One observation that almost worries me.... [Archive]

ryno4ever

Mar 2nd 2008, 8:47 pm

just a bit. (And yes, I know it's early...and it's only Spring Training, but it is something that Lou, Larry and whoever needs to get nipped in the bud ASAP or we may be in a whole heap of troubles by the time the season rolls around)....

Our pitchers are not holding runners on the bag. Our pitchers allowed more than 125 stolen bases last year.... and most of them were on the pitcher more than on the catcher, although our catchers were pretty horrible at throwing runners out. Word gets around the league fast and you'll see the bat boy stealing a base on our pitchers if they don't start really working on it hard!

The team has played 4 games, and there have been 11 stolen bases against the Cubs!?! Yikes!

NeifiPerezMVP2007

Mar 2nd 2008, 8:54 pm

just a bit. (And yes, I know it's early...and it's only Spring Training, but it is something that Lou, Larry and whoever needs to get nipped in the bud ASAP or we may be in a whole heap of troubles by the time the season rolls around)....

Our pitchers are not holding runners on the bag. Our pitchers allowed more than 125 stolen bases last year.... and most of them were on the pitcher more than on the catcher, although our catchers were pretty horrible at throwing runners out. Word gets around the league fast and you'll see the bat boy stealing a base on our pitchers if they don't start really working on it hard!

The team has played 4 games, and there have been 11 stolen bases against the Cubs!?! Yikes!

I agree thats too many steals on the pitchers. But, at this point in spring training, the pitchers are trying to work on their pitches and delivery to the plate, not base runners. So, I'm not too worried about it, I think most of the steals are from players trying to earn a spot on bad teams (Giants are gonna be so bad!). I think if the pitchers pay more attention to the runners, Soto can call for a pitch out and gun them down. At least hes thrown out a runner already, Kendall never could do that!

taz57

Mar 2nd 2008, 10:56 pm

Maybe if Rothschild preached the slide step when the pitchers are in the stretch, the ball would get to the catcher quicker and give Soto a fighting chance to throw out the runner. I once saw Greg Maddux demonstrate how the slide step works, but he didn't like using it. Failure to hold runners on were about the only weakness in Maddux's game.

Sheffield_&_Waveland

Mar 3rd 2008, 12:08 am

You have every right to be concerned. The excuse that its early would be a very poor excuse considering this team has struggled with holding runners for years now. What really bothers me is that its not only the righties they are running on. The left handed pitchers have and advantage with holding runners on and these people are still running at will on them.

ryno4ever

Mar 3rd 2008, 6:49 am

You have every right to be concerned. The excuse that its early would be a very poor excuse considering this team has struggled with holding runners for years now. What really bothers me is that its not only the righties they are running on. The left handed pitchers have and advantage with holding runners on and these people are still running at will on them.

You are so right, Sheff..... Hill gave up the most with 23, with Marquis right behind him with 20, and then Lilly with 14. Again, the numbers aren't all on the pitchers as we has some horrible defensive catchers last year, but if the guys get better at holding the runners on, they won't even attempt the steal as much.

BigZ38

Mar 3rd 2008, 7:51 am

The pitchers are working on their pitches during this part of ST like Neifi said. I think once you see the season draw closer the pitchers will work harder on keeping runners on base. I won't make an issue out of this until it is for real.

roenick99

Mar 3rd 2008, 8:25 am

It's still early!!

LeeEila's/rant

Mar 3rd 2008, 8:35 am

Right on it is looking like the same old story .

TheBenjamin

Mar 3rd 2008, 9:59 am

do a little research, how many of those were due to Hill? He was the worse of holding runners, they even messed with his delivery, which I think hurt him more then it helped

HEYHEY

Mar 5th 2008, 12:55 pm

Soto has his work cutout for him.

Bockstock

Mar 5th 2008, 1:23 pm

do a little research, how many of those were due to Hill? He was the worse of holding runners, they even messed with his delivery, which I think hurt him more then it helped

Hill actually pitched slightly better w/runners on base

WHIP

Bases Empty 1.32 (110 IP)
Runners on 1.04 (85 IP)

Bockstock

Mar 5th 2008, 1:25 pm

double post

TheBenjamin

Mar 5th 2008, 4:41 pm

interesting..... but he still had a lot of people stealing on him

ryno4ever

Mar 5th 2008, 6:36 pm

ESPN 1000 guys and Len Kasper were talking about this today. Yes, Hill has the most steals on his line score. Yes, Hill was horrible at holding on runners, and more of a problem of being distracted when there were runners on base. However, July was not the time for him to be working on that. Len said that he is working on the side step during ST right now. Len also pointed out that this was Rich's first full year in the majors, and he had a 3.94 ERA, which is outstanding for a pitcher in their first year. He also said that Rich had the 3rd fewest run support in the majors last year and had he gotten more run support, he could have easily won 15 games.