should more managers use speed off the bench?

Question

chuck carr only played 8 seasons despite having a season average of 46 steals per year. if a team has a guy that can flat out steal bases wouldn't it be valuable to pinch run more often? you get a guy on first via a walk or whatever with no outs and you steal second, sac to third and sac fly a run home. if you can manufacture runs without getting hits then you can really score some runs if by accident you do actually get a hit.

they're ussually better on defense (specially outfielders) as well. so wouldn't you think it be exciting and beneficial to see more managers have fast pinch runners coming off the bench? or do you think that managers that over manage are asking for trouble?

now i know you wouldn't pinch run for your best hitter in a tight game incase his spot comes around again. but is using guys that can steal bases off the bench and maybe uttility guys after that a good idea for a lot of teams with less then allstar everydays? why do you think it doesn't happen more?

Answer 1

A few reasons:

1) Stealing bases, more often than not, isn't worth the risk. You need to maintain an average of about 75% success to offset those times you're thrown out, and that's tough to do. For example, Chuck Carr may have stolen 58 bases in 1993, but he was thrown out 22 times! His team would have been better off if he'd just stayed at first on all 80 occasions.

2) Once you sub in for someone, that guy is out of the game. That's okay if you're running for your pitcher in the ninth, but not for your first baseman in the fourth inning.

3) Even with a speedster on base, there's no guarantee of scoring the run. It would only be worth trying with any sort of risk if there were nobody out, or possibly two out and a man on first.

I don't think it's bad to have a speedster on the bench - nobody will forget Dave Roberts stealing second off Rivera in the 2004 ALCS and later scoring - but it's tough to keep them around just for that purpose.

Answer 2

Stolen bases have become gradually less important over the years. With lower mounds, shorter fences, and bigger players more teams are opting for the whack and walk approach emphasized by the Oakland A's. In fact, in 2005 the Oakland A's stole 30 bases. Thats right 30, for the whole team, for an entire season. Less than half what Jose Reyes stole the entire season. They scored 789 runs that year, while Reyes's mets scored 792. What was the difference? Almost $100 million dollars in payroll for about 5 more wins.
If the Met's had choosen to run less and spend their money on a more ops based offense they could have scored alot more runs, as they were thrown out alot more times.

Pinch running is not used frequently largely because the team only has a couple of sufficient options off the bench, and they need them for very late in the game, almost exclusively for the ninth inning. If just a single run is needed in the ninth, and maybe the eigth inning, than pinch runners are often used if their is an out, other wise most managers opt to bunt. A much safer play, as a far more players can bunt effectively at a higher percentage of success than baserunners can steal against catchers throwing 1.85s to second. This plays a large part in why you often see managers opt to leave their starter in until an out is recorded, and than opt for a pinch runner.

Pinch running early in the game is rarely done, and pretty counter productive. If the guy was good enough to be in the game to start it, he wouldnt be coming off the bench. Stealing in general prooves to be counterproductive, as thrown out runners are a quick way to kill momentum, not to mention big innings.

And as for the defense, speed is definitely not an indicator of overall defensive prowess, it helps for sure, but doesn't mean the guy can play. If he could, he probably wouldnt be available for pinch running in the first place. Look at Joey Gathright, he is probably the fastest man in the major leagues, and can barely stay in the major leagues, even if he would be a fantastic pinch runner. Alfonso Soriano and Juan Pierre come to mind as blazing runners who are below average on defense.

Answer 3

After the fifth inning, managers should use pinch runners more often. Of course, it also depends on the situation of the game. If one run at a particular point of the game is valuable, then a pinch runner should be called for.

Some would argue that stealing a base is too risky. Keep in mind that a speedy baserunner does not have to steal a base to be productive. Having a speedy threat on base is a major distraction for a pitcher which can lead to a costly mistake by the pitcher.

Answer 4

"He has no type and his nonchalant concepts-set is a real turn off. i'm hoping he's fined by applying the Rays front place of work. the supervisor is an fool besides and can be fired on the tip of the 2010 season." Fined for making an aggressive play? I agree that he would not have made the final out at 0.33, even though it became right into a stable aggressive play, and the only danger of having him out became right into a suitable throw, and that's what befell. As for Maddon. Fired? he's taken under consideration one of, if not the, terrific supervisor in baseball. Tampa would be stupid to do away with him.

Answer 5

I remember in the 70's, the A's had a guy - Herb Washington - the position on his 1975 baseball card was pinch runner!

Answer 6

I dont think I've seen any slow pinch runners. And you can't just put in pinch runners every hit you get you can only re enter a guy once.

Answer 7

Yes, but stealing bases is a lost art, managers dont seem to steal anymore because there all playing not to lose, instead of playing to win

Answer 8

nooooooooo