Days of creating havic on the bases may be over

[Accord]

MIAMI GARDENS ? The days of the Florida Marlins constantly creating havoc on the bases may be over.

 

The Marlins have six stolen bases this season. Entering Wednesday's game, they were tied for the fourth fewest in the National League. Just two years ago, Florida led the majors with 150 steals before dropping to 96 last season.

 

"We don't have that speed that we had in 2003," manager Jack McKeon said.

 

Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo have five of the six steals. Pierre has been caught twice and Castillo once. Both players' stolen-base production has dropped in recent years. Teams appear to be paying much more attention to Pierre, and Castillo has not been the same since undergoing hip surgery after the 2002 season.

 

The Marlins have added power in the middle of their lineup, but McKeon said that should not take away from the team's aggressiveness.

 

"We can't play to sit back and wait for (Miguel) Cabrera or (Carlos) Delgado to hit a home run," McKeon said. "We have to do it our way. There are times late in the game if you're two runs down, yeah, we want that guy to swing the bat. That's the time you want to hit a two-run homer."

 

Valdez starts rehab: Starting pitcher Ismael Valdez, who was diagnosed last week with a hairline fracture in his right fibula, began walking on the leg Wednesday. Valdez, who is not throwing, is not expected to return to the mound for at least two weeks.

 

Valdez said he believed a ball he took off the leg during a minor league game April 4 had caused "just a bruise."

 

"But when I started running it was so painful I couldn't handle it," he said.

 

An MRI exam found the fracture.

 

Valdez, who is wearing a plastic brace on his lower leg, hopes to begin jogging next week.

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...notes_0421.html

[QuickGold]

It's a good assesment. We can steal, but this team isn't going to steal as aggresively as it has in the past simply because back in 2003 we had to make up for our lack of heavy hitters with baserunning. Now we don't have to be as desperate on the base paths. That being said, having guys like JP & Luis means they can still score from first fairly often.

[Dan Marino Forever 13]

Pierre and Castillo don't have that much power... so what? As long as they get on base we can get them home.

[Hotcorner]

Enc can swipe bases too.... I think the steals will be there but yeah likely not as many as in recent seasons.

[Marlins2003]

Is there anyone out there who really considers Luis Castillo a base-stealing threat anymore?

 

He hasn't been since his hip surgery a few years ago and everyone inside and outside baseball knows it. As for Pierre, while it's true that teams are playing him tight, it's not the man but the situations that have dictated whether he steals or not. At the same, his mere presence at first still causes the opposition into situational play that favors the Marlins. There was a substantial amount of discussion here some months ago when Delgado signed that just thing would happen and no one, especially a beat reporter who covers the team regularly, shouldn't be surprised its happening.

 

JP is smart enough to not run his team out of an inning or take the bat out of Castillo's or Delgado's hands. JP at second is an open invitation to walk either of the two batters behind him depending on the situation. In some ways JP sitting at first with his jets ready to fire is more of a threat to opposing teams than him at second with first base open.

[prinmemito]

Is there anyone out there who really considers Luis Castillo a base-stealing threat anymore?

 

750040[/snapback]

 

I do. He's a very smart baserunner and he can steal 20+ bases. He won't go unless he's fairly certain he'll get the steal, but that's what all players should do anyway. I like Luis. No one works the count like he does.

[Marlins2003]

Is there anyone out there who really considers Luis Castillo a base-stealing threat anymore?

 

750040[/snapback]

 

I do. He's a very smart baserunner and he can steal 20+ bases. He won't go unless he's fairly certain he'll get the steal, but that's what all players should do anyway. I like Luis. No one works the count like he does.

750045[/snapback]

 

We're not talking about a guy who can steal now and again (and no one is disputing he's a saavy, maybe the best AB guy on the team and very much aware of opportunities to move up when on base) but just look at his numbers regardng stolen bases - 1999-2002 respectively, 50-62-33-48, then 2003 and 2004, 21 both years.

 

If you read my post as being anti-Luis in any way then I obviously failed to make my point in clearly. I'm simply saying he doesn't have the speed he had years ago.

[Piganator]

The Marlins do not want to risk outs when they have a chance to score more runs in a game. Do not panic about them not stealing bases. Do you want to score runs or be thrown out stealing bases? Everybody needs to chill on this thing. Like my track coach says, "Chill dawg, chill."

[prinmemito]

Is there anyone out there who really considers Luis Castillo a base-stealing threat anymore?

 

750040[/snapback]

 

I do. He's a very smart baserunner and he can steal 20+ bases. He won't go unless he's fairly certain he'll get the steal, but that's what all players should do anyway. I like Luis. No one works the count like he does.

750045[/snapback]

 

We're not talking about a guy who can steal now and again (and no one is disputing he's a saavy, maybe the best AB guy on the team and very much aware of opportunities to move up when on base) but just look at his numbers regardng stolen bases - 1999-2002 respectively, 50-62-33-48, then 2003 and 2004, 21 both years.

 

If you read my post as being anti-Luis in any way then I obviously failed to make my point in clearly. I'm simply saying he doesn't have the speed he had years ago.

750076[/snapback]

 

 

I didn't read your past as being anti-Luis in any way. I just think he's still a threat to steal (albeit a much smaller threat than in previous years). I added his AB abilities not in response to what you wrote but just because I wanted to mention it.

[Marlins2003]

Is there anyone out there who really considers Luis Castillo a base-stealing threat anymore?

 

750040[/snapback]

 

I do. He's a very smart baserunner and he can steal 20+ bases. He won't go unless he's fairly certain he'll get the steal, but that's what all players should do anyway. I like Luis. No one works the count like he does.

750045[/snapback]

 

We're not talking about a guy who can steal now and again (and no one is disputing he's a saavy, maybe the best AB guy on the team and very much aware of opportunities to move up when on base) but just look at his numbers regardng stolen bases - 1999-2002 respectively, 50-62-33-48, then 2003 and 2004, 21 both years.

 

If you read my post as being anti-Luis in any way then I obviously failed to make my point in clearly. I'm simply saying he doesn't have the speed he had years ago.

750076[/snapback]

 

 

I didn't read your past as being anti-Luis in any way. I just think he's still a threat to steal (albeit a much smaller threat than in previous years). I added his AB abilities not in response to what you wrote but just because I wanted to mention it.

750088[/snapback]

 

 

:thumbup

[rferry]

Sounds like Jack is making excuses to save his reputation. No problem with that at all. Having his cake and eating it too.

 

We've ran ourselves into too many outs the past few years. Now with some big bats in the middle of the order, the risky baserunning and smallball should be left to the lesser (bottom) parts of the order.