Are Stolen Bases a thing of the past?

[craiger122003]

Is it just me or have stolen bases fallen off the map this year?
Most teams rely on the bloop and a blast.

 

[Waxov]

They're falling off and I believe it is a mistake. Pitching is on the way up and risking a little to get into scoring position should be stressed more. I hear it isn't due to "player durability" which didnt seem to stop players 40 years ago.

 

[craiger122003]

Most teams in the past had at least one if not 3 guys that had a never ending green light.
Then numbers just dont show it anymore. If the trend continues I will draft accordingly in fantasy next year.

 

[markakis8]

SB's have been slowly dying since the start of the steroid era and the ascension of sabermetrics. "if you can't be successful 75% of the time stealing a base, don't run"....that has really gotten into the heads of managers and players.

 

[craiger122003]

Sadly my team (Cardinals) stole 75 percent of the time back in 82
These days they have 13 or so combined as team so far. It seems to me like the
speed runners are always locked in front of a power hitter so the manager never green lights a
runner.

 

[George_Calfas]

Sadly my team (Cardinals) stole 75 percent of the time back in 82
These days they have 13 or so combined as team so far. It seems to me like the
speed runners are always locked in front of a power hitter so the manager never green lights a
runner.

I remember a great t-shirt back in the 80s. Had Birds on the base paths wears the speedsters numbers and said "Thou Shall Steal"

 

[sigma_chi]

As has already been said Bill James thinks the stolen base is more detrimental than it is beneficial so GM's have that stuck in their heads. I think the days of the multiple 30/30 guys are moving past us.

 

[WaxPax]

As a point of reference, the number of players with 50+ stolen base totals by year for the last 20 years:

93-6
94-2
95-5
96-5
97-7
98-5
99-4
00-3
01-2
02-0
03-3
04-2
05-4
06-5
07-6
08-3
09-3
10-3
11-1
12-0

 

[koal]

don't call it a come back! -billy hamilton

 

[MansGame]

 

[kerryfan5]

don't call it a come back! -billy hamilton

You have you have to get on base first. Billy.

 

[fordman]

For whatever reason, the Reds have put a lot of stock into Billy Hamilton and he's not really tearing up the base path in the minors. They expected him to be ready for the 2014 season but at the rate he's going, he's not gonna make the team. Billy Hamilton has Drew Stubbs disease, a lot of hype in CF but whif whif whif at the plate.

Sent from my DROID4 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[nappyd]

Just more pussification of America teaching kids stealing is wrong.

 

[bmc398]

Just more pussification of America teaching kids stealing is wrong.

This.

 

[cards01fan]

I hope so

- Shelby miller

 

[gt2590]

Just a cyclical thing probably. IF Hamilton can make the bigs and steals 80+ and the Reds win, then everyone will be pushing their guys to steal again.

Heck, didn't the Angels tell Trout not to steal so much, even with a pretty good success rate? The Angels have spent ALOT of their team payroll on big hitters and gotten away from the National League style that Mike Scioscia used to win with...

 

[Austin]

I think the days of the multiple 30/30 guys are moving past us.

The 30/30 (and 40/40) seasons were mostly the result of the steroid era.
30/30 was very rare before the late '80s and '90s and 2000s.

Before 1987, there were only 11 30/30 seasons, by only 6 different players.
Only six players in 100 years had 30/30 seasons!

Since 1987, there have been 49 30/30 seasons by 34 different players.

I'm glad the feat is becoming somewhat rare again.

 

[hive17]

Not in Milwaukee. The have run 58 time this year already; 18 more time than any other team in baseball (next is Texas).

 

[Waxov]

Jesus Montero sure is giving guys a reason to steal bases. :benson:what is his success rate, 1/20 or 1/21? something like that... all I remember is the one guy he has thrown out so far tripped and turned around halfway to second.

 

[Leaf]

Dear craigier,
NO
Your pal,
Billy Hamilton