Sean Casey was just thrown out at first base from left field...
He hit the ball off the third baseman Joe Crede's glove and it went into left field.
He stopped running.
The left fielder picked up the ball and threw it to first base before Casey could get there.
Truth be told, Casey thought it was caught, and on television, it looked like the fielder was hustling for the ball because Casey was going to second. Unfortunately, however, Casey stopped, the left fielder showed hustle, and he was gunned down.
This is a 7-0 game the White Sox are winning right now, so it likely amounted to nothing. However, the White Sox player hustled, and the Tigers player didn't. It was just one play, and the Tigers have been hustling all year, but at the same time, let's home it isn't a microcosm of things to come. Another thing teams down 7-0 need, however, is baserunners. It almost seems like the Tigers have mailed this one in, which is something they can't do just yet. Sure, they likely have the wild card wrapped up, so if they want to play the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs, this is a good game to lose.
Leyland keeps sending Nate Robertson out there though he has given up three or four home runs, and two to Jermaine Dye. It's funny how Robertson goes from starter to mop up guy in the same game so often. His inability to pitch well in a few big games this season is also worrysome. It seems like once his team is out of the game, he settles down and gets through eight innings. He just had a 1-2-3 sixth inning, and will likely come out for the seventh because of it.
Unfortunately, Nate never gets run support, he can lost 7-0 or 6-1 or 1-0, which if the score holds up will be true for this season. But the Tigers lack of hustle in this game, and seemingly in a lot of games when Pudge is not playing might lose them the division down the stretch.
At least Granderson got a couple of hits so far. He's up right now. Maybe they can start something and claw back into it a bit...
