 After the game, Jeter told the press that the team had been practicing this type of play all year as a result of a similarly botched throw in spring training.According to Jeter, the idea of stationing the shortstop down the first base line on balls hit to deep right field came from Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer, who was a shortstop and second baseman during his playing career; however, he stated that his initial intent was to throw the ball to third to try to get Long, and that his throw home was a reaction play.Zimmer confirmed the origin of the play's design in a conversation with Oakland's third base coach Ron Washington the next day.