Sending the runner on 3-2

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

At least we're better than the Astros.

[dmarx114]

I like sending the runner on 3/2...but I also think you have to take on all considerations of who is on base, at the plate, etc. I think with the Kozma/Descalso combo sending the runner works because Kozma has a good chance of stealing the base. Things aren't always going to work but sometimes you have to get something going in a variety of ways and not wait around on the bases. I would like to see the Cards do more running in more situations.

Why would you want to increase the chances of making an out in an inning?

This team doesn't need to get cute. Just let them rip away.

Cards wasted 2 outs last night on the basepaths. Could have cost them the game.

I disagree that you increase the chance of making an out. You keep saying that and saying that but you don't back it up with anything other than a folow up statement saying the exact same thing.

How many times have you seen Kozma being aggressive on the bases and said to yourself "Wow, we *almost* wasted an out there"? I'm guessing never, you gladly take the positive that the agressive base running brings you while constantly berating the manager and player when it backfires.

If you want to find the game thread from a couple weeks ago where I was annoyed that the hit and run worked out, go right ahead. It's all there.

[dmarx114]

I like sending the runner on 3/2...but I also think you have to take on all considerations of who is on base, at the plate, etc. I think with the Kozma/Descalso combo sending the runner works because Kozma has a good chance of stealing the base. Things aren't always going to work but sometimes you have to get something going in a variety of ways and not wait around on the bases. I would like to see the Cards do more running in more situations.

Why would you want to increase the chances of making an out in an inning?

This team doesn't need to get cute. Just let them rip away.

Cards wasted 2 outs last night on the basepaths. Could have cost them the game.

I was speaking more generally than specifically to the instances in that game; not that I necessarily thought those were bad choices; just lack of results. Fact is if those plays work then no one complains. I think when you have a team that runs; it puts more pressure on the pitcher and on the defense and in the long run gives you more chances to have big innings. Waiting around on base for a bomb or hoping to get three or four singles strung together is a losing philosophy long term. The Cardinals are winning right now because they do employ all of the different things and are winning in multiple ways; be that with the homerun, the hit and run, the excellent pitching, etc.

The Cardinals have scored the 9th most runs, are dead last in steals, and we can count on one hand how many times the hit and run has been successful this season.

Seems to me that the strategy of stringing singles doubles, and walks together is working out just fine.

In fact, I bet the Cards would be top 5 in runs if they didn't take as many chances on the base paths as they have been.

What is working out fine is 2 out hitting that almost surely will not continue at the rate that it has.

True.....and if the Cards struggle to score runs at that point, than the solution isn't "lets steal more, lets hit and run more, and lets bunt more". That would be compounding the problem.

The solution at that point would be: "Can the Cards upgrade from Kozma and Jay?"

[CardsofSTL]

I'm just glad that the Cardinals are doing well enough that all we have to complain about is the way they are winning ballgames.

[jim]

Bill James has a "Runners Moving with the pitch" count for teams, but he doesn't explain what that means. That sounds like he's talking about hit and runs. He has 144 for Matheny, with Bochy leading the NL at 176 and Gonzalez the lowest at 116. Matheny was 11th among NL managers. In the AL Scioscia was moving the runner 236 times, with Manny Acta of Cleveland the lowest at 135.