Orange County Register: Stealing bases a timing issue for Trout

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM – The Angels want Mike Trout to steal bases, and he wants to steal bases.But he has not been stealing any at all. What gives?Opposing pitchers, according to the Angels. In the longest barren stretch of his major-league career, four weeks...

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[Angelsjunky]

"The last time he was caught was Sept. 6, 2011."

 

Uh, no. Good editing, OCR.

[CaliAngel]

The hot air coming out of Skip in this article is bad, when players have no fear of being held accountable, why would they bother improving?

 

"“At times, teams are going to extraordinary levels to control the running game, which would give the batter’s box an advantage,” Scioscia said

 

That timing should benefit Albert Pujols, hitting behind Trout, but Scioscia said he hasn’t yet been helped by the attention paid to the bases.

 

“As he starts to swing the bat better, I think he will,” Scioscia said of Pujols."

 

Uh....I guess we're still waiting on that "better swing" after a season and a half of the batters box advantage, right Skip? Sheesh.

 

"More than 41 percent of the time Hamilton has hit the ball into the field, it’s gone for a hit, the highest mark in the majors among hitters with at least 200 plate appearances. His career average is 33 percent, suggesting he’s due for a decrease. Hamilton also has just five homers, a power outage that Scioscia downplayed..."

 

Shocking.

 

 

 

[Second Base]

We've seen these articles more than once which try to explain why Trout isn't stealing more bases and honestly, it's a bunch of BS. I don't buy it at all. When Trout first came into the league, everyone and their mother knew he was faster than fast, so pitchers treated him the same as they're treating him now when he's on first.

He's not running even when he can be running. This is either Trout not wanting to risk it, or someone telling him not to. I tend to think it's the latter,

[Angel Oracle]

I can see trying to preserve him some for a long career.    But only 10 attempts in 4 months is ridiculously overdoing it.

 

Rickey's career wasn't shortened by all of his SB attempts. 

[Troll Daddy]

Why are we jumping on MS? Isn't the Angels leading all of baseball in runs scored and OBP?

Trout has the green light whenever ... I don't doubt that for a minute.

[Guest]

Why are we jumping on MS? Isn't the Angels leading all of baseball in runs scored and OBP?

Trout has the green light whenever ... I don't doubt that for a minute.

There have been several cases where hit and runs have actually succeeded this year with Albert (or others) getting base hits instead of swinging and missing after Trout had already taken off for second. That has allowed him to stretch extra bases but doesn't count toward his SB numbers. Another issue is that Trout has had runners on base in front of him far more this year than in the past. That's why he's 1 run behind Cabrera for most RBIs in MLB.

[mtangelsfan]

It's a conspiracy!

[Stradling]

The hot air coming out of Skip in this article is bad, when players have no fear of being held accountable, why would they bother improving?

"“At times, teams are going to extraordinary levels to control the running game, which would give the batter’s box an advantage,” Scioscia said

That timing should benefit Albert Pujols, hitting behind Trout, but Scioscia said he hasn’t yet been helped by the attention paid to the bases.

“As he starts to swing the bat better, I think he will,” Scioscia said of Pujols."

Uh....I guess we're still waiting on that "better swing" after a season and a half of the batters box advantage, right Skip? Sheesh.

"More than 41 percent of the time Hamilton has hit the ball into the field, it’s gone for a hit, the highest mark in the majors among hitters with at least 200 plate appearances. His career average is 33 percent, suggesting he’s due for a decrease. Hamilton also has just five homers, a power outage that Scioscia downplayed..."

Shocking.

You're right Scioscia should have criticized the living hell out of Josh for his power outage. That would make him such a better manager, and it would give him grit that we sorely lack being 20 games over .500.

[Angel Oracle]

See my post in one of the Hamilton threads.

What would it hurt to change 1 through 4 in the lineup to: Calhoun, Trout, Hamilton, and Pujols?

Hamilton could see more fastballs with Trout on 1B, and protection behind him with Pujols.

Catcher has to throw around the lefty hitting Hamilton, thus also helping Trout steal bases.

Power and run production are the order of the day in the cleanup spot as well. That ain't coming from Hamilton, but OBP is.

[Glen]

The league knows Hamilton can only hit fastballs. It doesn't matter where he is in the order, he won't see more of them.

[stormngt]

A one what motive is there for lying to the public? And why would Trout participate in the conspiracy to mislead the public?

We've seen these articles more than once which try to explain why Trout isn't stealing more bases and honestly, it's a bunch of BS. I don't buy it at all. When Trout first came into the league, everyone and their mother knew he was faster than fast, so pitchers treated him the same as they're treating him now when he's on first.

He's not running even when he can be running. This is either Trout not wanting to risk it, or someone telling him not to. I tend to think it's the latter,

[Inside Pitch]

Oh look, Mike Scioscia was asked questions, he responded by saying a lot of nothing and now something is his fault.  Must be a day that ends in Y.

[Hollyw00d]

The league knows Hamilton can only hit fastballs. It doesn't matter where he is in the order, he won't see more of them.

True and pitch type doesn't really change the success of stealing bases, it's mostly delivery times and the throwing ability of the catcher. And the baserunner's instincts of course

[Stradling]

But it has to be more difficult to throw a low and away pitch for a catcher than it is one in his chest you would think, right? The lousy pitches that he swings at require the catcher to catch it then reach completely across his body and make an accurate throw.

[Tank]

if Trout doesn't start stealing more bases, then adam jones is going to win the gold glove again.

[NrM]

[ScottT]

I'm fine with this. I love when the batter's box has an advantage. The pitching mound usually has the upper hand.  

[bloodbrother]

The league knows Hamilton can only hit fastballs. It doesn't matter where he is in the order, he won't see more of them.

 

Yep. No player sees fewer fastballs than Josh does, and for good reason. With the swings he puts up vs offspeed stuff, why throw anything else. Guy gets himself out more often than not

Edited July 23, 2014 by bloodbrother

[Hollyw00d]

But it has to be more difficult to throw a low and away pitch for a catcher than it is one in his chest you would think, right? The lousy pitches that he swings at require the catcher to catch it then reach completely across his body and make an accurate throw.

That's assuming all off speed pitches are low and away. Also, a pitcher is going to avoid putting it in the dirt if there's a fast runner on base.

Think about the amount of time it takes to reach across the body (which the catcher is already starting to do before he even receives the pitch), compared to the amount of time a delivery takes. It's a pretty big difference, relatively.

[Stradling]

I'm just saying, the pitches Josh struggles most with are pitches that are breaking balls low and away.

[Angel Oracle]

And when a righty throws the down and in curve/slider that Hamilton also has trouble with, the catcher then also has to throw around Hamilton vs. having a free path when a righty like Pujols is hitting. 

And there are about twice as many righties vs lefties pitching vs the Halos. 

Edited July 23, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[Hollyw00d]

Josh Hamilton contact map:

http://www.fangraphs.com/zonegrid.aspx?playerid=1875&position=OF&ss=2014&se=2014&type=3&hand=all&count=all&blur=1&grid=10&view=bat

His heat map shows pitchers like to throw it down and away and down in general, where he is really vulnerable. The contact map suggests they should throw it in and down and in more

[CaliAngel]

Never thought about putting Hamilton behind Trout for the very reason he gets balls pitched at him that are in the dirt and that would give Trout an advantage on the basepaths. And if they are forced to throw fastballs strictly because of Trout running, well that Helps Hamilton too.

No brainer IMO.

Calhoun

Trout

Ham-bone

Pujols

[Stradling]

I love the idea, but lets be realistic here. It would have to go something like this for the reasons I don't want to get into.

Trout

Hamilton

Albert

Calhoun

Howie

Navarro

Freese

Ianetta

Aybar