| The Need for Speed |
|
|
|
We’ve reached the half way mark, and we are seeing amazing results on the base paths. Willy Taveras has already set a career high, guys like Ichiro are on pace for new career highs, and guys who were drafted for steals, like Jose Reyes and Carl Crawford, don’t find themselves at the top of the leader board. Here are the top 20 stolen base options, according to AccuScore forecasts for the remainder of the season, along with five teams who have trouble stopping players on the base paths. The Top 20 1. Willy Taveras (39 SB) – This is a career year for Taveras on the base paths. Halfway through the season he has already topped his career high. In the last two weeks he has 14 steals. Even without his five steal game, that’s still an impressive number. He’s a stud if he can keep his average up, and AccuScore predicts that to be .283 for the remainder of the season. 2. Michael Bourn (39 SB) – Bourn has been slowing down, with just four steals in the past two weeks, despite a .271 average. Part of that was due to Bourn being removed from the leadoff spot. He is now back hitting leadoff, which means his numbers should return to normal. 3. Jacoby Ellsbury (36 SB) – Ellsbury recorded 34 steals in the first half with five homers and a .276 average. Of the top three guys so far, he’s the one I would want on my team, simply because he brings more to the table than just steals. AccuScore projects a .285 average with six homers for the remainder of the season. 4. Juan Pierre (36 SB) – Pierre has stepped up to secure a starting spot in the Dodgers outfield, and has been lighting up the base paths in the process. He’s simply an average and stolen base guy, and AccuScore projects a .294 average the rest of the way. 5. Jose Reyes (34 SB) – I’m really not a fan of Jose Reyes. AccuScore projects he will finish with 60 steals and 15 homers. I could have gotten more homers from Hanley Ramirez, and I could have gotten the steals cheaper from any of the four guys listed above. This is the prime example of why I never draft a speed guy with a high pick. 6. Chone Figgins (28 SB) – Figgins has only three stolen bases since returning from a hamstring injury. He may be healthy enough to play, but is he healthy enough to be effective on the base paths? He has two steals in his last three games, and a great .333 average since returning, so I’m not totally ruling out 28 bags over the remainder of the year. 7. Carl Crawford (25 SB) – AccuScore projects six homers and 25 steals for the remainder of the season. I’d rather have Ellsbury, or even Juan Pierre if I’m looking for steals. Both come cheaper because you don’t have to pay for the name value, and both are projected to steal more bases. 8. Ichiro Suzuki (25 SB) – Ichiro is projected by AccuScore to top his career best 56 steals, set in 2001. However, his average has never been lower than .303, and currently sits at .287. He’s projected to hit at a .315 rate the remainder of the season, which will only help to secure those final 25 bases. 9. Brian Roberts (24 SB) – Roberts has just three steals in the past two weeks, despite a .320 average. This is only speculation, but with the trade rumors that surround Roberts, is it possible that the Orioles will be cautious with him on the base paths, thus limiting his value? 10. Hanley Ramirez (24 SB) – You could go for Reyes, who is projected for ten more steals and a .298 average, or you could go for Han-Ram, who is projected for ten more homers and a .320 average in AccuScore simulations. Looking at some of the cheap options on this list, you can easily make up those 10 steals. 11. Shane Victorino (24 SB) – Victorino has been up and down this season, and the last two weeks have been a down time, hitting just .188 with four steals. Still, that pace is enough to reach 24 steals over the remainder of the season, but don’t expect the high average to come along with those steals. AccuScore simulations have him batting .279 over that stretch. 12. Jimmy Rollins (22 SB) – I would say that you can still buy low on Rollins, since he is far from his 30/30 expectations. AccuScore projects 12 homers, 22 steals, and a .293 average over the remainder of the season. 13. Joey Gathright (20 SB) – He’s the only guy on this list that you can find on the waiver wire. Gathright has faded with just one steal in the last two weeks, and has been dealing with some soreness during that stretch. I don’t want to speculate on any specific injuries, but I’m willing to guess that could be a cause for the lack of steals. 14. B.J. Upton (20 SB) – Upton has already matched his total in steals from last season, but is far from being the 30/30 threat everyone thought he would be, with just five homers so far. AccuScore simulations have Upton going 10/20 with a .292 average over the remainder of the season. 15. Eric Byrnes (18 SB) – Byrnes has been a big bust following a career year last season, but for those of you who have stuck with him this long, you may get some production to salvage your high draft pick. AccuScore simulations have Byrnes hitting 10 homers with 18 steals and a .266 average over the remainder of the season. 16. Kaz Matsui (18 SB) – Matsui is a poor man’s Brian Roberts when healthy, although a groin injury could slow him down. AccuScore projects 18 steals and a .292 average over the remainder of the season, but that could change if his injury is serious. 17. Carlos Gomez (18 SB) – Gomez has hit the wall, with a .228 average and one steal in the last two weeks. He’s a better stolen base option in keeper leagues for teams that are looking for production next year. AccuScore projects 18 steals and a .262 average for the remainder of the season. 18. Ryan Theriot (17 SB) – Theriot is having a nice season, with a .310 average and 13 steals, plus 43 runs thanks to his spot in the Cubs lineup. AccuScore projects he will finish with 30 steals, hitting at a .310 rate the rest of the way. 19. Rickie Weeks (17 SB) – In his first two games back Weeks is 3 for 7 with a stolen base. Last year Weeks hit 11 homers with 16 steals after the break. AccuScore simulations have him going 11/17 for the rest of the season, but the average is still low at .237. 20. Grady Sizemore (17 SB) – Sizemore is the Indians offense this year, and don’t expect that to change over the remainder of the season. AccuScore simulations have him batting .275 with 15 homers and 17 steals. Teams who can’t stop the speedsters 1. San Diego – 100 steals allowed, 15 runners caught. 2. Chicago White Sox – 72 steals allowed, 15 runners caught. 3. Washington – 63 steals allowed, 14 runners caught. 4. Baltimore – 69 steals allowed, 21 runners caught. 5. Colorado – 56 steals allowed, 15 runners caught. Trackback(0)
Comments (4)
twilliams
said:
|
|||||||||
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed |
Because I can get the steals cheaper later in the draft, and I can get more homers and a better average from Hanley or Rollins. |
reyesrocks
said:
 |
reyes rocks how can u not be a fan of him loser |
yourintheclub101
said:
|
Hi Tim. I'm having a hard time choosing who to keep, milton bradley or jose guillen. |
CouldntDoItWithoutMe
said:
|
Which do you think is the best 2nd basemen to have...orlando hudson, placido polanco, mark ellis, or javy lopez. i have hudson right now, but im considering dropping him for polanco, but ellis and lopez are also considerable. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|