Major League Baseball

Coming through in a pinch is tough -- and Collins delivered

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

Pinch-hitting is unequivocally one of the hardest things to do in sports. I remember it well. I did it 127 times in my career.

On Saturday, Tyler Collins was called upon to pinch hit in the top of the seventh. Two fan bases with playoff dreams held their breath. Collins came through with a crisp line drive up the middle for the Tigers. That bullet knocked in what would be the game-winning run for Detroit. With that pinch-hit, the Tigers dealt a staggering blow to the Royals' chances at the American League Central Division title.

Collins' big moment was particularly impressive because it came on a gorgeous, well-executed changeup from James Shields. Unfortunately for the Royals, the pitch selection may have been responsible for the end result.

Tyler was challenged before he stepped into the batters' box. Simply staying mentally nimble after socializing brings with it substantial obstacles. Remember, for a bench player, the first few innings of a baseball game are spent spitting seeds and talking trash with teammates. Sometime in the middle of the game, you have to transition from relaxed to especially anxious instantaneously. It's a jolt to the system, and you need perspective over a long period of time to become accustomed to it.

Mental flexibility for a pinch hitter is immeasurably important. I knew I was generally going to be called on to face lefties, but if one of my teammates was injured, I could see Mike Mussina on any given night. Usually in the American League, I could plan on coming in during the last third of the game. Those three or four innings are when the bulk of the managerial games generally occur. If, during the 2006 season, Joe Torre called on Mike Myers to face Trot Nixon in the seventh, I needed to be ready to hit a sinker-balling, sidearm lefty. Sometimes Torre would counter with Tom Gordon, and Tito Francona was unlikely to hit for me at that point. Suddenly, I was on my own against a hard-throwing, short-arm right-hander with a big 12-6 hammer. I had to be prepared for the repertoire of every man on the Yankees roster, including their current trends and tendencies.

None of this is a surprise to Collins. The Tigers were leading through 4½ innings. Kansas City tied it up in the bottom of the fifth, and Tyler was likely beginning to get ready. Stretching, tee work, soft toss — he needed to be loose and ready for whatever was to come. It's not uncommon for a man off the bench to prepare to hit several times and never be called upon. On the other hand, I was surprised enough times with impromptu at-bats to be ready at any moment.

With two on and two out in the seventh, Collins was asked to pinch hit for Bryan Holaday. When you finally reach the batters' box, it can feel awkward and intense. You haven't been able to plan an approach for the whole game or four plate appearances like you would have had you been in the starting lineup. Taking a strike to acquire the cadence of the pitcher may not be prudent. Hitting is all about timing, and as a pinch hitter, you are at an inherent disadvantage. It's in a pitcher's best interest to further disturb that timing.

Pitch one was a pretty fading changeup, down and away. Collins swung through it, though it wasn't a bad pass by the 24-year-old. His first swing was assertive and balanced. Shields shook off catcher Salvador Perez on the second pitch of the count, electing to go back to the changeup a second time. He buried it in the dirt, the runners on first and second advancing to second and third as the ball bounced off his chest protector. This time, Collins executed a perfect take. He clearly recognized the changeup early and had his weight under him. His front foot struck the earth calmly, and he was in a position to strike. Most importantly, he had timed the changeup. The count had shifted to a critical 1 and 1, with first base open. Blink and you missed it, but Shields no longer had the cadence advantage.

At this point, Shields and Perez needed to change the eye level. Collins had seen two balls below his knees at the same speed. He has 20 plate appearances in his MLB career, so there is no track record to speak of at the highest level. The Royals should have continued to toy with his timing, using a fastball to either get the out or set up another changeup.

Instead, Perez and Shields collectively decided on a third changeup. In isolation, it was among the best he'd thrown on the day. Below the zone and away with fade and vertical drop, it couldn't have been drawn up better. But Collins had seen two straight pitches at the identical speed. He made the adjustment and stroked a pretty line drive to center field.

In a vacuum, I don't mind three consecutive changeups. Because the hitter was locked in, however, I did in this situation.

Pitchers lose their control once the ball leaves their hand. Until then, it's critical to flex their mental muscle. Shields is one of my favorite men to watch on the bump. I bet in his quiet time, he recognizes a fastball or curveball was in order. He certainly can't complain about the quality pitch he delivered.