Strange Year for Stolen Bases

[Porcello]

this is an important qualifier; SBs are a lot tougher to catch up in only leagues.

in my AL only (4X4 at that), SBs can't be ignored. I've been in situations in past years where I was forced to trade midyear for speedsters to make a run, and they are costly. I'm fortunate this year to have Rajai Davis & DeAza on my team (actually it was good roster management).

Yep, I imagine the landscape is different in only's. Regardless of the format of mixed leagues if you need speed you can find it in season, of the 10 cats it's really the only one that can be counted on to patch up during the season.

[BuckyBuckner]

And then there's Matt Wieters with two in one night last week ... maybe catchers have their own pool going ...

I was watching a Yankee game a few weeks ago and I think it was in Seattle were Jaso stole a base and you could tell Martin was upset. He managed to reach base (which is a special feat for him this year) in his next at bat and promptly stole second with a look towards Jaso.

[joncarlos]

A lot depends on the depth of your league. Many of these guys (Campana, Elliot Johnson, maybe Carlos Gomez) were $1 guys, reserve picks or even free agent pickups. If you had Campana for a while, then replaced him with Nyjer Morgan, then picked up GoGo or Aoki, you might have gotten 15-20 steals from your bench. Speed guys are certainly more plentiful than 10-15 HR guys who appear out of nowhere. Keeping the flexibility to put them in somewhere when an injury happens is a good way to boost your speed without really dedicating a starter spot to speed-only guys.

[Long John]

players who have had challenges to their playing time, or who lost their job altogether (Dee Gordon, Ben Revere)

Let's not forget the poster boy for this, Jordan Schafer.

Also, my theory on the catchers is that the MLB Catchers Union is forcing them to make up for the steals Jason Kendall is no longer providing for the group.

[Erik]

Ruiz had a few steals as well before getting hurt.

[Moonlight J]

what to make of this trend?

[Porcello]

what to make of this trend?

Since the game hasn't changed, I think the recent surge is due to power dwindling post PED era (change in philosophy) and more knowledge when it comes to athletes and fitness (they're in better shape).

Generally speaking, the specialists aren't as valuable if they can't hit, but the regulars that are in better shape are able to swipe more bags, making the specialists less valuable.

[The Dane]

1990s- Lots of SBA, offensive numbers are bloated for ALL players.

2000s- Moneyball. Managers give the green light less often. PEDs make it so playing for the big inning is a viable strategy.

Now- Post-PED MLB has to generate runs somehow, SBAs go up. Plus, in the Years of the Pitcher, the threat of the wrecker on the basepaths becomes more important.

[Moonlight J]