. As we're all aware of by now, things didn't work out too well, and Scioscia has been catching plenty of heat for it.

Well, after a few days to reflect on the season and think about that game and his decision, Mike wants you all to know that he regrets nothing.

"If you're afraid of the downside of any situation, you're never going to achieve," Scioscia said. "I thought it was our best chance right there to get that run in and get this game to Frankie [Rodriguez] in the bottom of the ninth. . . . There was a very high probability that that ball was going to be put down to where Reggie walks home. That was the basis of my decision.

"It was an extremely high-percentage play given the count, the guy that was on base and the guy that was in the batter's box. And I'll tell you what, if it happens again, we're doing it again and Erick's getting that bunt down. I can guarantee you that."

I understand why a lot of Angels fans are upset with Scioscia, and I get where our very own Pat Lackey is coming from in his view of the situation, but I agree with Mike here. Listen, doing things like running a suicide squeeze in that situation is what the Angels do and have always done under Scioscia.

It's plays like that that helped a team without much offense win 100 games this season. Did it work in that situation? No, but that's the only reason anybody is upset by it. Had the play worked Scioscia would have been lauded as a genius.

I remember back in 2000 the White Sox were facing the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS. The Mariners had a 2 games to none lead on the Sox, and in game three the score was tied in the bottom of the 9th inning. Seattle had a runner on third with one out, and guess what manager Lou Piniella decided to do? Yep, that's right, he called for the suicide squeeze and it worked to perfection.

The winning run scored, and Seattle went on to the ALCS where they would fall to the New York Yankees.