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World Series 2012: Doug Fister hit by liner, Tigers hurt by mistakes

SAN FRANCISCO—Concussions and their long-term effects on athletes are rightfully hot topics these days, and the discussion heated up again Thursday night during Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park.

Detroit Tigers starter Doug Fister was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of San Francisco Giants left fielder Gregor Blanco in the second inning. The ball deflected high into the air, falling in center field for a single.

World Series 2012: Doug Fister worked into the seventh inning in Game 2. (AP Photo)

Fister stayed in the game and pitched six innings; the only run he allowed scored after he exited in the seventh. After he was hit by the liner, Fister walked Brandon Crawford and then retired 12 consecutive hitters. He was the hard-luck loser, however, as the Giants will take a 2-0 series lead to Detroit on Saturday after Thursday’s 2-0 win.

Three Strikes from San Francisco’s fifth consecutive postseason win in Game 2:

1. Proper precautions

After the ball hit Fister’s head, a team trainer checked on him and must have heard what he considered the right answers because the Tigers allowed Fister to continue pitching.

Fister’s strong results after the incident aren’t the measure of whether allowing him to continue was the correct call. Discussions immediately started on Twitter and among reporters about what are the proper precautions in a situation like Fister’s. Remember, it was just across the Bay Bridge last month when Oakland A’s pitcher Brandon McCarthy required brain surgery just hours after taking a line drive off his head.

Sometimes concussion symptoms don’t show up immediately—an athlete might feel fine for a while after such an incident—but that doesn’t mean there is no damage.

While the idea of a pitching helmet is not likely, Major League Baseball is looking into the possibility of some kind of protection being worn under hats. The Medical Advisory Committee plans to address the issue during the winter meetings in December.

Gallery: Tigers-Giants World Series in photos

2. Giants’ break of the night

It seems like every San Francisco win this postseason has featured some kind of crazy break—sometimes multiple. Game 2 wasn’t any different when Blanco bunted for a single to load the bases in the seventh inning, leading to the Giants’ first run.

Blanco bunted down the third-base line, but catcher Gerald Laird and third baseman Miguel Cabrera elected to let the ball roll in hopes it would end up foul. Anyone who has watched the Giants this month knows that had little chance of happening.

The ball hugged the edge of the grass in fair territory as it crawled and eventually settled without rolling foul. It was a huge break for San Francisco in what was a scoreless game at the time.


3. Sliding into outs

The Tigers won’t spend their workout day before Game 3 learning the art of sliding into bases, but it couldn’t hurt after what they showed in Game 2.

In the second inning, with Prince Fielder on first and nobody out, Delmon Young doubled into the left-field corner. Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont foolishly sent Fielder home, and the relay throw and tag led to the first out of the inning. Detroit ultimately failed to score. Although Lamont’s send was the wrong move, Fielder likely would have been safe had he slid to the back of the plate and tried to touch it with his hand.

In the fourth inning, Omar Infante led off with a single but was still at first base with two outs. With Young at the plate, Infante tried to steal second against Giants lefthander Madison Bumgarner, who threw to first on a pickoff attempt. Infante continued to second and looked like he could beat the throw from first baseman Brandon Belt. However, Infante slid to the outside of second base and didn’t hit the bag until his bent leg reached it. Had he slid directly into the base with his extended leg, he would have been safe.

Those mistakes cost the Tigers runs and helped Bumgarner pitch deep into the game.

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