Rodriguez Keeps M’S On The Run
The question was simple enough - how many bases could Alex Rodriguez steal in a season if he were given the green light every time he reached base? - and the Seattle Mariners shortstop thought about it for a minute.
“Probably 50,” he said. “That’s running when you need a run, not just running every chance you get. I pick my spots. Stealing bases beats you up.”
Wednesday, Rodriguez swiped two more bases, his 27th and 28th of the year. And the irony is, since dropping in the batting order from second to fifth, he’s been running more often.
“Hitting ahead of (Ken Griffey) Junior, we didn’t run him much for two reasons,” manager Lou Piniella said. “First, we like leaving that hole on the right side of the infield with Junior up and a runner at first base. And second, if Alex steals second, they take the bat out of Junior’s hands.”
If Rodriguez gets on base while batting fifth, his presence might mean more fastballs to No. 6 hitter Jay Buhner because pitchers are aware he’s been running more.
Still, Rodriguez won’t run wild.
“It takes a toll, especially on a middle infielder who is diving a lot, defensively, anyway,” coach Lee Elia said “Once you’re known for running, a pitcher may throw over to first base three, four times on you. You’re diving back into the bag. You’re sliding hard into second or third when you go - Alex slides headfirst - and your body takes a beating.
“Normal wear and tear over a 162-game season, with 30 more games in spring training, wears everybody down,” Elia added. “Stealing bases beats you up more than most people realize.”
“Alex is more a middle-of-the-lineup hitter than a No. 2 hitter,” Piniella said. “He’s a run producer, and having speed in the middle of the lineup gives you more options. He’ll run more hitting fifth for us than he ever did batting second.”
Does Piniella envision his shortstop stealing 50 bases?
“Make it 40,” Piniella said. “His body takes enough of a pounding as it is.”
Notes
Boston rookie Nomar Garciaparra extended his hitting streak to 29 games with a first-inning single - the third game in a row he’d collected a hit against Seattle in his first at-bat. … Griffey has been intentionally walked 22 times this season, more than the entire rosters of either Oakland or Toronto.
Coming up
Seattle returns to a National League ballpark tonight for a 6:05 PST game against the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field.
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