Lost Arts The Bunt and the Stolen Base.
Watching the game on Sunday against the Astros, I saw Chris Taylor lay down a bunt that went for a hit. And it took me back to a time when the bunt was an offensive weapon to be reckoned with. Over the last several years, especially with the Dodgers, the only time you saw a bunt was when the pitcher came up and attempted to move the runner over. Maeda,
Watching the game on Sunday against the Astros, I saw Chris Taylor lay down a bunt that went for a hit. And it took me back to a time when the bunt was an offensive weapon to be reckoned with. Over the last several years, especially with the Dodgers, the only time you saw a bunt was when the pitcher came up and attempted to move the runner over. Maeda, and Kershaw were exceptionally good at that.
But bunting to get on base, or drive a runner in from third, well, that happened very rarely. I remember when I played, our coaches would make us make 3 bunts before we could swing the bat in batting practice. And they had to be good bunts too. Not foul balls.
And in the early years of my love of baseball, the bunt was a huge part of some players arsenal. Maury Wills, and Jr Gilliam were pretty good at it. The last Dodger I remember using it as an offensive weapon was Brett Butler. I always thought that Dee Gordon would have hit 20 points higher with that speed had he been a good bunter.
But baseball today has morphed into a game that is more about launch angle and exit velocity than finesse. Progress they call it. Seems to me they thought the same thing about cell phones. While handy, I hardly think they are progress. But that is just me. Video games and texting have taken the place of being outside in the fresh air hitting a ball.
But that is a rant for a different type of blog. Now the stolen base was also a huge weapon back then. In the early years of the game there were many prolific base stealers. Ty Cobb at that time was the best. He held the stolen base record at 96 from 1915 until Wills broke it with 104 in 1962. 47 years. Cobb ended with 897 steals. Over a 24 year career, that is an average of 48 a year. Some players do not reach that number in a season.
But prior to Cobb, there was a player named Billy Hamilton, who played for the KC Cowboys of the American Association, which in 1888 was a major league. He moved to the Phillies in 1890. Hamilton topped 100 steals 4 times. 1889, 90, 91 and 93. With a high of 111 in 1891. But he was not considered the record holder in the modern game. Hamilton ended with 914 bags over a 14 year career averaging 75 steals a year. WOW.
The top 5 are Rickey Henderson, 1406, Lou Brock, 938, Billy Hamilton, 914, Ty Cobb, 897, and Tim Raines, 808. Players who spent time with the Dodgers in the top 50 include, Max Carey, 738, not all as a Dodger, most of them with Pittsburgh, Otis Nixon, 620, Juan Pierre, 614, Maury Wills, 586, Brett Butler, 558, Davey Lopes, 557, Bill Dahlen, 548, Willie Keeler, 495, Carl Crawford, 480, Jimmy Shekard, 465. Quite a list.
As for the Dodgers all time leaders, they have 43 players who had over 100 steals in their Dodger years. Duke Snider just missed with 99. Of course Wills leads that group with 490 as a Dodger. Lopes is second with 418. Willie Davis is the only other Dodger over 300 with 335. Tom Daly, a 2B I honestly have never heard of is 4th with 298.
Steve Sax had 290, Pee Wee Reese who is # 10 had 232. Gilliam at # 12 with 203 which tied him with Zack Wheat. Best name on the list is # 18, Oyster Burns with 172, which is 2 more than Matt Kemp had as a Dodgers. Big difference is Burns only played in 820 games for Brooklyn, Matt played 1262 for the Dodgers.
The stolen base, and the bunt are two of the more exciting plays in baseball. And I for one wish they were used a lot more. I can easily remember the excitement in Dodger Stadium in 1962 when Maury was going for the record. Those go go go chants would start, and when he made it safely, the crowd would go crazy. Of course, as offensively challenged as they were in those years, the steal was an offensive weapon to be reckoned with.
As an example, Big D had gone ahead to the next city prior to his opening the series there. When told Koufax had thrown a no hitter, Drysdale, knowing how inept the hitters were asked, did he win?
I am a firm believer this skill should be taught more. The right combination of speed and knowledge of how to take better leads can be a real weapon. Speed is the one skill that cannot be taught. How to use that speed can.
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Discussion (119)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Great article at CBS.com about Will Smith. He’s in the “90/90 club” – he’s one of 7 guys in MLB to have average exit velocity over 90% and an in-zone contact rate over 90%.
Open on www.cbssports.comhttps://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/how-dodgers-will-smith-started-producing-like-a-star-in-shortened-2020-season/DODGERS RECALL RHP JOSH SBORZ
DODGERS PLACE LHP CALEB FERGUSON ON IL, ACTIVATE RHP JOE KELLY
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz and have placed left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson on the injured list with a left elbow injury. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly has served his five-game suspension and will be activated for today’s game.
Sborz, 26, returns for his fourth stint with the club. He has made three appearances for the Dodgers in 2020, allowing one earned in 3.0 innings with two strikeouts. In parts of two seasons over 10 games, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12.0 IP) and nine strikeouts. The former Virginia Cavalier went 24-20 with a 3.53 ERA (144 ER/367.1 IP) and 370 strikeouts in 157 minor league games (46 starts) for the Dodgers. He was originally drafted in the second round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft by the Dodgers.
Ferguson, 24, will be placed on the injured list for the first time this season and the second time in his career. In 21 games (one start), he posted a 2-1 record with a 2.89 ERA (6 ER/18.2 IP) and 27 strikeouts. He has been with the Dodgers parts of three seasons, going a combined 10-5 with a 3.93 ERA (49 ER/112.1 IP) and 140 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 38th round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft and is 15-11 with a 2.73 ERA (81 ER/266.2 IP) in 77 minor league games (51 starts).
Kelly, 32, is active and will be able to play today after serving his suspension. The right-hander has appeared in seven games for the Dodgers this season, tossing 6.1 innings, allowing five hits with five walks and five strikeouts without allowing a run. He is in his second season with Los Angeles and is a combined 5-4 with a 4.06 ERA (26 ER/57.2 IP) and 67 strikeouts in 62 games. In his nine-year career, split between the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and Dodgers, he is a combined 48-29 with a 3.89 ERA (295 ERA/683.0 IP) and 565 strikeouts.
Roberts must have a gut feeling about Muncy at third. I have one too. I’m more ok with Lux. I know that kid can hit. It’s just a matter of time. And not a lot of that left before the playoffs start.
Game time.
DODGERS RECALL IF/OF ZACH MCKINSTRY
DODGERS PLACE OF JOC PEDERSON ON FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY LIST
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry and have placed outfielder Joc Pederson on the family medical emergency list.
McKinstry, 25, will be recalled for his second stint with the team and his next appearance will be his MLB debut. He split the 2019 season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing six different positions and hitting .300 (129-for-430) with 24 doubles, 19 homers and 78 RBI. He finished the season with Oklahoma City and hit .382 (34-for-89) with seven homers and 26 RBI in 26 games. In his five minor league seasons in the Dodgers organization, he has hit a combined .270 (331-for-1226) with 30 homers and 149 RBI across five different levels. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Central Michigan University.
Pederson, 28, has played in 38 games this season, batting .178 (19-for-109) with six homers and 12 RBI. Last season, he batted .249 (112-for-450) with 36 homers and 74 RBI, setting career-highs in batting average, runs (83), hits, homers, RBI and OPS (.876). In parts of seven seasons with the Dodgers, he is a career .230 (492-for-2141) hitter with 129 homers and 299 RBI. The Northern California native was originally drafted in the 11th round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of Palo Alto High School.
Call me old fashioned, but I thought that the clean-up hitter was supposed to be someone who can hit. The last two years, Muncy batting fourth, sure. This year, with the division on the line, WTF?
Pollock or Smith would make more sense for batting cleanup. At work today listening to Jerry Steiner and Moe on the radio.
Can we win in the post season with Muncy and Belly this bad? At least Belly is a great defender but what in the world does Muncy bring to the table right now? I’d rather have Kike at first at this point!
Well, Kolarek not getting the job done today so far. Cmon, get this inning over already.
Does anyone know when Pollock was hitting well in SF where in the batting order he was hitting?
I just started watching the game I was busy earlier. Can anyone fill me in on why it’s a bullpen game I thought May was supposed to start today?
Oh man, that’s the Max Muncy I remember!! You got one week to wake up, dude, and then go on a tear!
You want SB’s – Mookies got SB’s!
Caleb Ferguson has UCL Damage – sounds like his second TJ!
That is a damn shame!
Yes Smith with a two run double. That’s why I prefer him either three or four in the lineup.
I am so impressed with Will Smith. The Dodgers re-built his swing the last two years and he has responded. He’s a young Buster Posey! I am now convinced he is the “real deal.” What a find! Kaybear could be trade bait… Cartaya!
There was nothing in Smith’s past that even suggested he could be this good!
Beating up on the Fathers. Handling SD gives me more confidence for the playoffs and the better teams we will face. I’m feeling a little momentum now!
That’s more like it! Way to keep the line going with Smith and Belli! It is a shame about Ferguson. Hope that others can fill his shoes. Killer Kelly? A bit unpredictable, to say the least. Sborz? Unproven, at least so far as I’ve seen. Glad to see McKinstry called up. Let’s see what he can do. Second base is up for grabs. Or maybe he’ll be the next super-utility man. And what’s up with Joc? Not sorry to see someone else take his place, truth be told, but you have to hope everything’s alright at home.
Taylor bomb good deal. I haven’t been very high on him but he’s done good this year and deserves a starting spot in the playoffs. I always liked him but I was never high on him. Glad to see him doing good.
7-1. two bombs, That looks more like the Dodgers I love to watch. Muncy 2 K’s again, but a double to left was nice, and a 2 out RBI by Belli is a good sign too.
Ha! I predicted a rout. You can’t keep the dodgers bats quiet too long. A breakout was inevitable.
May should develop a straight change. That off a 101 mph fastball would be very hard to hit.
Why was not keep Gonzalez? I am nervous with Baez
They never do anything easy. Baez now in the game. Where has McGee been? I would use that guy in this spot. Oh well, I am not the manager…just get the last 2 outs and end this thing. Leave here 3 1/2 up. Three games, 3 ninth innings that make your tummy turn. Nice catch TAYLOR! Gotta love Chris.
Ufffffff. I need a Doctor!!
Congrats, we’ve clinched a playoff spot!