1) He's an above-average runner. How much of a secondary lead does he need? I will grant you that on AstroTurf, a sharply hit ball does make it closer at home plate.Your assumption that he'd score from 2nd on a single assumes that he's getting a healthy secondary lead, not standing flat-footed next to the bag. The line between getting a good secondary lead and "[making] the break for 3rd base" is a blurry one. Without question, Benintendi was a couple steps too far from the bag, but it's common even for runners who are doing everything right in that situation to need to cut abruptly back to second on a hard-hit grounder to third or short; the fact that I can't remember ever seeing an injury on that play tells you how freakish AB's injury was. Suggesting that he somehow brought that injury on himself betrays a lack of understanding of how split-second decisions are made on an athletic field.
2) It was not a hard-hit grounder. It was a bouncer to short. Right in front of him.
3) I've been on 2nd base plenty of times in that situation. You don't make that break.
I do agree that it can be a blurry line between secondary leads and trying for third, but it looked like he was going, not getting a secondary. Also agree that I've never seen an injury on that play. Look, I'm a fan of the kid. But it was bad baserunning. Even he admits it.
Edit: If you don't want to put the blame on him, there's always the coaching staff. Shouldn't there be some clear communication between the base coaches and runners in that situation?
Not ready to die on this hill. Just really bummed about the injury. Kid was an exciting player.
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