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Thursday, November 20, 2008

MLB: Crisp sets sights on 40 steals

I once set my sights on seeing every Tom Graeff film…but that ain’t happening.

Give this to Coco Crisp: He’s got confidence in his ability. One day into his transfer to the Royals, and he’s talking about stealing 40 bases. That would be something different. No Royals player has swiped that many in a season since Carlos Beltran pilfered 41 in 2003. Before that, Johnny Damon had a league-leading 46 in 2000.

Bold talk, perhaps, from Crisp, who has never stolen 40 even in the Minor Leagues and has a Major League best of 28, for Boston in 2007.

“I’ve always been underrated as a speed demon, primarily I guess because I don’t steal a lot of bases,” Crisp said from his Rancho Mirage, Calif., home.

“That’s never been like my prime focus. When I was young, I’d just run. Now I have an idea of when and how to steal bases—when it’s appropriate for the situation and when we might need a spark. If I pick those times to go, I think I can easily steal 40. And whatever above that is uncharted territory for me, but without a doubt, 40 is something I can just close my eyes and do.”

Repoz Posted: November 20, 2008 at 09:04 PM | 51 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. phredbird

Posted: November 20, 2008 at 09:38 PM (#3013383)

without a doubt, 40 is something I can just close my eyes and do.

i'm just gonna stand back and enjoy the reaction to this.

2. Tripon Posted: November 20, 2008 at 09:40 PM (#3013387)

Steal 40 bases, get caught 20 times.

3. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 20, 2008 at 09:41 PM (#3013390)

i'm just gonna stand back and enjoy the reaction to this.

Me, too. I'm too tired to snark.

4. Josh Posted: November 20, 2008 at 09:59 PM (#3013410)

He has stolen 70 bases over the past three years at an 80% clip averaging less than 500 PAs/yr. 30 is certainly reasonable given a full time role; 40 is a bit high, but fun to shoot for.

Why must there be immediate snark to everything?

5. Sleepy supports unauthorized rambling Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:00 PM (#3013414)

Steal 40 bases, get caught 20 times.

Sadly, he probably doesn't get on base enough to become the Royals first 40/40 man.

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:05 PM (#3013422)

As if we weren't a bad enough baserunning team last year already.

7. Hugh Jorgan Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:08 PM (#3013425)

Sadly, he probably doesn't get on base enough to become the Royals first 40/40 man

That and the hitting of 40 homers seems remote...at best.

Funnily enough when I perused the article I was thinking, maybe he ought to focus on something really important; like raising is OBP to .375. But hey, that's just me.

8. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:11 PM (#3013430)

Sadly, he probably doesn't get on base enough to become the Royals first 40/40 man

That and the hitting of 40 homers seems remote...at best.

I think they mean 40 stolen bases, 40 caught stealing.

9. TVerik, AKA Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dog Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:19 PM (#3013439)

Is this whole thing a gag, a larf? I could see it if it were incredibly dry. OTOH, considering that it's on MLB.com, I think the odds are against that.

10. Hugh Jorgan Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:21 PM (#3013442)

I think they mean 40 stolen bases, 40 caught stealing

Ah, now I get it. Hey its still early in Sydney...

11. Foster Posted: November 20, 2008 at 10:54 PM (#3013472)

Wow, what a dick thing to say... jeez guys, he got traded and is displaying some enthusiasm. What SHOULD he say?

12. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:00 PM (#3013481)

Wow, what a dick thing to say... jeez guys, he got traded and is displaying some enthusiasm. What SHOULD he say?

He should be using this time to denigrate both his former team, and his present team.

13. phredbird

Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:19 PM (#3013496)

Why must there be immediate snark to everything?

well ... most of us are in our underwear in front of a computer in our mom's basement. the rest of us are avoiding work.

me, i'm just calling up the mental image of coco crisp dancing off first base and taking off with his eyes closed.

14. Crispix Attacks Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:22 PM (#3013498)

Coco Crisp is not a perennial All-Star and therefore should shut the hell up. Who does he think he is, having goals for himself and being enthusiastic about his career even though he is worse than several dozen other players in the world.

15. Al Kaline Trio Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:31 PM (#3013504)

Shouldn't he say the goal is for some number of team wins rather than a overrated individual stat like stolen bases?

16. Al Kaline Trio Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:32 PM (#3013506)

Maybe guys like seeing their name on fantasy drafts because a lot of guys claim they will steal bases before the season starts then do nothing of the sort.

17. Walt Davis Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:37 PM (#3013507)

when we might need a spark. If I pick those times to go, I think I can easily steal 40.

So he's saying they're gonna need sparks often. :-)

Me, too. I'm too tired to snark.

Shooty!! Have you been to the doctor yet?

Why must there be immediate snark to everything?

I'm ... I'm ... I'm speechless!

18. Crispix Attacks Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:41 PM (#3013508)

Shouldn't he say the goal is for some number of team wins rather than a overrated individual stat like stolen bases?

Maybe he thinks his individual accomplishments will contribute to the team winning.

19. Al Kaline Trio Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:46 PM (#3013511)

Maybe he thinks his individual accomplishments will contribute to the team winning.

Only if it's late in the game or in September because that's when the valuable guys come to play. Like Dave Roberts for example.

20. Chase Utley, Shooty's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:46 PM (#3013512)

Maybe guys like seeing their name on fantasy drafts because a lot of guys claim they will steal bases before the season starts then do nothing of the sort.

I picked Eugenio Velez in several pools this year based on buzz about his speed. That didn't quite pan out.

21. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:49 PM (#3013513)

well ... most of us are in our underwear in front of a computer in our mom's basement. the rest of us are avoiding work.

me, i'm just calling up the mental image of coco crisp dancing off first base and taking off with his eyes closed.

I'm trying to stop calling up the mental image of Primates sharing underwear and moms.

22. phredbird

Posted: November 20, 2008 at 11:53 PM (#3013515)

Primates sharing underwear and moms

times are tough. we have to economize.

23. Hugh Jorgan Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:11 AM (#3013520)

Wow, what a dick thing to say... jeez guys, he got traded and is displaying some enthusiasm. What SHOULD he say?

Geez mate, calm down, we are only having a yarn at the bloke. I like Crisp and I think the move will be good for him. He's 28 this year so I'm thinking he might throw a peak season in there just for KC.

I'm definitely in the avoiding work camp. I don't think my wife would be too pleased about me being in my mum's basement with no kit on. Though that could be fun...

24. A Day In the Park Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:18 AM (#3013522)

What is funny about this?

In a full time role in 2007 he stole 28 bases in 34 attempts--and he stole 20 last year in a part-time role.

If he ups that attempts number up to, say 50-55, which shouldn't be a problem, he gets 40--NO PROBLEM!!!

I don't understand the negative/sarcastic reaction to this???

25. Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott) Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:30 AM (#3013527)

people here hate stolen bases. clearly a sign of intolerance towards the larceny inclined.

26. Smiling Joe Hesketh Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:32 AM (#3013528)

He's probably also excited at having a full time CF job for 2009 and he won't have to sit around waiting to wrest ABs away from Ellsbury again. He was the good soldier in Boston this year and stepped right in and played well during the playoffs after Ellsbury flamed out, so I think the guy's well deserving of having confidence in his abilities.

I mean, he's very excited to go to Kansas City, which is refreshing to see. As others have pointed out, given a full time job in 2009 it's hardly inconceivable he could steal 40.I hope he does it; I always liked him while he was in Boston and it's too bad things didn't work out better for him here with injuries and inconsistency.

27. phredbird

Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:39 AM (#3013534)

lordy, its just the silly name and the doing it with his eyes closed comment. okay?

he'll do fine. he'll be big fish in a little pond, and who knows. as the ozzie said, he's 28, so he might put up a peak year, and that reliever the royals picked up could have a big year, and who knows they could be playing meaningful games in august. nobody predicted that last year for tampa bay, that's for sure.

.285/.365/.420 38 steals 10 CS

28. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:41 AM (#3013538)

No Royals player has swiped that many in a season since Carlos Beltran pilfered 41 in 2003. Before that, Johnny Damon had a league-leading 46 in 2000.

wow, Carlos Beltran--Royals

Johnny Damon--Royals

where has the time gone

29. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:42 AM (#3013540)

I hope Crisp does it. Maybe he has learned something from the Red Sox. Just by eyeballing it, it seems the Red Sox were the best AL team in SB's (rate and amount). Pedroia was 20-21 last year and Ellsbury is 59-70 in his career. Crisp's SB rate is 15% higher for his Boston years over his Cleveland time.

30. Sox Machine Posted: November 21, 2008 at 01:00 AM (#3013548)

Jerry Owens set his goal at 65 steals for the White Sox last year.

He finished with ... two.

A cautionary tale.

31. Darren

Posted: November 21, 2008 at 01:37 AM (#3013561)

40 steals is fine and all, but Coco should concentrate on sliding into the actual base on close plays.

32. Darren

Posted: November 21, 2008 at 01:47 AM (#3013566)

I also want to echo Smilling Joe's remarks about Coco. Who would have blamed him or been surprised if he threw a fit at the beginning of 08, demanding a trade? After all, look how the Red Sox have handled that sort of situation--by giving the player what he wants. But Coco didn't make a fuss, stayed ready to play, and made a very important contribution to the team. He was frustrating as hell to watch when he was cold, but he was a lot of fun when he was hot. And seemingly a great teammate.

Also, although I don't like the violence, I didn't think he was out of line in the Rays thing. He was a victim of a dirty play and he retaliated in kind. The Rays wouldn't let that stand so they plunked him so he retaliated again, and paid big time (that the Rays didn't get mega-suspensions for pummeling him is amazing).

33. Biff isn't really an apt handle anymore Posted: November 21, 2008 at 01:49 AM (#3013567)

.285/.365/.420 38 steals 10 CS

Wow. When did he learn to walk so much?

34. phredbird

Posted: November 21, 2008 at 02:13 AM (#3013579)

When did he learn to walk so much?

??? you don't think he'll have enough steal opportunities if he plays a full season and bats .285 and walks at his normal rate?

35. Famous Original Joe C Posted: November 21, 2008 at 02:47 AM (#3013594)

??? you don't think he'll have enough steal opportunities if he plays a full season and bats .285 and walks at his normal rate?

Maybe, but that's not his normal rate and never has been. If you said .345 instead of .365 - then yeah, sure.

36. phredbird

Posted: November 21, 2008 at 03:02 AM (#3013605)

????
assuming a career year, which is what i was pretending to predict, let's say he'll play about 160 games. if he bats .285 and has an OBP of about .365 -- which would be a career year for him for sure -- he'll have around 170 hits, over 100 of which will be singles. and he gets about 50 walks (again, career year, OK? he had 50 in 2006 btw). my math might be off, but it's unrealistic to assume he'll have the opportunity to try 48 steals?

37. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: November 21, 2008 at 04:30 AM (#3013629)

Maybe, but that's not his normal rate and never has been. If you said .345 instead of .365 - then yeah, sure.

***Extremely SSS alert***

Coco did improve his walk rate considerably in the second half of 2008, walking once every 8.5 at bats compared to a lifetime rate of once every 12.5, then following that up with 5 walks against 20 at bats in the postseason. While it's probably nothing more than a random fluctuation, I thought his approach at the plate in the back half of 2008 was better than at any time in his Boston career. As a Coco fan, I'd love for it to represent a genuine change going forward.

38. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: November 21, 2008 at 05:08 AM (#3013647)

It's tres jolie, Coco. Tres jolie.

39. villageidiom Posted: November 21, 2008 at 12:48 PM (#3013686)

I'm trying to stop calling up the mental image of Primates sharing underwear and moms.

So's our mom!

40. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 21, 2008 at 01:07 PM (#3013687)

Coco did improve his walk rate considerably in the second half of 2008, walking once every 8.5 at bats compared to a lifetime rate of once every 12.5, then following that up with 5 walks against 20 at bats in the postseason. While it's probably nothing more than a random fluctuation, I thought his approach at the plate in the back half of 2008 was better than at any time in his Boston career. As a Coco fan, I'd love for it to represent a genuine change going forward.

Obviously teams were pitching around him to face Ellsbury instead ;).

I like Coco, too. Someone upthread made a good point about him being a good team player last year. And Crispix, as usual, cracked me up.

41. Styles P. Deadball Posted: November 21, 2008 at 04:37 PM (#3013813)

mental image of Primates sharing underwear and moms.

Is that even legal?

42. RJ in TO Posted: November 21, 2008 at 04:43 PM (#3013819)

people here hate stolen bases. clearly a sign of intolerance towards the larceny inclined.

Well, we do have a lot of libertarians here, and they're always going on about property rights.

43. Nasty Nate Posted: November 21, 2008 at 04:45 PM (#3013821)

Coco Crisp: Ball, Strike (looking), Ball, Strike (foul), Ball, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, C Crisp singled to right, M Kotsay scored, C Crisp tagged out at second attempting to advance on play 7 7

good luck, Covelli!

44. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: November 21, 2008 at 04:49 PM (#3013826)

Hear hear! (Or is it here, here!) Run, Coco, run!

45. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 21, 2008 at 05:05 PM (#3013839)

Well, we do have a lot of libertarians here, and they're always going on about property rights.

Are there really many or are they just vocal. The only one's off the top of my head are Nieporent, Dan Szymborski, Barry's La-Z-Boy and TJ. I don't really care that much for politics, so that might make me a libertarian by default. but I'm too socially conservative to be accepted by them.

46. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: November 21, 2008 at 05:21 PM (#3013850)

wow, someone remembers i'm a lib! a relatively unvocal one, compared to the big two. or the big one. who makes a bad name for us all...

47. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: November 21, 2008 at 05:26 PM (#3013856)

It's weird the details I remember from reading Primer. Luckily for you guys I'm benign and don't like to mess with people.

48. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: November 21, 2008 at 05:30 PM (#3013861)

Jerry Owens set his goal at 65 steals for the White Sox last year.

He finished with ... two.

If he'd averaged three steals per plate appearance and then pinch ran another five times, he could have made it.

49. jwb Posted: November 21, 2008 at 07:18 PM (#3013948)

Jerry Owens was also 30/43 in Charlotte, so 40-45 wouldn't have been out of the question with full-time MLB play.

50. Cowboy Popup Posted: November 21, 2008 at 07:40 PM (#3013963)

A cautionary tale.

I remember Vernon Wells predicting he would steal 30 bags one year. I don't remember which year, but he's never come close.

51. Uncle Willy Posted: November 21, 2008 at 07:54 PM (#3013977)

But the real question is - did Crisp buy 40 pairs of gloves for the upcoming season? When he does that, we'll know he's serious.

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MLB: Crisp sets sights on 40 steals

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