Base Stealing an important characteristic..

by StrappedYankee on May 25, 2007 8:35 PM EDT

Base stealing is an important characteristic of a particular style of baseball, sometimes called "small ball". A team playing with this style emphasizes doing little things (including risky running plays like base-stealing) to advance runners and score runs, often relying on pitching and defense to keep games close. The Los Angeles Dodgers of the 1960's, led by pitcher Sandy Koufax and speedy shortstop Maury Wills, were a successful example of this style. The antithesis of this would be a team that relies on power hitting. The Baltimore Orioles of the 1970's, led by manager Earl Weaver, were an example of such a "slugging" team that aspired to score most of its runs via home runs. Often the "small ball" model is associated with the National League, while power hitting is seen as more associated with the American League. However, some of the more successful American League teams of recent memory, including the 2002 Anaheim Angels,(remember them) the 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 2005 Chicago White Sox (taking our championships) have experienced their success in part as a result of playing "small ball" advancing runners through means such as the stolen base and the related hit and run play. Successful teams often combine both styles, with a speedy runner or two complementing hitters with power.
Now will the Yankees learn this lesson and forget trying to get players like Helton. We have enough bats. We need speed and pitching.

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

"We need speed and pitching"

Sir, you are half right.
More important that stealing is aggresive baserunning, going first to third, scoring from second on a single, etc.
More important than aggresive baserunning is smart baserunning, which means not playing a style your team isn't built for.
Let's discuss the two teams you've picked out:
The 1963 World Champion Dodgers were only caught stealing only 70 times (1st, worst in the majors). They had a .309 OBP (t-11th) and a .357 SLG (15th). They led the majors in strikeouts (1095) and tied for the best WHIP (1.18).
The 1970 World Champion Orioles were caught stealing only 39 times (17th). They had a .344 OBP (2nd) and a .401 SLG (8th). They were 11th in Ks (941) and had the best WHIP in the majors (1.21).
So what did these two championship ball clubs have in common?
Hint: It ain't the favorite brand of chewing gum

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 25, 2007 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

C'mon jscape

Just ignore the guy and eventually he will go away

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 25, 2007 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Not until

he begins to see the fundamental flaw in his logic. He doesn't even have to admit it.
Every baseball fan has the potential to be an intelligent baseball fan. I consider this a project now that I'm out of school.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 25, 2007 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Work on cbeck

and others who still have some hope. This guy just posts incoherent bullshit. Trust me, if we ignore him and he eventually goes away, it will be better. He doesn't read anyone's posts and refuses to acknowledge even the most basic counterarguments. The sooner he goes away the better.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 25, 2007 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah

cbeck will be a much harder sell. He believes in clutch and heart. Strapped just overvalues the disruptive effect of taking a single extra base 70% of the time.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 25, 2007 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't disgrace cbeck like that

The guy has some boneheaded ideas, but he isn't an asshole and he is at least willing to listen to people and acknowledge when he is wrong. Strapped is like Rainman with a laptop.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 25, 2007 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

We are built for it

the first 4 players in the lineup should be Damon, Jeter, Cano and Alex. Hitting and running combined with power. Damon ignites the lineup, Jeter well what else can be said about him. He just passed Joe D., Cano 3rd in hitting after Mauer and Jeter and A. Rod Take Abreu off the top four and our offense would improve exponentially.

Yes we can be better.

by StrappedYankee on May 25, 2007 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

You didn't just suggest

Cano batting 3rd? Did you? Really? In his 1173 AB career he has a .334 OBP. He can't get on base.
I know he had the third best batting average last year, but 1) that was last year, 2) batting average fluctuates wildly for most hitters, 3) batting average is a very poor judge of a hitter's quality.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 25, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude, let it go

He won't go away if you keep replying. Solidarity here brother.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 25, 2007 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It beats

watching Johnny Damon dive all over the field to not make plays three times in one night.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 25, 2007 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Between

Jeter and A.Rod his average and natural swing will produce for us. What we have with Abreu is not working.

by StrappedYankee on May 25, 2007 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok last one for tonight

Dude have you even been watching the games? Abreu has not batted third since May 7th. That is nearly 3 weeks ago.
I take back the hopeful things I said about you.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 25, 2007 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Told you dude

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 25, 2007 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

No, it won't

Don't let the fact that Cano plays 2nd base fool you: Cano is a slow-footed power hitter. He should be hitting lower in the order because he has a power bat but poor plate discipline. He can't get on base, so he should be nowhere near the top of the lineup.

by Willton on May 27, 2007 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Matsui

doesnt work either. Abreu was the "regular" most of the year, my point is the first 4 I said would do the job offensively. Now as for pitching we are in deep shit.

by StrappedYankee on May 25, 2007 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

With your logic

or lack of it, how do you feel about having Abreu pitch?

by danbrady143 on May 25, 2007 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Funny man

but guess what he cant do worse

by StrappedYankee on May 26, 2007 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Ignore him

That point should be obvious by now

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 26, 2007 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions

For every "small ball" team

you mention, I hold up the 2004 Red Sox and the 2001 D'Backs, who stole very little but killed the baseball.

The Chicago White Sox hurt themselves more getting caught stealing than they helped themselves by stealing successfully. With a team that hit so many HR's, they should have savored every baserunner they had. They were fortunate enough to have the best run-prevention in the league, and that's what won them the WS - not small ball.

By the way, small ball is weak ball. There's a reason it's falling out of favor: it is a poor strategy.

by Willton on May 27, 2007 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

by flipster on May 27, 2007 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

You guys are harsh

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 27, 2007 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Ignore him

and he will go away. I implore everyone: please do not reply to his posts. I refuse to do it and so should everyone else. It is already starting to work.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 28, 2007 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions