This is a great column and ' an alarming two hours of Jays discombobulation' is one of the best lines I've read in quite some time....and spot on. But I think you have highlighted a huge problem for this team. It was like men vs boys comparing the baserunning and fundamentals of the Rays and Jays and they made us look like amateurs.
Valenzuela seems to have a good arm, but all season long teams have been stealing bases seemingly at ease against us. Even Kirk wasn't doing much to help before he got hurt. I was shocked that we actually stole a few bases last night. It's almost as if the Rays reminded us that this sort of thing was a useful thing to do.
I think it's a big issue and like you, I miss the speed and stolen base element. It can be a big disruptor when done well. And it's fun to watch. Reading about Bobby Cox reminded me how good those early 80s Jays teams were with Dave Collins and Damaso Garcia stealing tons of bags.
Another big concern has to be Varsho's arm and based on the eye test, his overall fielding seems to have declined. Not good.
I’m mixing up my speedsters. I was thinking about Larry Lintz and his 50 steals in 1974 as a part-timer. Caught seven times., and I think most of the caught stealings were pickoffs. He even stole on Jonny bench. I loved Otis Nixon, but I don’t think I had a great feeling for the team during his time there. They were really bargain basement hunting and letting better players go who they couldn’t afford, if memory serves.
You’re making me long for the days of Leflore, Scott and Willie Davis at the top of the order. What’d they steal that year — 170 bags? Nightmare for opponents. Man, I loved that. Or Raines, Grissom, Hudler…give me that small budget/small ball any day!
This is a great column and ' an alarming two hours of Jays discombobulation' is one of the best lines I've read in quite some time....and spot on. But I think you have highlighted a huge problem for this team. It was like men vs boys comparing the baserunning and fundamentals of the Rays and Jays and they made us look like amateurs.
Valenzuela seems to have a good arm, but all season long teams have been stealing bases seemingly at ease against us. Even Kirk wasn't doing much to help before he got hurt. I was shocked that we actually stole a few bases last night. It's almost as if the Rays reminded us that this sort of thing was a useful thing to do.
I think it's a big issue and like you, I miss the speed and stolen base element. It can be a big disruptor when done well. And it's fun to watch. Reading about Bobby Cox reminded me how good those early 80s Jays teams were with Dave Collins and Damaso Garcia stealing tons of bags.
Another big concern has to be Varsho's arm and based on the eye test, his overall fielding seems to have declined. Not good.
I’m mixing up my speedsters. I was thinking about Larry Lintz and his 50 steals in 1974 as a part-timer. Caught seven times., and I think most of the caught stealings were pickoffs. He even stole on Jonny bench. I loved Otis Nixon, but I don’t think I had a great feeling for the team during his time there. They were really bargain basement hunting and letting better players go who they couldn’t afford, if memory serves.
Hudler and Nixon came up on the same day so if you are in for one you gotta be in for both.
You’re making me long for the days of Leflore, Scott and Willie Davis at the top of the order. What’d they steal that year — 170 bags? Nightmare for opponents. Man, I loved that. Or Raines, Grissom, Hudler…give me that small budget/small ball any day!
LeFlore 97 bags and Scott 63 in 1980. And don’t forget Otis Nixon.