Hooray for reckless abandon!

[jersey cubs fan]

If the Cubs seemed a bit overzealous on the base paths Thursday, it was by design. Mike Fontenot was thrown out twice at third trying to take extra bases on singles, and Andres Blanco was thrown out stealing with one out in the sixth.

 

''We've stressed that we want to see these kids more aggressive,'' Piniella said.

 

Of course getting thrown out in spring training is meaningless. But this team already struggles enough getting thrown out on the basepaths, the last thing they need to do is have it happen more often.

[rocket]

son of a bitch

[Sammy Sofa]

I really, really hate stealing bases more often than not.

[erik316wttn]

any truth to the rumor that wavin' wendell is coming back?

[CubColtPacer]

I hope Lou realizes soon enough that this team just isn't built to steal bases. They didn't try much last year (2nd fewest attempts in the majors) but they were absolutely horrible at it (last in the majors in efficiency). There are certain teams who can use it to great effectiveness (it's a great weapon for the Phillies for example) but the Cubs just don't have the personnel for it.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't mind stealing in critical situations with the right people, but the Cubs' philosophy seems to be the opposite of that.

[Old Style]

It's the Mike Damone approach to baserunning.

[erik316wttn]

I don't mind stealing in critical situations with the right people, but the Cubs' philosophy seems to be the opposite of that.

 

This.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Prediction: Whether or not they stick with this depends almost entirely on the first high-profile incident. Either they have a big, late rally that includes an extra base taken in some way, or they lose a game when a baserunner gets thrown out in a situation where it is obvious that he shouldn't have been running. That will set the tone for the rest of the season.

[Outshined_One]

I hope Lou realizes soon enough that this team just isn't built to steal bases. They didn't try much last year (2nd fewest attempts in the majors) but they were absolutely horrible at it (last in the majors in efficiency). There are certain teams who can use it to great effectiveness (it's a great weapon for the Phillies for example) but the Cubs just don't have the personnel for it.

 

While they had the second fewest SB attempts, I'd love to know how they compared with the rest of the majors in hit & run attempts.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's the Mike Damone approach to baserunning.

 

When it comes to making out, put on side one of Led Leppelin IV.

[Guest]

Giving up several scoring opportunities for the potential to score just once. Priceless! :thumbsup:

[Fro]

I wonder if this is some sort of tactic to gain a tactical advantage for the first few weeks of the season. Crowing in the media about how you're going to steal a lot more bases and running like crazy in Spring Training, but then reverting back to normal play once the season starts.

 

Remember, the Spring Training games are meaningless.

[jersey cubs fan]

I wonder if this is some sort of tactic to gain a tactical advantage for the first few weeks of the season. Crowing in the media about how you're going to steal a lot more bases and running like crazy in Spring Training, but then reverting back to normal play once the season starts.

 

Remember, the Spring Training games are meaningless.

 

But what sort of advantage could they possibly get out of it? It's not like all of a sudden pitchers are going to be paranoid about making a pitch with a runner on base when everybody already knows there isn't a basestealer on the team.

 

It's a simple game, you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. The results are determined by how well your players do those things, there are no tactical advantages.

[CubColtPacer]

I hope Lou realizes soon enough that this team just isn't built to steal bases. They didn't try much last year (2nd fewest attempts in the majors) but they were absolutely horrible at it (last in the majors in efficiency). There are certain teams who can use it to great effectiveness (it's a great weapon for the Phillies for example) but the Cubs just don't have the personnel for it.

 

While they had the second fewest SB attempts, I'd love to know how they compared with the rest of the majors in hit & run attempts.

 

They probably rank pretty high in that figure which is why they rank so low in stolen base efficiency (a low amount of straight steals and high rate of hit and runs will always spell disaster in the efficiency department).

 

The SB figures actually look better if you figure in that a club did lots of hit and runs because most of the negative of hit and runs are factored in to those numbers already while very little of the positive is.

[KaiserCesar]

This is the only time where you can work on it in a game situation without the chance of some real negative consequences. Bravo for using spring training time wisely

[17 Seconds]

This is the only time where you can work on it in a game situation without the chance of some real negative consequences. Bravo for using spring training time wisely

 

the problem is it probably won't stop when the regular season starts

[Tim M]

This is the only time where you can work on it in a game situation without the chance of some real negative consequences. Bravo for using spring training time wisely

 

the problem is it probably won't stop when the regular season starts

 

Disagree. Lou knows his personnel pretty well. He's never had non base stealers attempt a lot of them. This seems like usual Spring Training rhetoric.

[Irishoshea21]

 

Disagree. Lou knows his personnel pretty well. He's never had non base stealers attempt a lot of them.

 

Uh, Ryan Theriot.

[Irishoshea21]

 

Disagree. Lou knows his personnel pretty well. He's never had non base stealers attempt a lot of them.

 

Uh, Ryan Theriot.

[KaiserCesar]

This is the only time where you can work on it in a game situation without the chance of some real negative consequences. Bravo for using spring training time wisely

 

the problem is it probably won't stop when the regular season starts

 

so, the reason for not practicing something in spring training is that your manager is deranged and can't stop doing something once he's started it? how much of a caricature do we need to create?

[dew1679666265]

 

Disagree. Lou knows his personnel pretty well. He's never had non base stealers attempt a lot of them.

 

Uh, Ryan Theriot.

 

Theriot's not a prolific base stealer, but he is at 74% for his career. That said, he ran too much the last couple years when he was only stealing at a 60 or so clip.

[biittner77]

maybe seeing a steady dose of runners getting thrown out in ST will convince Piniella to never steal bases during the season.

[Hawk4Hall]

Baylor Ball is back.

[17 Seconds]

This is the only time where you can work on it in a game situation without the chance of some real negative consequences. Bravo for using spring training time wisely

 

the problem is it probably won't stop when the regular season starts

 

so, the reason for not practicing something in spring training is that your manager is deranged and can't stop doing something once he's started it? how much of a caricature do we need to create?

 

what are you even talking about?

 

the cubs (mostly because of lou) ran into wayyy too many outs on the basepaths last season. so when they start off the next spring training by telling players to be even MORE aggressive, it's pretty clear where lou's plans are headed.