Post by Fish Troll on Feb 21, 2007 21:56:49 GMT -5
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets ran away with the National League East championship last season at least partially by outrunning their opponents. They led the league in stolen bases, by a wide margin, as they had in 2005, the first year Willie Randolph managed the team.
It was another aspect of Randolph changing the "culture" of the Mets. No Mets team had led the league in steals in the first 43 years of the franchise.
Randolph not only has had them running more, he'd like to accelerate the offense even more this year. Consistent with the manager's wishes is the desire of Carlos Beltran to be more the accomplished basestealer that he was before he joined the Mets.
Beltran stole 149 bases in the four seasons before he moved to the Mets. He has stolen 35 in his two seasons with them. Now, he'd like get to 35 this season alone -- injuries and game situations permitting.
Tendinitis in his left knee that developed immediately following the All-Star break and a bruised right knee suffered in early September restricted him last season, as did Randolph's urging not to risk aggravating existing problems with his legs. Beltran stole four times in four attempts in his final 57 games.
But it's February and his legs feel good, so like so many players this time of year, Beltran is talking about running more.
"I've felt like that's probably one of the only things that's really been missing from his game since he's been here," Randolph said Monday. "That's another dimension that's going to make us even better. I think he can steal 40 bases, 50 bases, easy. I say 'easy' if he's feeling right.
"He might be able to steal more bases than Jose [Reyes]. I really believe that. You look at the way he steals bases, the ease and the jumps he gets. He's a smart baserunner."
"I'm not sure about getting more than Jose, the way he runs," Beltran said.
Reyes stole 60 and 64, respectively, the last two seasons, leading the league each time. He wants the club record -- Roger Cedeno stole 66 in 1999 -- though he has backed off pursuing 80 steals, the number he set out to achieve in 2005.
Beltran would have to run significantly more often and Reyes about as much as he has the last two years for the tandem to approach the 103 steals Cedeno and Rickey Henderson amassed in 1999, the most in one season by two Mets.
Beltran has been successful on 87.6 percent of his career stolen-base attempts, the highest percentage in Major League history among players with at least 200 steals. He was thrown out three times in 21 attempts last season.
"I'd rather steal 20 to 25 and not get thrown out," he says, "than steal 45 and get thrown out 20 times."
Beltran and Reyes won't be alone in stealing bases, of course. David Wright has more steals, 37, than Beltran the last two seasons. And he thinks he will run more this year, too.
"With Moises [Alou, a right-handed hitter] and not Cliff [Floyd, a left-handed hitter] behind me, I won't be [staying on first and] trying to keep the right side open, so I'll be able to run more," Wright said. "So maybe I'll run more. I'm not sure that will translate to more steals, but I'd love to get to 30."
And catcher Paul Lo Duca -- he characterizes his speed as "closet wheels" -- says he might be good for five to eight steals.
"But I've got Carlos [Beltran] and Carlos [Delgado] coming behind me, and I want to keep the right side open. If they batted right-handed, I'd probably run a lot more and get, what, nine?"
It was another aspect of Randolph changing the "culture" of the Mets. No Mets team had led the league in steals in the first 43 years of the franchise.
Randolph not only has had them running more, he'd like to accelerate the offense even more this year. Consistent with the manager's wishes is the desire of Carlos Beltran to be more the accomplished basestealer that he was before he joined the Mets.
Beltran stole 149 bases in the four seasons before he moved to the Mets. He has stolen 35 in his two seasons with them. Now, he'd like get to 35 this season alone -- injuries and game situations permitting.
Tendinitis in his left knee that developed immediately following the All-Star break and a bruised right knee suffered in early September restricted him last season, as did Randolph's urging not to risk aggravating existing problems with his legs. Beltran stole four times in four attempts in his final 57 games.
But it's February and his legs feel good, so like so many players this time of year, Beltran is talking about running more.
"I've felt like that's probably one of the only things that's really been missing from his game since he's been here," Randolph said Monday. "That's another dimension that's going to make us even better. I think he can steal 40 bases, 50 bases, easy. I say 'easy' if he's feeling right.
"He might be able to steal more bases than Jose [Reyes]. I really believe that. You look at the way he steals bases, the ease and the jumps he gets. He's a smart baserunner."
"I'm not sure about getting more than Jose, the way he runs," Beltran said.
Reyes stole 60 and 64, respectively, the last two seasons, leading the league each time. He wants the club record -- Roger Cedeno stole 66 in 1999 -- though he has backed off pursuing 80 steals, the number he set out to achieve in 2005.
Beltran would have to run significantly more often and Reyes about as much as he has the last two years for the tandem to approach the 103 steals Cedeno and Rickey Henderson amassed in 1999, the most in one season by two Mets.
Beltran has been successful on 87.6 percent of his career stolen-base attempts, the highest percentage in Major League history among players with at least 200 steals. He was thrown out three times in 21 attempts last season.
"I'd rather steal 20 to 25 and not get thrown out," he says, "than steal 45 and get thrown out 20 times."
Beltran and Reyes won't be alone in stealing bases, of course. David Wright has more steals, 37, than Beltran the last two seasons. And he thinks he will run more this year, too.
"With Moises [Alou, a right-handed hitter] and not Cliff [Floyd, a left-handed hitter] behind me, I won't be [staying on first and] trying to keep the right side open, so I'll be able to run more," Wright said. "So maybe I'll run more. I'm not sure that will translate to more steals, but I'd love to get to 30."
And catcher Paul Lo Duca -- he characterizes his speed as "closet wheels" -- says he might be good for five to eight steals.
"But I've got Carlos [Beltran] and Carlos [Delgado] coming behind me, and I want to keep the right side open. If they batted right-handed, I'd probably run a lot more and get, what, nine?"
