Eric Bruntlett completes unassisted triple play to end game

[Roast]

Wow. Only the second time in history a player has completed an unassisted triple play to end a ballgame. Lidge had Mets runners on first and second in the 9th with nobody out. Both runners ran on the pitch and Francour lined one right up the middle. Bruntlett, who had moved to cover the bag, had it hit right at him. He grabbed it, stepped on second, then tagged Murphy as he came into second. Wow.

[Clem Fandango]

His unassisted triple play capabilities far exceed that of the average middle infielder. Hendry should trade for him and extend him to a multi year deal so he can help us get those unassisted triple plays

[NCCubFan]

Maybe that will be this offseason's theme: Players who can turn unassisted triple plays.

[erik316wttn]

Maybe that will be this offseason's theme: Players who can turn unassisted triple plays.

 

The inning ends on one play, dude. That's usually a good thing!

[E.J.]

Someone send the video to Lou. Maybe he'd think twice about hitting and running every time a guy gets on 1st base.

[17 Seconds]

Cubs new offseason theme... get more triple play friendly?

[TruffleShuffle]

anyone else want to make the same joke in this thread? we haven't quite reached the point where it's completely, 100% unfunny.

[NCCubFan]

anyone else want to make the same joke in this thread? we haven't quite reached the point where it's completely, 100% unfunny.

Nah, his thought was original. I specified UNASSISTED triple play; he just specified triple play. :D

[chuckywang]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

[CubbieBum]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

 

I agree. Its a luck play. Still an accomplishment I would be proud of though.

[Electron Blue]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

 

Are you reacting to the reaction of fans, the media, or Bruntlett himself?

 

Either way, no one's really saying it was an amazing play (performance-wise). It's simply incredibly rare, and is impressive for that reason.

[Little Slide Rooter]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

 

Are you reacting to the reaction of fans, the media, or Bruntlett himself?

 

Either way, no one's really saying it was an amazing play (performance-wise). It's simply incredibly rare, and is impressive for that reason.

 

It is very rare, but for every unassisited triple play in baseball history, you'll probably find that some kind of baserunning gaff as much to due, if not more so than the fielder himself.

[Roast]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

Jesus, debbie downer. No one is saying it took incredible skill to make the play, it's just pretty cool that this is only the second time in baseball history it has ever happened.

[Derwood]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

Jesus, debbie downer. No one is saying it took incredible skill to make the play, it's just pretty cool that this is only the second time in baseball history it has ever happened.

 

Didn't Asdrubel Cabrera just do it last year?

[Roast]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

Jesus, debbie downer. No one is saying it took incredible skill to make the play, it's just pretty cool that this is only the second time in baseball history it has ever happened.

 

Didn't Asdrubel Cabrera just do it last year?

No.

 

Unassisted triple plays have happened something like 17 times I think they said, but this is only the second time one has ever ended a game. I believe they said the other one was in the 30's or something.

 

ETA: I was close..kinda:

 

Bruntlett turned the 15th unassisted triple play in big league history—the second that ended a game. Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun also turned the trick on May 31, 1927, completing a 1-0 victory over Cleveland, according to STATS LLC.

[Banedon]

I thought I'd heard Pat Hughes say this was the 3rd time, but that both the previous ones had happened pre-1930's.

[Electron Blue]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

 

Are you reacting to the reaction of fans, the media, or Bruntlett himself?

 

Either way, no one's really saying it was an amazing play (performance-wise). It's simply incredibly rare, and is impressive for that reason.

 

It is very rare, but for every unassisited triple play in baseball history, you'll probably find that some kind of baserunning gaff as much to due, if not more so than the fielder himself.

 

Possibly a gaff, yes, but most likely it's simply a hit-and-run like this one. Not really a bad play -- very risky, but intentional.

 

Still though, none of that really enters into the fascination with triple plays (and unassisted ones, even moreso). They are incredibly rare, and often, interesting to see develop.

[Sammys Boombox]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

 

Are you reacting to the reaction of fans, the media, or Bruntlett himself?

 

Either way, no one's really saying it was an amazing play (performance-wise). It's simply incredibly rare, and is impressive for that reason.

 

It is very rare, but for every unassisited triple play in baseball history, you'll probably find that some kind of baserunning gaff as much to due, if not more so than the fielder himself.

 

Possibly a gaff, yes, but most likely it's simply a hit-and-run like this one. Not really a bad play -- very risky, but intentional.

 

Still though, none of that really enters into the fascination with triple plays (and unassisted ones, even moreso). They are incredibly rare, and often, interesting to see develop.

 

Usually it's not a gaff. I was sitting just off of first base at Busch when Furcal made his unassisted triple play. Woody Williams was batting with men on first and second and TLR put on a slash hit-and-run (meaning the runners go, the pitcher shows bunt, pulls it back and swings). The ball looked headed for the gap when Furcal leapt and caught it, touched on second and tagged the runner from first. Most of the people in the crowd were incredibly confused. I heard many, "There weren't any outs?" "The inning's over?" "What just happened?" Meanwhile my brother and I are going nuts about seeing an unassisted triple play. It was exhilarating to say the least. In this case the play by Furcal was actually a pretty good one, but even a routine line-out would still make an unassisted triple play exciting.

[Derwood]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

Jesus, debbie downer. No one is saying it took incredible skill to make the play, it's just pretty cool that this is only the second time in baseball history it has ever happened.

 

Didn't Asdrubel Cabrera just do it last year?

No.

 

That's funny, because there's a clip of the Indians announcers calling an unassisted triple play by Asrubal Cabrera in MLB 09:The Show

[Banedon]

This is one of the most mediocre baseball "accomplishments" that I can think of. Literally any major league middle infielder could have made that play if put into the same situation.

Jesus, debbie downer. No one is saying it took incredible skill to make the play, it's just pretty cool that this is only the second time in baseball history it has ever happened.

 

Didn't Asdrubel Cabrera just do it last year?

No.

 

That's funny, because there's a clip of the Indians announcers calling an unassisted triple play by Asrubal Cabrera in MLB 09:The Show

 

Not to end the game.

[Derwood]

no, not to end the game. I didn't think he was being that specific in the quote string I had.

 

but he did have one:

 

At Progressive Field on May 12, 2008, Cabrera turned the 14th unassisted triple play in MLB history against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a doubleheader. In the fifth inning, with Toronto's Marco Scutaro on first base and Kevin Mench on second, Cabrera dove and caught a Lyle Overbay liner, stepped on second base before leading runner Mench could return, and then tagged Scutaro who had already passed second base.[4] Ron Hansen, who had turned an unassisted triple play in 1968, was in attendance to witness Cabrera's feat.[5]

[Banedon]

no, not to end the game. I didn't think he was being that specific in the quote string I had.

 

but he did have one:

 

At Progressive Field on May 12, 2008, Cabrera turned the 14th unassisted triple play in MLB history against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a doubleheader. In the fifth inning, with Toronto's Marco Scutaro on first base and Kevin Mench on second, Cabrera dove and caught a Lyle Overbay liner, stepped on second base before leading runner Mench could return, and then tagged Scutaro who had already passed second base.[4] Ron Hansen, who had turned an unassisted triple play in 1968, was in attendance to witness Cabrera's feat.[5]

 

Agreed. But there's been something like 15 unassisted triple plays. This was only the 2nd to end the game. Which is what Roast was talking about.

[Banedon]

Pretty cool addon bit of info. The previous one that ended a game...was the only one that wasn't made by either a SS or 2B.

 

Johnny Neun in 1927 was playing 1B...and caught a line drive, tagged the runner, and then beat the returning runner to 2nd to end the game.

[Sammys Boombox]

Pretty cool addon bit of info. The previous one that ended a game...was the only one that wasn't made by either a SS or 2B.

 

Johnny Neun in 1927 was playing 1B...and caught a line drive, tagged the runner, and then beat the returning runner to 2nd to end the game.

 

Huh. That's crazy. When I started reading your post I figured it was a 3B with runners on 2nd and 3rd (or bases loaded). But then, the only way that could happen is a major gaff by the runner on second, or if the runner on third was stealing home, so the runner on 2nd was also going and the batter missed the sign and lined to the 3B. Probably won't ever happen, but you never know.

[chuckywang]

Pretty cool addon bit of info. The previous one that ended a game...was the only one that wasn't made by either a SS or 2B.

 

Johnny Neun in 1927 was playing 1B...and caught a line drive, tagged the runner, and then beat the returning runner to 2nd to end the game.

 

George Burns in 1923 was playing 1B when he had his unassisted triple play.