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Saturday, April 12, 2008

MLB: Blue Jays running basepaths more

Are the Jays running a “failure-oriented business”?

“A lot of clubs in the American League get caught up waiting for the big inning,” Zaun said. “We’ve got some guys who can hit the ball deep. But for us, it’s also important to win however we need to. We’re using the hit-and-run more than ever before. We’re pushing the envelope on the basepaths when running. We’re putting pressure on the defense. And when you do that, they make mistakes once in a while.

“We’ll have our games, just like the Angels do, where sometimes you run yourself into some outs. But more often than not, it’s the right way to play. You can’t just sit around waiting to hit, because hitting is a failure-oriented business as it is.”

..."We have some guys who can run, who are willing to run, and who are willing to sacrifice themselves at the plate if hit-and-runs are called upon,” Wells said. “Up and down the lineup, we have to be ready to do whatever we’re called upon to do in that situation. I think we’re all trying to look at the bigger picture here, and that’s playing meaningful baseball in September. We need to do the little things right to get there.”

Repoz Posted: April 12, 2008 at 09:04 PM | 5 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralToronto

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   1. Reed's Johnson Posted: April 12, 2008 at 10:02 PM (#2741676)
As opposed to trotting or walking...They won't be trying for too many stolen bases once those guys start getting gunned down.

We’ll have our games, just like the Angels do, where sometimes you run yourself into some outs

They'll be doing that quite a bit more than the Angels. This team can't really run, no matter how many times they tell themselves they can.
   2. MSI Posted: April 12, 2008 at 10:23 PM (#2741692)
I think there are a few guys in the lineup who have enough speed that can make this a smart move. If you can rack up more steals with Rios, Wells, Hill, etc., then why not send them a bit more often? I'm sure they'll keep a close eye on the CS stat.

Either way, I think they are a more well rounded team and smarter than last year. Stolen bases can be had not just on pure talent, but on catching other teams napping and running intelligently.
   3. ...and Toronto selects: Troy Tulowitzki Posted: April 12, 2008 at 11:22 PM (#2741715)
Stolen bases can be had not just on pure talent, but on catching other teams napping and running intelligently.



Inglett and McDonald ran for no good reason tonight, and got thrown out easily. Two of Scuturo's steals, he should have been called out. It's looked spotty to me thus far when they steal.
   4. ...and Toronto selects: Troy Tulowitzki Posted: April 13, 2008 at 12:54 AM (#2741745)
There are no management comments in this article, but this was Ricciardi this past Tuesday in a Toronto Sun article:

Offensively, this team doesn't have the power that Ricciardi covets but as they showed, they may be more versatile. Another one of those goofy opening week stats is that the Jays are tied with Baltimore for most stolen bases -- seven.

That hasn't been Ricciardi-ball in the past, but times change.

"I think we just made a conscious effort to say let's take advantage of the things that our guys can do," he said.

"Right now those guys (Wells, David Eckstein, Marco Scutaro, Rios) have the ability to take off, so hopefully we'll pick our spots."
   5. Reed's Johnson Posted: April 13, 2008 at 01:19 AM (#2741753)
My view is probably skewed based on the fact that I hear a bunch of guys call into Toronto sports radio talking about how great Gibbons is for running all the time and making the game "more exciting" to watch and whatnot. Gibbons is probably smart enough to realize he doesn't have any true basestealers on this club and probably isn't actually running at every opportunity (in fact, he's probably not even making the calls).

I'm guessing there's a handful of guys on this team who have the green light if they think they can make it, and have thus far been fairly successful at it. My concern is whether these guys are savvy enough baserunners that they actually know when to run and won't start running themselves out all the time. Not to mention the fact that the opposing team is going to start catching on very, very soon (if not already).

Ironically, even as a Red Sox fan I always want to see the Jays succeed/not be stupid. They are only 2 hours away after all...
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