Why the Dodgers aren’t off to the races stealing bases
LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers batted 11 times with a runner on first base and second base empty on Thursday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They had plenty of opportunities to test the new rules across Major League Baseball designed to encourage more stolen bases.
Through one game, the Dodgers were still perfect trying to steal a base: 0 for 0.
The new rules – limits on pickoff throws and larger bases – elicited a clear result with all 30 teams active on Opening Day. Overall, runners were 21 for 23, a small-sample signal that the rules have a chance to achieve their desired result.
The Dodgers lost their best base-stealer last season, Trea Turner. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent in December. But three returning players (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Chris Taylor) stole at least 10 bases last season. Veteran Jason Heyward has a 20-steal season on his resume. Rookie center fielder James Outman twice stole 20 bases in a season at the minor-league level.
“Maybe we don’t have the Trea Turner, the elite-elite type, but we have a lot of guys who are very athletic who can run,” first base coach Clayton McCullough said, “and hopefully are able to take advantage of some of these new rules MLB has put in.”
Spring training bore that out. The Dodgers stole 22 bases in 26 attempts during the exhibition season, more than all but six teams. Compare that to spring training last year, when the Dodgers were the only team without a stolen base, and the difference is obvious.
Thursday’s matchup was atypical in a few regards. The Diamondbacks’ starting pitcher was Zac Gallen, who is aggressive among right-handed pitchers holding runners on base. No pitcher attempted more pickoff throws last year than Gallen.
Once, Gallen threw to first base twice during the same plate appearance. Another throw to first base would have risked incurring a balk if the pickoff attempt didn’t succeed. Afterward, Manager Dave Roberts said, Gallen shortened his delivery time to home plate.
Pair Gallen with a catcher, Gabriel Moreno, who comes with the reputation of an above-average throwing arm, and the Dodgers’ conservative approach Thursday made sense.
Their strategy will change from game to game.
“Each game is its own individual entity,” McCullough said. “Who do we have over there? What’s their pitcher-catcher combination? Where are we at in the lineup? What’s the score? Instead of, just, everybody who gets on there is just going to be a free-for-all for everybody.”
Said Roberts: “I’m not going to run just to run.”
DAY OFF FOR SMITH
Catcher Will Smith, who is off to a hot start, will not be in the starting lineup Saturday, Roberts said. Austin Barnes will catch Clayton Kershaw’s first start of the regular season instead.
Barnes caught the majority (13 of 22) of Kershaw’s starts last season, but Roberts said that will “not necessarily” be the case in 2023.
“I didn’t want Will to catch three in a row out of the gate because he hasn’t done that since last year,” Roberts said. “If it lines up with Clayton and (his and Barnes’) familiarity, that’s great, but it’s not something we’re trying to make happen because they’re familiar.”
Smith was the Dodgers’ designated hitter in 24 of the 56 games he did not start last season, but that number figures go down this season.
“J.D. (Martinez) is the DH,” Roberts said. “Is it hard to get Will out of the lineup? Absolutely it’s hard to get Will out of the lineup. But understanding we’ve got to keep him sharp, fresh, and also Austin needs to play too.”
ALSO
Tony Gonsolin, who is recovering from an ankle sprain, will throw a bullpen session on Sunday, Roberts said. If he emerges healthy, Gonsolin’s next mound work will come against live hitters Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Arizona Diamondbacks (LHP Madison Bumgarner) at Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw), Saturday, 6 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out-of-market only), 570 AM