In the aftermath of the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series loss, former players have come to the defense of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who made a costly baserunning decision in Game 7. While many are quick to point out the 'what ifs' of the moment, former player Chris Colabello argues that Kiner-Falefa's lead-off length was a coaching instruction and that scrutinizing this play takes away from the overall excitement of the game and series. Colabello believes that the risk/reward of being further off the base is so distorted that it would have been egregious to even consider risking being an inch further away from the bag. He also mentions that 99% of baserunners in that moment are not considering scoring on a ball that is fielded cleanly by an infielder. Former All-Star Whit Merrifield also comes to Kiner-Falefa's defense, stating that he did exactly what he was supposed to do based on the #1 rule with bases loaded and less than two outs. However, Kiner-Falefa himself has received threats after the game, including someone threatening to break his legs. This controversy highlights the fine line between good and bad baserunning decisions and the emotional impact they can have on players and fans alike. It remains to be seen how this will affect Kiner-Falefa's future with the team, but it is clear that this play will be remembered for a long time.
