CLEARWATER, Fla.: Trea Turner’s velocity and instincts helped him go good on the bases.
The Philadelphia Phillies’ star shortstop set a significant league report for many steals in a season with out getting caught, going 30-for-30 on the basepaths final yr.
He wasn’t the one participant who had lots of success.
Thanks to a number of guidelines adjustments, runners swiped luggage extra proficiently and stolen bases throughout the majors elevated 41% from 2,486 in 2022 to three,503 in 2023. That was essentially the most in a season since 1987.
Overall, basestealers had a hit price of 80.2%, up from 75.4% in 2022. Turner is one among solely six gamers in MLB historical past to steal at the least 20 bases in a season at a 100% price.
National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. led the foremost with 73 steals, essentially the most since Jose Reyes had 78 in 2007. Esteury Ruiz swiped 67 and Corbin Carroll stole 54.
“There’s a lot that goes into it, the count, how many outs, the score, who’s hitting behind you, knowing the pitcher, how well do you read him, the catcher’s tendencies,” Turner stated earlier this month concerning the artwork of stealing bases. “You just gotta be comfortable making it. I think it’s a lot of rhythm. I look at it as hitting or fielding where it’s like, sometimes I feel stuck and I can’t see it. And then sometimes you’re seeing everything so quick, you know I got this easy.”
The principal motive stolen bases went up was the brand new rule limiting pitchers to 2 disengagements per batter. Pitchers can solely disengage from the pitching rubber — both to name timeout or to aim a pickoff throw — twice per plate look. If a runner advances throughout a plate look, the restrict on disengagements is reset.
“When you limit pickoff attempts, that makes it so much easier,” Turner stated.
Bryson Stott, Turner’s teammate and double-play companion, swiped 31 luggage in 34 tries final season. He stated the disengagement rule allowed him to be extra aggressive on the bases.
“I still have to get a jump off the pitcher and still have to beat the catcher’s throw and it’s still the same catchers who were throwing out 50 guys a season ago,” Stott stated. “But I think you’re more comfortable in knowing that they don’t want to waste a pickoff in certain spots so your leads can be a little bigger, you can take more chances.
“If Bryce Harper is at the plate and I’m on first base and the pitcher has two stepoffs, is he going to waste a stepoff on me or does he want to step off, gather his thoughts and see what he wants to throw Bryce? So it’s just certain things throughout the game that kind of affect that.”
Other rule adjustments additionally contributed to some extent to the rise in steals. A pitch clock applied to hurry up video games pressured pitchers to begin their supply in 20 seconds if there was a baserunner. The time is reducing to 18 seconds this season.
“I actually thought the clock would be a little bit more important than it was,” Turner stated. “I didn’t think it was as easy to time it up with the clock as I thought at first.”
Larger bases have been launched to enhance participant security and encourage extra steals. Bases went as much as 18-square inches from 15-square inches.
“Maybe it made a difference on a handful of plays that were bang-bang but limiting pickoffs was the important factor,” Turner stated.
The massive query: what occurs in Year 2 with the brand new guidelines? Baserunners and their coaches are bracing for pitchers and catchers to make changes.
“Teams are going to find ways to try to eliminate them,” stated Paco Figueroa, the Phillies’ first base/baserunning/outfield coach. “Maybe pitchers will use the second or third pickoff more, or maybe pitchers need to start being quicker to the plate.”
Pitchers are permitted a 3rd pickoff strive, however it’s a balk if the runner returns safely. Holding runners on base was some extent of emphasis this spring for Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech, who gave up 32 stolen bases, second-most within the majors final season.
“We’ve worked on the slide-step a little bit,” stated Kopech, who gave up 15 steals in 2022. “But for me, there’s more of a comfort zone with the modified leg lift than a true slide step. It’s just being quick to the plate without being rushed.”
Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks additionally wanted to deal with the way to maintain runners higher after his steals allowed went up from 9 in 2022 to 23 in final season.
“Big-time focus on it at all times,” Kendricks stated. “Throwing my bullpens, there’s a focus on it, of looking the same in the stretch every time, not giving a different look or anything that could tip off the runner to get an early jump, and just making sure you’re quick to the plate.
“It’s gonna be really tough. We know there’s going to be a lot of running in the game, so it’s definitely a focus of ours. Just going to have to really be hyper aware of it, and hyper aware of yourself if you’re tipping anything to give them a chance to get off early, and then making sure you’re quick enough to the plate to give our guys a chance.”
Some gamers are taking a special strategy on the basepaths. New York Yankees rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe makes use of a vault or momentum lead, which is extra broadly utilized in school ball. Instead of the standard three-to-four step lead, Volpe takes a small, two-step lead after which shuffles earlier than taking off.
He led the Yankees with 24 steals but in addition was caught 5 occasions.
“I personally can’t do it,” Stott stated. (*2*)
New guidelines. Different concepts. More working. It all provides pleasure to baseball.
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AP freelance author Jack Thompson contributed to this report.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
