D-backs must ‘be smarter’ on the basepaths
May 29, 2012, 9:50 PM | Updated: 11:09 pm
If you’re tired of seeing Diamondbacks runners getting
caught stealing, get in line.
Nineteen times has a D-back been caught stealing, tops in
the National League. However, the team has stolen 37 bases
— third most in the NL — so there is something to be
said for the aggressive approach.
“It’s our responsibility not to make mistakes on the bases
like we have,” manager Kirk Gibson told Arizona Sports
620’s Burns and Gambo Tuesdy.
The Diamondbacks have been making far too many mistakes,
as this weekend alone saw Gerardo Parra get cut down on
the basepaths twice Saturday, Willie Bloomquist twice and
Ryan Roberts once Sunday, and Chris Young was caught
stealing Monday.
In other words, a team that has had trouble scoring is
costing itself chances at doing just that. Gibson
attributes much of issues to guys trying to do too much,
but acknowledges something has to change.
“We’ve been on a bad string here as of late,” Gibson said,
noting the team’s stolen base percentage. “We just have to
be much smarter with when we go and how we go.”
Sounds reasonable, though if the team continues to
struggle something may have to change.
