Running Game: A Dissent (Or at least caution)

[Mike Coveyou]

In a thread yesterday and today, several list members suggested that unlocking the running games might be an answer to the Tigers woes.  Judicious stretching to take an extra base can pay off and frequently has for the Tigers the last couple of seasons.  But unlocking the running games might lead (theoretically) to more steal more bases is likely a questionable idea.  The Tigers do have some runners who have been adept at stealing bases in the past, notably Zach McKinstry.  And while there other Tigers who exhibit speed on the bases, running speed is one component, but only one, of success at base stealing.  I would be cautious about encouraging more frequent attempts to steal unless it's reasonably clear that the player is actually skilled at it, remembering that the "break even" point for stolen bases is between being successful between two thirds and three quarters of the time.  For example, a player who is successful on 60 percent of his stolen bases attempts costs his team runs.

Mike Coveyou

[Peter Welch]

Parker Meadows might be the best potential basestealer on the team, but he's hurt, plus he doesn't get on base much when he does play.

Seth Stephenson, who has been one of the most prolific basestealers in professional baseball, is in the Tigers' system, but he probably wouldn't hit any better than Jake Rogers if he ever got promoted to the Tigers.  Stephenson is currently hitting .190 in AA.

Max Clark has the potential to be a good basestealer in the majors.  Looking forward to seeing what he can do on the bases when he eventually gets called up.

Other teams use the stolen base much more than the Tigers, but those teams simply have some better basestealers.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2026 11:48 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Running Game: A Dissent (Or at least caution)

 

In a thread yesterday and today, several list members suggested that unlocking the running games might be an answer to the Tigers woes.  Judicious stretching to take an extra base can pay off and frequently has for the Tigers the last couple of seasons.  But unlocking the running games might lead (theoretically) to more steal more bases is likely a questionable idea.  The Tigers do have some runners who have been adept at stealing bases in the past, notably Zach McKinstry.  And while there other Tigers who exhibit speed on the bases, running speed is one component, but only one, of success at base stealing.  I would be cautious about encouraging more frequent attempts to steal unless it's reasonably clear that the player is actually skilled at it, remembering that the "break even" point for stolen bases is between being successful between two thirds and three quarters of the time.  For example, a player who is successful on 60 percent of his stolen bases attempts costs his team runs.

Mike Coveyou

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Detroit Tigers e-mail list" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to detroit-tiger...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAFWdUwfQrqxUu1h2rqPrXuLTzkNUcLszABK%3D%3D%2BV_svhK33TgAg%40mail.gmail.com.