Cardinals on MLB’s longest steal-less streak since 1977

[DaDitka]

Cardinals on MLB’s longest steal-less streak since 1977
Matthew Pouliot Jul 20, 2011, 9:40 AM EDT
8 Comments

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The Cardinals went a 32nd straight game without a stolen base in Tuesday’s loss to the Mets, the longest such streak for a major league team since the 1977 Indians went 35 in a row.

St. Louis opened the season with 35 steals in 64 games. However, eight of those belonged to Tyler Greene, who was sent down on June 18. Three active Cardinals are tied for the team lead with five steals: Jon Jay, Albert Pujols and Colby Rasmus.

Prior to the Cardinals’ run — or lack thereof — the longest steal-less streak for a team since 1980 was 27 games by the 2005 Red Sox. In fact, Boston was responsible for six of the 16 streaks of at least 20 games during the last 30 years.

One big difference between those two streaks, though: the Cardinals are 0-for-9 stealing bases over the 32 games, while the Red Sox were a mere 0-for-2.

If they want to go for it, the Cardinals should be able to snap the skid in one of the next two games in the series against New York. Mets catchers have thrown out just 17 of 87 would-be basestealers (19.5 percent) this season.

[dmiles2186]

Cards teams of the last 10 years or so haven't been known for their wheels. That is awful though. I love a little speed on the base paths. Remember that '05 team that had a bit of speed with Eck, Grudzlaelkadsf, Sanders, Taguchi and they'd pull of hit and runs/suicide squeezes out the wazoo? That was a fun team.

Once we trade for Jose Reyes though*, this stat will go by the wayside.

*not likely to happen

[thedoc]

They have been trying to break that as of late. Just no success at all.

[dmiles2186]

They have been trying to break that as of late. Just no success at all.

Now that they've got Patterson, they've got a legit threat to steal some bases. Not a lot, but some.

[thedoc]

They have been trying to break that as of late. Just no success at all.

Now that they've got Patterson, they've got a legit threat to steal some bases. Not a lot, but some.

He got caught last night

[dmiles2186]

They have been trying to break that as of late. Just no success at all.

Now that they've got Patterson, they've got a legit threat to steal some bases. Not a lot, but some.

He got caught last night

That he did, but when is the last time you've witnessed a Cardinals steal 3rd base and think they actually had a chance? If that throw was anywhere else, Patterson is safe. But the throw was caught right next to Patterson's foot, allowing for an easy tag.

[thedoc]

He also was stealing when you had a lefty at bat. Perhaps he would have made it if a right hand batter had been up. I get the idea of stealing third to set up the squeeze play. I just think it was ill advised timing. IMO.

[cardsfan04]

He also was stealing when you had a lefty at bat. Perhaps he would have made it if a right hand batter had been up. I get the idea of stealing third to set up the squeeze play. I just think it was ill advised timing. IMO.

I strongly disagree. It doesn't just set up the squeeze play. It sets up a sac fly or a passed ball/WP or a ground ball to 2B. He pretty much scores on anything if the batter puts it in play, doesn't pop up on the IF, and doesn't ground out to 3B/SS. Additionally, I believe the pitcher was on deck, which significantly decrease the chances of scoring.

IMO, it was just bad luck. Good timing, good jump, better throw. Sure, a lefty at bat makes it tougher to steal third, but not so much so that it outweighs the increase in scoring chance w/ the pitcher on deck.

EDIT: It might have been the pitcher at bat, not 100% sure. But, the same logic applies IMO, if not moreso.