Stealing bases, same old Twins

[ZachB]

Quote

 

A big deal was made of how the rules this year were so much more friendly towards potential base stealers. So far this year, they've proven to be exactly that, base stealing is up across the league. It's early but the twins seem as tentative as years past to send would be baserunners. Some of this could be attributed to Buxton nagging injury, it's been evident that the twins won't be sending him until they feel he's healthy and his body can withstand the extra wear of stealing bases. While he doesn't walk or even single much, if truly healthy one would assume he'd lead the team in steals. With our current roster it's tough to even imagine where steals could come from in the lineup, I'd note Kepler, Royce Lewis, and Polanco as notable options to steal bases who will play in Minneapolis this year, but all 3 of them are coming off lower body injuries and it's still to be seen how aggressive coaches will be with them. Michael A. Taylor seems the only realistic speed option left, and even he's only 1/1 this year, despite the fact that more opportunities and stealing situations have been available.

 

Does anyone see any way the Twins start stealing bags this year? It seems to be a serious disadvantage compared to teams like the guardians who have 5 guys in their every day lineup that will attempt to steal second every time the possibility arises.

 

 

[FlyingFinn]

3 minutes ago, ZachB said:

Does anyone see any way the Twins start stealing bags this year?

Not much and you are correct, like the starting pitching, it's not that Rocco won't steal. It's that the personnel aren't there to do it. Gordon would steal but he never walks and isn't hitting. Buxton's slides scare me so I wouldn't send him. Kepler would steal but he's never on first either. Castro, same thing. Gallo and Polanco could but do you really want them stealing right away coming off of injury. Julien might get a couple if he's around long enough. 

Plus, look at the future Twins hitters - Brooks Lee, Emma Rodriguez - they haven't stolen a base yet (E-Rod has 3 more homers than he does singles and that would be a total of..................... 0 singles). It's the fringe, not so sure they will make it group that steals - Austin Martin, Mark Contreras, Andrew Stevenson in St. Paul, DaShawn Kiersey, Yoyner Farjardo in Wichita, Jose Salas and maybe Noah Miller in Cedar Rapids.  But many of them have the same problem, can they get on first often enough to steal a lot if they get to the Twins. Austin Martin is the guy that would fit the stolen base department best, which is another reason the Twins shouldn't have messed with his swing to make him hit more homers (discussion in detail in a previous thread by many).

[RpR]

Were not some of the few Twins steals last year non-scripted?

[stringer bell]

The roster doesn’t have many players that are capable of stealing successfully at a rate high enough to try even with the disengage rules, larger bases and shorter distances between bases. 
 

Regardless of the rules, the important thing is to run the bases efficiently, taking the extra base when possible and getting thrown out infrequently. 
 

So far other teams’ running game has caused minimal damage. I expect there will be some games where opponents’ stolen bases will bite the club in the butt. 

[Major League Ready]

This should change slowly.   Lewis and Julien should help later this year although you would have to think a 2nd ACL surgery will have slowed Lewis down a bit.  Hopefully, Austin Martin recovers without surgery but we will probably have to wait for him until next year.  

[Jocko87]

Taylor will play into this later in the year when he's more of a bench weapon.  I believe they will steal but they want to stack the deck in their favor and be crucial situations.  Taylor and Lewis coming off the bench can be inserted situationally.  The personnel is not there yet and the situations aren't crucial enough.  I haven't heard this from anyone official but I believe they view the stolen base as an incredibly high injury risk play and not worth the risk in April.

[stringer bell]

We shall see when Buxton is playing center. Right now, Michael A is outperforming him. 

[tony&rodney]

The Twins have one stolen base in three attempts. They are 30th in MLB. The Yankees have seventeen stolen bases. There are a number of plodding players with stolen bases. Are we saying that the Twins players are at risk of injuries and/or are too slow therefore the idea of running is a bad idea but that other teams don't face the same risks? Don't the Twins have anyone who can run the bases as well as Eric Haase or Yan Gomes or Gio Urshela? Someone has to be the worst. That cannot be a goal. Why do the Twins handicap the means of winning games by eschewing any effort at running or advancing runners? I just wonder because it seems to me that every way possible should be available for all teams to use in the pursuit of victories. 

Gerrit Cole was really on his game today as was Pablo Lopez. A misplayed ground ball beneath Solano's glove, a phantom HBP capably sold by Rizzo with no clear and convincing evidence to overturn Hoy's decision, and Kepler getting spun around and putting his glove into the wall as opposed to straight up to catch LeMahieu's fly ball wasn't much offense, but enough. The only threat for the Twins followed Julien's smart bunt, attempting to catch the defense off balance. I'm sure Young Eddy did this on his own and it was the smartest play of the game for our Twins. I'm hoping the Twins stop worrying about injuries and use every means available to increase their odds of winning tough games. The team is off to a good start and a split in NYC is a positive note to the young season. It's time to put the bat on the ball and put some pressure on the dirty socks.

[Old Twins Cap]

Twins don't run for fear of injury, which is because Rocco spent, or lost, most of his career being injured.

So, they carry the wounds of the skipper onto the field, kind of like baring the cross of the skipper in Moby Dick, reliving his drama of chasing the white whale as if it were their own.

Sad, but not insurmountable, if the Twins can generate runs by actually hitting the baseball, which, unfortunately,  is offset by their leading the league in Strike Outs.

[stringer bell]

I think their lack of steals is much more a personnel issue than anything else. Only a select few are capable of succeeding at the 75% mark that makes it worth doing. Of those, there probably is a legitimate concern that Buxton could be injured and his knee (apparently) is not 100%. The Twins haven't had enough base runners to steal much either, so that only makes those numbers look even worse. 

So far, stealing by the opponents hasn't really been a huge issue. A few teams are really embracing the running game and the Twins will face them eventually. Two things that really slow the running game are not allowing base runners and throwing out above 30% who do try to steal. We'll see how that pans out in the future.

[CRF]

I believe that our lack of any base stealing is both personnel related, and philosophy related. The guys that actually have speed, don't get on base and when they do, it's the wrong situation to attempt a steal. It's also just not something that this coaching staff wants to do. It never has been. As far as Buxton...sure, he has the speed to steal, but his base stealing fundamentals and especially his sliding fundamentals/techniques, are terrible. Every time he slides it's an injury waiting to happen. The league may be stealing more, but we won't be.

[StormJH1]

14 hours ago, Old Twins Cap said:

Twins don't run for fear of injury, which is because Rocco spent, or lost, most of his career being injured.

So, they carry the wounds of the skipper onto the field, kind of like baring the cross of the skipper in Moby Dick, reliving his drama of chasing the white whale as if it were their own.

Sad, but not insurmountable, if the Twins can generate runs by actually hitting the baseball, which, unfortunately,  is offset by their leading the league in Strike Outs.

Oh man, I hadn't even really thought about that connection.  I like Rocco, and am not qualified to play armchair psychologist, but that actually makes a lot of sense.  Conversely, you could argue that Rocco's condition that ruined his career was quite unique, and "health-related".  So I'm not sure Rocco's head makes all the neural connections between "aggressive" baseball and missing time, as that was not really a factor when he was forced to miss time in his career.

 

It's pretty clear we're not run this year.  For as much of a small ball team as the Twins have been (at some times since 2000), base stealing is not really part of their DNA the way it was for that Royals WS team, or teams like the Nationals and I'm sure countless others.  We also know that analytics in the past couple decades has been very anti-stealing, and even if the rule changes may cause that to change, there's probably a lag effect with guys like Falvey/Levine/Baldelli.

 

I know that some of the top basestealers (T. Turner, for example) are star-level players, but it's tough to imagine that being the case here.  It sucks that Buxton's best attributes (speed and defense) are the two things that the team has decided to almost completely throttle back to avoid injury.  

[tony&rodney]

If the Twins are going to play station to station and swing for the downs, as was done way too often last year, they are handicapping themselves from winning more games. The team has a better pitching staff this year and we should expect to see the Twins in close games. Aggressiveness ,matters in tight contests. It was a bunt that walked off the Pale Hose. 

If one looks over those players with stolen bases this year and looks at the speed of players, it is clear that the Twins are average in speed. It is not unreasonable to expect the Twins to be in the middle/average for stolen bases. Running, hit and run, moving the runners, bunting, and stolen bases are ways to win games. It is also a sure way to attract fans, an important factor.

[chpettit19]

There have been a few situations with Taylor on that I remember thinking "he should steal here," and being disappointed he didn't (he did attempt in at least 1 of those situations but ball was fouled off). This team is not built to steal, though. They have guys in the minors who've stolen a bunch of bases the last few years. Julien and Martin being the ones most likely to get some MLB steals. I just don't know who people want stealing on this team.

I agree Buxton has the speed, but, as others have mentioned, every time he slides I expect him to stay down because he's hurt. It's crazy how terrible he can be for being such an amazing athlete. But I don't expect to see him steal many bases because of injury risk, and he's just not the type of hitter that ends up on first frequently.

Gordon and Castro have the speed, but have been terrible at actually reaching first base safely. Can't steal if you're not on base.

I already mentioned being disappointed a couple times that Taylor didn't go. Not really sure who else people expect to be stealing bags. Kepler and Gallo maybe? But they've been hurt, and not on 1B often. I think this is a lot like the "quick hooks" narrative that people are too broadly applying as a team philosophy instead of just a lack of personnel. They let Gray, Ryan, and Paddack go 6 and 7 innings last April, but somehow it became a narrative that the Twins wouldn't let any pitcher go 3 times through the order. Now the only guys getting on are slow and shouldn't be stealing, and fans want to say it's a philosophy. If it were a philosophy they wouldn't have guys stealing in the minors. Why risk the injury to them if they don't believe in steals? It's not a philosophy, it's a lack of personnel. 

[rick kayser]

I am more concerned with smart base runners, rather then stolen bases. 1st to 3rd, advancing on defensive miscues, and taking an extra base are daily factors in scoring, skills that can be developed in every player, hopefully from the 1st day under contract.                                                                               

The Twins are a slow team, which makes smart base running  a system wide need.

 

 

 

 

 

i

[tony&rodney]

My take is NOT that the Twins should be running very often. The Twins simply do not have many players who are good stolen base threats. But there are literally dozens and dozens of examples of slow runners stealing bases this year alone. I'm just wondering how San Diego, a team with much more power, can have Manny Machado steal a base, but the Twins have ONE. A number of slow catchers and guys like Luke Voit have stolen bases, but not the Twins. There are situations to run as well as to use a hit and run. When a team disregards whole areas to advance and score runs they put themselves at a disadvantage.

Baldelli was surprised and stated, although supportive of Julien's decision, that he wished for a different result when Julien bunted Taylor to second base yesterday. It was, perhaps, the best Twins play of the game at the plate. Correa was a better bet to hit in that situation and Julien, a rookie, knew this and tried to surprise Cole. Cole made a phenomenal play to get Julien by a half step. I'm in favor of using more than home runs to win games and that may involve risks and some failures, but ultimately would produce more runs and wins in my estimation. Selfishly, I am bored with guys going one base at a time and waiting for the long ball. Correa cutting down on his swing to make contact and doubling into the corner while Buxton scored from first base last Friday is more of what I prefer. 

[August J Gloop]

Stealing bases is a waste of time if you can't be 75% successful. It also has very little impact on runs. In the past 22 years, the top 10 run scoring teams (Twins are #9) only 4 of them are above the midpoint of steals (2070). The Red Sox are the highest scoring team in that period and are 20th in steals. Dead last in steals? Oakland: 10th in scoring.

What about over 50 years? Fangraphs shows us that of the top 10 run scoring teams (Twins are 6th, wow The DH is a big deal). Only 3 are above the midpoint in steals (5160). We had to set the midpoint at 13th on this list, because we don't want to factor in the expansion clubs. The Red Sox have scored the most runs and stolen the fewest bases. (Obviously, the monstah plays a role there).  

Even this year: of the top ten base stealing teams, only 3 are above the midpoint in scoring (74 runs).  My theory is that unless you steal early in the AB, you're getting to second when the batter is in a disadvantaged count, leading to fewer hits. 

Overall, it seems to be a non-factor. It's fun when it happens, but not worth worrying about. Most likely, teams will realize they're wasting outs and it will taper off. Whatever advantage the bigger base gives to base stealers, it's definitely giving a higher one to infielders getting outs at first and turning double plays, as they are just that much closer to where the throws are coming from, and can move in an arc to catch the throw. Runners still have to go straight to the base. 

[chpettit19]

28 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

My take is NOT that the Twins should be running very often. The Twins simply do not have many players who are good stolen base threats. But there are literally dozens and dozens of examples of slow runners stealing bases this year alone. I'm just wondering how San Diego, a team with much more power, can have Manny Machado steal a base, but the Twins have ONE. A number of slow catchers and guys like Luke Voit have stolen bases, but not the Twins. There are situations to run as well as to use a hit and run. When a team disregards whole areas to advance and score runs they put themselves at a disadvantage.

Baldelli was surprised and stated, although supportive of Julien's decision, that he wished for a different result when Julien bunted Taylor to second base yesterday. It was, perhaps, the best Twins play of the game at the plate. Correa was a better bet to hit in that situation and Julien, a rookie, knew this and tried to surprise Cole. Cole made a phenomenal play to get Julien by a half step. I'm in favor of using more than home runs to win games and that may involve risks and some failures, but ultimately would produce more runs and wins in my estimation. Selfishly, I am bored with guys going one base at a time and waiting for the long ball. Correa cutting down on his swing to make contact and doubling into the corner while Buxton scored from first base last Friday is more of what I prefer. 

I think there's a difference between entertaining and smart. Julien's bunt showed me a lack of confidence way more than any baseball savvy. He didn't think he could get a hit off Cole swinging so he took his chance with the bunt. Bunting is almost never the smart play because it far too often leads to an out, and giving up outs to advance 1 base is almost never the smart play when it comes to scoring runs and winning games. Julien was trying to bunt for a hit so it's different, but, generally speaking, it's an absolutely awful decision to ever bunt a guy to 2nd when the bunter will be the 2nd out. Getting the guy to second is nowhere near as valuable as the 2nd out. Especially at the top of your order.

A 2 strike approach to push one down the line for a 2 run double is very different than bunting. Going one base at a time is sometimes just guys being slow (Vazquez will rarely take an extra base), and sometimes bad baserunning. The Twins have been very bad at taking the extra base the last few years, and definitely need to improve their base running. But that doesn't make bunting the smart decision. I don't think the Twins runners don't go first to third because they're waiting for a HR, I think they're just bad baserunners, and/or slow. And if they really want to raise their chances to do damage in the playoffs they need to improve their baserunning.

[chpettit19]

13 minutes ago, August J Gloop said:

Stealing bases is a waste of time if you can't be 75% successful. It also has very little impact on runs. In the past 22 years, the top 10 run scoring teams (Twins are #9) only 4 of them are above the midpoint of steals (2070). The Red Sox are the highest scoring team in that period and are 20th in steals. Dead last in steals? Oakland: 10th in scoring.

What about over 50 years? Fangraphs shows us that of the top 10 run scoring teams (Twins are 6th, wow The DH is a big deal). Only 3 are above the midpoint in steals (5160). We had to set the midpoint at 13th on this list, because we don't want to factor in the expansion clubs. The Red Sox have scored the most runs and stolen the fewest bases. (Obviously, the monstah plays a role there).  

Even this year: of the top ten base stealing teams, only 3 are above the midpoint in scoring (74 runs).  My theory is that unless you steal early in the AB, you're getting to second when the batter is in a disadvantaged count, leading to fewer hits. 

Overall, it seems to be a non-factor. It's fun when it happens, but not worth worrying about. Most likely, teams will realize they're wasting outs and it will taper off. Whatever advantage the bigger base gives to base stealers, it's definitely giving a higher one to infielders getting outs at first and turning double plays, as they are just that much closer to where the throws are coming from, and can move in an arc to catch the throw. Runners still have to go straight to the base. 

Now do the top HR hitting teams and where they rank. I bet they're a lot higher on the runs scored list...

Stolen bases are fun to watch, and teams like Cleveland who don't have power need to use it because they need to make every hit matter more. But "small ball" didn't go away because teams are stubborn or stupid. "Small ball" went away because it wasn't effective at scoring runs, and once teams realized it they stopped doing it.

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I think there's a difference between entertaining and smart. Julien's bunt showed me a lack of confidence way more than any baseball savvy. He didn't think he could get a hit off Cole swinging so he took his chance with the bunt. Bunting is almost never the smart play because it far too often leads to an out, and giving up outs to advance 1 base is almost never the smart play when it comes to scoring runs and winning games. Julien was trying to bunt for a hit so it's different, but, generally speaking, it's an absolutely awful decision to ever bunt a guy to 2nd when the bunter will be the 2nd out. Getting the guy to second is nowhere near as valuable as the 2nd out. Especially at the top of your order.

A 2 strike approach to push one down the line for a 2 run double is very different than bunting. Going one base at a time is sometimes just guys being slow (Vazquez will rarely take an extra base), and sometimes bad baserunning. The Twins have been very bad at taking the extra base the last few years, and definitely need to improve their base running. But that doesn't make bunting the smart decision. I don't think the Twins runners don't go first to third because they're waiting for a HR, I think they're just bad baserunners. And if they really want to raise their chances to do damage in the playoffs they need to improve their baserunning.

I think all-in-all the base running has been better this year. Vazquez trying for a triple with two outs was the most obvious bad base running mistake and I recall several good ones. It's really early in the season but I have seen improvement. I believe that the Twins were among the very worst base running teams last year, both running into outs and failing to advance, so improvement is not a very high bar. 

[chpettit19]

Just now, stringer bell said:

I think all-in-all the base running has been better this year. Vazquez trying for a triple with two outs was the most obvious bad base running mistake and I recall several good ones. It's really early in the season but I have seen improvement. I believe that the Twins were among the very worst base running teams last year, both running into outs and failing to advance, so improvement is not a very high bar. 

Totally agree. It was hard to not improve over last year. Part of the improvement is guys like Celestino not being on the team, and Gordon being bad, so haven't had the chance to make bad decisions. They are still a pretty slow team overall, but as long as they make the right decisions most of the time they'll be improved and it'll be huge. They have a number of guys coming up who look like much smarter players who will hopefully bring the athleticism to make a bigger difference on the bases. 

[August J Gloop]

3 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Now do the top HR hitting teams and where they rank. I bet they're a lot higher on the runs scored list...

Stolen bases are fun to watch, and teams like Cleveland who don't have power need to use it because they need to make every hit matter more. But "small ball" didn't go away because teams are stubborn or stupid. "Small ball" went away because it wasn't effective at scoring runs, and once teams realized it they stopped doing it.

Wouldn't you know it? There are 2 teams in the top 10 of scoring in the last 50 years below the midpoint in home runs (7410). The Angels at 7273 and a plucky little franchise in the Twin Cities at (uh) 6701.  The Rockies (5359) are catching up despite the 20 year head start, haha.

[tony&rodney]

Like everyone else on Twins Daily, I want the Twins to be successful. When a team is near the bottom of all MLB in AVE, OBP, SLG, and OPS, there needs to be consideration of ways in which to manufacture runs. The rules allow for such and the Twins are not taking advantage of opportunities. We can say they are slow or poor at skills, but what I have been asking is why plodding players can run successfully on some teams? Kyle Schwarber was 10 of 11 in stolen bases last year. Kyle Schwarber. Last year the Twins were below 70% success while the top teams were all above 75%. Is every Twin incapable to the degree where the percentages dictate that they continue their current philosophy or reality if you prefer? The story from the winter was that there was going to be a change in strategy where the team would use all avenues available to increase run production. I'm not seeing it yet, but I'm still hopeful.

[chpettit19]

19 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Like everyone else on Twins Daily, I want the Twins to be successful. When a team is near the bottom of all MLB in AVE, OBP, SLG, and OPS, there needs to be consideration of ways in which to manufacture runs. The rules allow for such and the Twins are not taking advantage of opportunities. We can say they are slow or poor at skills, but what I have been asking is why plodding players can run successfully on some teams? Kyle Schwarber was 10 of 11 in stolen bases last year. Kyle Schwarber. Last year the Twins were below 70% success while the top teams were all above 75%. Is every Twin incapable to the degree where the percentages dictate that they continue their current philosophy or reality if you prefer? The story from the winter was that there was going to be a change in strategy where the team would use all avenues available to increase run production. I'm not seeing it yet, but I'm still hopeful.

For what it's worth, Kyle Schwarder had a sprint speed of 26.4 ft/s last year. Only 4 Twins this year have faster sprint speeds than that. Correa ties him at 26.4. 4 who beat him are Larnach at 26.5, Taylor at 27.5, Gordon at 27.5, and Buxton at 29.9. That's how slow this team is.

Correa stopped stealing bases years ago. Larnach could probably take a few this year, but he's a tall guy and that's usually not great for stealing as it takes a while to get those legs going. Many of us have complained about Taylor not taking more this year. Gordon and Buxton haven't really been on 1B with a chance to steal. This team is both incredibly slow and hasn't had a ton of situations where stealing makes sense. When their offense is bad it's terrible and there's almost no base runners. And if you're below 70% success rate it's probably a sign you shouldn't steal. Anything under 75% means you shouldn't steal because you're hurting yourself. This is a slow, bad baserunning team. Trying to steal bases will not help them, it will hurt them.

[Nine of twelve]

There are four facets of baseball. In order of importance they are pitching, batting, fielding, and base running. This doesn't mean that a team should disregard base running but it does mean that base stealing (just one facet of the least important facet of the game) is simply not going to have a large impact on a team's overall success unless a team has a very high number of stolen bases and a very high stolen base percentage. Certainly, advance as many bases as possible as a base runner. But be mindful that the negative impact of making an out on the base paths is larger than the positive impact of taking an extra base by stealing or any other means.

[tony&rodney]

I accept that many people on Twins Daily oppose many elements of small ball. i don't want to argue that. Opinions heard.

When Gio Urshela can steal a base for the Angels, it seems like somebody could for the Twins. Using Baseball Savant, only Gary Sanchez and Sandy Leon had less speed than the perky Gio for our team last season. In 2022 (Baseball Savant), the Twins had thirteen players with a sprint speed of 27 ft/sec. or better. By comparison, using just a couple of teams, the Phillies and White Sox have twelve and the Yankees nine players with average or better foot speed. My only point is that how a team uses the players is a choice. Choices have consequences. Where some teams choose to experiment or use speed, the Twins choose not to thus far under Rocco Baldelli. Management has made a choice and we hope it works.

The added depth (Farmer, Taylor, Solano, Castro) and trade for Pablo Lopez were solid, plus moves to improve the team.

(Note: 2023 data is too limited at this time.)

[ashbury]

On 4/16/2023 at 6:31 PM, Old Twins Cap said:

Twins don't run for fear of injury, which is because Rocco spent, or lost, most of his career being injured.

If Rocco were going against Falvey or Levine's wishes there would be a quick conversation, and base steals would be attempted the very next game a runner was on first and the situation was favorable.

They have shown aggressiveness on the bases at times, as they said they would.  Just not in the base stealing department.

[mrtwinsfan]

On 4/16/2023 at 7:47 PM, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I agree that they do not have the personnel and Buxton should not be stealing for fear of yet another injury.

I thought they had Molitor in ST to teach the players how to steal.  I noticed today that the Yankees players have a kind of hop action that seems to give them a good jump.  Not sure what the heck that is, but maybe we should try that.

Lewis and Martin would help but they are months away.

Arent they Both Deceased 😎     Ole jerry and Deano    

[stringer bell]

16 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I accept that many people on Twins Daily oppose many elements of small ball. i don't want to argue that. Opinions heard.

When Gio Urshela can steal a base for the Angels, it seems like somebody could for the Twins. Using Baseball Savant, only Gary Sanchez and Sandy Leon had less speed than the perky Gio for our team last season. In 2022 (Baseball Savant), the Twins had thirteen players with a sprint speed of 27 ft/sec. or better. By comparison, using just a couple of teams, the Phillies and White Sox have twelve and the Yankees nine players with average or better foot speed. My only point is that how a team uses the players is a choice. Choices have consequences. Where some teams choose to experiment or use speed, the Twins choose not to thus far under Rocco Baldelli. Management has made a choice and we hope it works.

The added depth (Farmer, Taylor, Solano, Castro) and trade for Pablo Lopez were solid, plus moves to improve the team.

(Note: 2023 data is too limited at this time.)

If we are talking about a random stolen base here and there, the circumstances really matter. First of all, being on the back end of a double steal of second and third is kind of a freebee. In the year Rod Carew stole home a bunch of times, Harmon got three or four "free" stolen bases because of the runners ahead of him. Another possibility is a hit and run where the batter misses the ball that might be way out of the strike zone. A third is where the pitcher pays very minimal attention to the runner--Gary Sanchez got credit for two steals last year in those inattention situations. Yes, the Twins should grab a free bag where the pitcher is totally ignoring the base runner.

Putting runners in motion requires three things, one of which has been largely missing for the Twins in '23--their team OBP is a dismal .294, ahead of only our division rivals the Royals and Tigers. Secondly, having a runner who can credibly be safe if the pitch is not hit and third, having a hitter who makes contact, all problems for the 2023 Twins at this stage.

The Twins have one stolen base, last in MLB, guess who is immediately ahead of them. It is one of the storied franchises in baseball, the LA Dodgers. Their roster is also lacking in surefire base stealers and their offense will do just fine, thank you. 

[August J Gloop]

That is exactly the point. As of now, the Twins have had inconsistent on base skills. That's why the O is struggling. The stolen base paucity plays basically no part in it. Last year they had an OPS+ as a team of 106. This year? 86. Get that ironed out, with this pitching? No worries indeed.