The Blue Jays are enamoured with the delayed steal

[Molitor]

So I saw the Jays run another delayed steal attempt and it makes me want to roundhouse kick the collective organization in the head.

 

Whether that's justified or not, I don't know. I have no stats to back this up; I can't find any. I do know that so far in 2013, major league teams have been successful stealing bases 73% of the time. The Jays specifically are over 77%. I don't see how the delayed steal has any chance at improving on these numbers.

 

First: I get that it's sneaky and it supposedly catches the SS and 2B off-guard. But how often really? 80% of the time? 70%? 60%? From anecdotal evidence from watching lots of baseball over the years, it doesn't feel any more effective than just a regular straight steal where you get a proper head start.

 

Second: The delayed steal inevitably loses effectiveness the more times you use it and the Blue Jays seem to use it way, way more frequently than any other team I've seen. Granted, I mainly watch Jays games, but I would expect to at least see their opponents use it once in a while. Again anecdotal, but it's not just this year either. I recall being pissed off at other times over the last 5-10 years. Not sure if this is a Gibbons thing or an organizational philosophy or what.

 

 

If they MUST do it, they really have to pick their spots better. If Bonifacio or Davis are on first base and everyone in the universe is expected them to take off... probably not a good spot! They should just let those guys use their natural speed since they're both above average career base stealer's anyway. If they MUST do it, the team needs to limit the overall attempts to only a small handful per season, and when it seems really probable that the middle infielders are zoning out (i.e. not called from the bench, and when a smart, veteran base runner is on base). I think teams and players remember this stuff when they fall victim to it, it's just human nature to not want to look foolish again. Hell, I still remember playing shortstop as a kid 20 years ago and getting burned on the old base-on-balls-straight-to-second-base trick because I wasn't paying attention.

 

 

But oh, oh, oh, when it works the television and radio guys oooh and aweee and gush with enthusiasm at the clever little league hijinks and tomfoolery that the Jays just got away with. Is this actually an effective play in major league baseball? I think the Jays need to retire it.

[Arkadium]

Good post OP... honestly somebody needed to start a thread about it because it's getting ridiculous. But it's mainly Boni... I think I've seen him fail 3 times in a row with the delayed steal after being successful 2 times in a row previously.

[Frenchsoup]

Davis can usually do it effectively. It's a move that only works in the right circumstances. You have to establish that the catcher is lollygagging it back to the pitcher, and that the fielders aren't paying much attention either.

 

It seems like Boni just does it whenever he wants, which is the problem.

 

 

Bonis probably only done it 3-4 times this year and think he was successful in all the attempts except for tonight.

[Arkadium]

Bonis probably only done it 3-4 times this year and think he was successful in all the attempts except for tonight.

 

Neg.

[Arkadium]

When I saw the thumbs down in the title I thought the OP was you and that you were complimenting yourself.

 

Uh ok...