re: Mainieri says that Watson was right to get hosed by the cutoff play. I disagree

You should never make the 1st or 3rd out at 3rd base. That is a general baseball rule. So yes, it was a mistake.

It wasn’t a frickup mistake, it was a hustle mistake. The latter doesn’t lose you games.

ETA: That type of baserunning mistake is the same as an infielder making a diving stab and then trying to make a throw that would never result in an out. You just can’t be mad about “hustle mistakes” IMO.

ETAA: If he’d gotten to third safely it’s the equivalent of stealing the base. The only reason it ducks is it was the 1st out of the inning.