Ian Kinsler Unknowingly Stealing Third Base Is Peak Spring Training

Peak spring training right here. Justin Upton swings through strike two, Ian Kinsler starts a light jog back to the Angels’ dugout only to find out once he gets to third base that it was strike two and that he had just successfully stolen third base. Having watched the video back, it’s obvious that Kinsler legitimately did not know what the count was or how many outs there were, but judging by the reaction of the fielders — they knew, right? So, if they knew the inning wasn’t over, then how did they not record the out?

Yasmani Grandal clearly knows the inning isn’t over because he was ready to come up firing to third base immediately, but Logan Forsythe was straight up snoozing. He didn’t think the inning was over, because he didn’t head back towards the Dodgers dugout, but he also didn’t cover third base. It’s not like he didn’t notice Kinsler running over either, because he literally looked right at him.

Which is wild because he didn’t think to start running over to the bag until he was a few feet away from him.

It’s spring training so it’s not a big deal and nobody cares. But I’m sure when people see this, their first reaction will be that Kinsler was the one who had their head in the clouds. Ehhhhhh, I’d say it was more Forsythe. Not that it matters at all. It doesn’t. BUT, this sort of begs the question — should runners intentionally try this move? There are trick plays in baseball like the hidden ball trick, but the fake the fielders out into thinking that the inning is over j/k I stole third base move could actually work. It just did.

This is also further proof that spring training is too fucking long and we just need baseball season to start already. Three. More Days.