Why Aledmys Diaz wasn’t given a free base, explained

Houston Astros utility player Aledmys Diaz tried to lean into a hit by pitch, but was called back to home plate by umpire James Hoye.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Astros needed baserunners in hopes of one final comeback. Yet, Aledmys Diaz went against the grain in his attempt.

With David Robertson on the bump, Diaz leaned into an up-and-in breaking pitch, hoping to convince the umpire he was hit by the ball. While Diaz did make contact with the ball, he initiated said contact. This, of course, is not allowed, and he was called back to home plate to finish his at bat.

Still facing a 3-0 disadvantage, Robertson got Diaz to swing out of his shoes on the next pitch, and then ground out for the game’s final play.

Why wasn’t Aledmys Diaz awarded a HBP?

Per the MLB rulebook, the batter has to make an attempt to get out of the way of said pitch. Aledmys Diaz did not.

"“A hit-by-pitch does not count as a hit, but it does count as a time on base for on-base percentage purposes. Certain hitters — specifically those who stand very close to the plate — have a knack for earning HBPs, which can obviously be helpful because the goal of any hitter is to reach base. But hit-by-pitches can also result in injury because most pitches are thrown 80 mph or faster. Per the rules, a batter must make an attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch in order to receive first base.”"

Diaz, if anything, tried to lean into said pitch rather than move away from it.

Aledmys Diaz torched on Twitter for leaning into pitch

Aledmys Diaz was forced to earn his spot on base the hard way, and he failed to do so. Hitting under .100 for the postseason, Diaz couldn’t have felt confident in his ability to drive home the tying and winning runs, which were already on base at that moment. By leaning into Robertson’s pitch, he was simply moving the lineup along to the next batter.

Thankfully for the sake of my sanity, umpire James Hoye caught this sly, pathetic technique to reach base.

https://twitter.com/JamesKnowsBall_/status/1586216343904346115

Diaz was put in a tough spot, and rather than trying to rise to the moment, he took what he assumed was the easy way out.

Even Astros fans should be upset by Diaz’s action in a critical moment of Game 1. Yes, Diaz has been putrid this postseason, but surely Houston sports fans would rather see what he could do with the bat in his hands. Instead, he intentionally leaned over the plate in hopes of providing what amounts to a useless baserunner.