Pierre and the green light

[SonnyD]

I realize he probably doesn't have the green light throughout the entire game, but I think he needs to have the green light out there at pretty much anytime. Last night was a perfect example that we, as a team and as a manager, still have not learned how to utilize our speed. I know we stole 3 bags last night, but could have and should have been more.

 

I didn’t watch the whole game, but caught the 5th inning on. In the 6th inning, with Walker up, 2-1 count and Pierre on 1st, why would you not take a pitch, especially since Pierre was halfway to 2nd when Walker hit the pop-out? Next up, D-Lee. Pierre steals 2nd, and again we swung (this time Lee missed and allowed Pierre to steal 2nd) on his steal attempt. And with a 2-1 count, I practically was yelling for Pierre to steal 3rd as well. Especially since you have a sinker ball pitcher on the mound and a righty at the plate. I realize there is only 1 out and your boppers are up, but why not be aggressive and take the base if the opportunity is there, especially with Pierre having such a good lead at 2nd? We obviously didn’t score that inning but could have had Pierre stolen 3rd just before D-Lee’s liner. I know people may say hindsight is 20/20, but I was calling for it as the game was going on.

 

Both times that Pierre attempted to steal that inning our batters swung and didn’t take a pitch. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth. With 2 outs and Drew up, 0-1 count, Lofton steals 2nd. The thing I noticed with Drew is he had absolutely no intention whatsoever to swing at Ohman’s offering with Lofton running, you could tell he was taking all the way (the pitch ended up a ball anyway). Next pitch, well the rest is history. That was VERY SMART baseball.

 

We need to as a team learn how to take a pitch when you have someone like Pierre on base and straight steal. We’ve done a good job thus far at the hit and run, but it almost seems like we hit and run because we’re afraid to just straight steal. I don’t know if it’s the dugout not calling the take sign, or not calling the steal, that’s why I’m saying as a WHOLE, both the players and Dusty need to be smarter at how they approach their at-bats, particularly with runners on base……

Edited April 19, 2006 by SonnyD

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I didn’t watch the whole game, but caught the 5th inning on. In the 6th inning, with Walker up, 2-1 count and Pierre on 1st, why would you not take a pitch, especially since Pierre was halfway to 2nd when Walker hit the pop-out?

 

Wasn't that a hit and run?

 

Next up, D-Lee. Pierre steals 2nd, and again we swung (this time Lee missed and allowed Pierre to steal 2nd) on his steal attempt. And with a 2-1 count, I practically was yelling for Pierre to steal 3rd as well. Especially since you have a sinker ball pitcher on the mound and a righty at the plate. I realize there is only 1 out and your boppers are up, but why not be aggressive and take the base if the opportunity is there, especially with Pierre having such a good lead at 2nd? We obviously didn’t score that inning but could have had Pierre stolen 3rd just before D-Lee’s liner. I know people may say hindsight is 20/20, but I was calling for it as the game was going on.

 

With our 3-4 hitters up I really don't want Pierre trying to steal 3rd. More often than not they are going to drive him in, and the risk of him getting taken off the bases isn't worth the benefit of having a sac fly opportunity.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think Pierre should concentrate his efforts on getting on base. After he's mastered that, then we can worry about the steals.

[badgercub]

I think Pierre should concentrate his efforts on getting on base. After he's mastered that, then we can worry about the steals.

 

Amen brother. I am seeing quite a few balls off of his bat.

[wade]

What if he gets caught stealing more? Talk about rally killers.

[jjgman21]

 

With our 3-4 hitters up I really don't want Pierre trying to steal 3rd. More often than not they are going to drive him in, and the risk of him getting taken off the bases isn't worth the benefit of having a sac fly opportunity.

 

sometimes you have to take the game out of abstraction and look at what was going on in the game. big gigantic right handed hitter, Lowe burying sinker after sinker at the ankles and in the dirt, Navarro having trouble picking and even more trouble on the transfer, and the infield unable to hold Pierre close. if he goes, there is very little chance that he is thrown out.

 

I agree with the original poster (although I do not agree that he should always have the green light). I don't know if it was a hit and run with Walker up or not, but Pierre should have been at second two or three pitches before that.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

With our 3-4 hitters up I really don't want Pierre trying to steal 3rd. More often than not they are going to drive him in, and the risk of him getting taken off the bases isn't worth the benefit of having a sac fly opportunity.

 

sometimes you have to take the game out of abstraction and look at what was going on in the game. big gigantic right handed hitter, Lowe burying sinker after sinker at the ankles and in the dirt, Navarro having trouble picking and even more trouble on the transfer, and the infield unable to hold Pierre close. if he goes, there is very little chance that he is thrown out.

 

I agree with the original poster (although I do not agree that he should always have the green light). I don't know if it was a hit and run with Walker up or not, but Pierre should have been at second two or three pitches before that.

 

I was speaking in general and not to that specific situation, I agree that circumstances define when it's appropriate to try to take 3rd.

[soccer10k]

 

With our 3-4 hitters up I really don't want Pierre trying to steal 3rd. More often than not they are going to drive him in, and the risk of him getting taken off the bases isn't worth the benefit of having a sac fly opportunity.

 

sometimes you have to take the game out of abstraction and look at what was going on in the game. big gigantic right handed hitter, Lowe burying sinker after sinker at the ankles and in the dirt, Navarro having trouble picking and even more trouble on the transfer, and the infield unable to hold Pierre close. if he goes, there is very little chance that he is thrown out.

 

I agree with the original poster (although I do not agree that he should always have the green light). I don't know if it was a hit and run with Walker up or not, but Pierre should have been at second two or three pitches before that.

 

I don't think Pierre should have the green light but, in the case of last night's game, he should have been more aggressive on the bases.

 

But I agree that Pierre should worry about getting on base first before he worries about stealing.

[SonnyD]

 

With our 3-4 hitters up I really don't want Pierre trying to steal 3rd. More often than not they are going to drive him in, and the risk of him getting taken off the bases isn't worth the benefit of having a sac fly opportunity.

 

sometimes you have to take the game out of abstraction and look at what was going on in the game. big gigantic right handed hitter, Lowe burying sinker after sinker at the ankles and in the dirt, Navarro having trouble picking and even more trouble on the transfer, and the infield unable to hold Pierre close. if he goes, there is very little chance that he is thrown out.

 

I agree with the original poster (although I do not agree that he should always have the green light). I don't know if it was a hit and run with Walker up or not, but Pierre should have been at second two or three pitches before that.

 

I was speaking in general and not to that specific situation, I agree that circumstances define when it's appropriate to try to take 3rd.

 

That was the point of my post, speaking of particular circumstances. That's precisely what I saw last night as well, an opportunity for Pierre to be sitting on 3rd. And that's what I meant about the team and manager being smarter, I don't know if it was a hit and run or not. But that was a situation that he should have been allowed to straight steal....