Base Running Issues

by Eric Sachs on May 1, 2010 10:50 PM EDT

The Marlins got an extremely dominate pitching performance from Chris Volstad tonight in there 7-1 victory over the Nationals. Volstad pitched a complete game, striking out eight and only allowing four hits. The Marlins capitalized on Volstad's performance by scoring seven runs and getting home runs from Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu. However, they were far from dominate on the base path. Cameron Maybin the Marlins young center fielder is still adjusting to the major leagues and it is easy to see on the base path. The Marlins had several opportunities in tonight's game with Maybin and also Cody Ross to tag up and advance bases and were not able to capitalize. Both players on deep fly balls to the outfield were dancing in between the base paths two times with Cameron Maybin and one time with Cody Ross which almost cost them a run had there not been a wild throw home. If the Marlins are going to make it to the post-season they are going to have to use speed and good base running to get there.

In recent years, good base running and speed has been a key component to winning for many teams in the MLB. With the steroid era coming to an end teams are more reliant on the leadoff hitter getting on and manufacturing runs. Remembering the Marlins 2003 World Series run most of their success was because of there table setters and the excellent speed they had. Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo caused havoc for teams in the top of the lineup and on the bases and that is what the Marlins will need to improve on and hope to get from Maybin and Chris Couglan at the top of the lineup.

Poll

Who should be the Marlins leadoff hitter?

Cameron Maybin

6 votes

Chris Couglan

5 votes

Hanley Ramirez

1 votes

The marlins need to trade for a leadoff hitter

1 votes

13 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

The play with Cody was too shallow for him to tag up

That’s why he ran off 3rd base, since if it fell he’d run home but the ball was way to shallow to tag up on so I don’t think he made a mistake.

And “trading for a lead-off hitter” is ridiculous, the whole batting order thing is so overdone with these set roles.

by tdp992 on May 2, 2010 1:50 AM EDT reply actions

The ball caught by Nyger Morgan in centerfield was a low liner and he actually almost made a dive to get it. It also is Nyger Morgan who does not have the best arm in the game (as we saw from his throw home.) The point of what I was saying is that the Marlins need to be more aggressive on the bases. If Cody is on third base and the ball drops in center field he probably still would have scored if he was standing on third.

To say there is no point of set roles in the lineup is incorrect. It makes perfect sense as to why you want good contact hitters and guys with speed at the top of the lineup because usually the power hitter hit in the 3, 4, and 5 hole which means teams want there fast guys at the top to just be able to reach base. If you look at recent world series winners they have all had excellent leadoff hitters. Guys like Shane Victorino, Johnny Damon and Jacoby Ellsbury and even with the fish Juan Pierre. So to say that designated roles in the lineup “overdone” is incorrect because it is part of the strategy of the game.

Eric Sachs
Bulls Radio 88.5 HD2 Tampa

by Eric Sachs on May 2, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

err you go "half way" in case the ball drops; you only stay on the base to tag up

he wanted to at least draw a throw from a below average CF arm. but if you watch him from third he barely took two steps & turned around to walk back to third. no point in drawing a throw if you dont even look where the throw goes. good idea but bad execution. he was lucky to score.

& trading for a lead-off hitter is not ridiciulous. the team was obviously better with johnson & cogs & their .400+ OBP in front of hanley. having a guy with an .400+ obp that can steal is a big deal. its only “overdone” when you over account for speed & base stealing while not weighing obp/ba accurately (bonifacio’s situation).

by byoung on May 3, 2010 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not argueing against getting someone like that

But how many people are there like that really, especially that is on the market? Realistically if we traded for a lead-off hitter we’d end up getting someone like Pierre or Podsednick which would be awful. The best solution really is to move Coghlan back to lead-off and have Gaby in the 2 hole. Then you have two high OBP guys at the top, but not a lot of speed which shouldn’t hurt that much truthfully.

And the only reason I’m saying it’s overdone is that it really doesn’t matter that much. If we went the entire season with the entire lineup flipped over it would probably only cost us a few runs or something like that.

by tdp992 on May 4, 2010 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions