The Colorado Rockies and the base paths for the past few years have gotten along as well as a couple post-shotgun-wedding. Over the course of the Walt Weiss era, it’s almost a disservice to the word atrocious to say that the team was atrocious at base running. One of Bud Black‘s main focuses has been improving the run game.
It’s not just Black that wanted to see an uptick in this area of the game which has held the club back. Since Jeff Bridich took the helm it’s clear that one of his goals has been to make Denver’s franchise an athletic and versatile one.
Aside from Black, Colorado’s coaching staff has been revamped as a whole. Out went Eric Young, largely in charge of the base running and in are Tony Diaz at first base coach, Mike Redmond as bench coach while Duane Espy and Jeff Salazar round out the offensive side of the staff.
“Being able to apply pressure with power, average and good base running that’s dangerous,” Black said. “We have the first two, but if we can get an aggressive team, that is very distributing and that’s what we want. (Charlie) Blackmon, (Trevor) Story, (David) Dahl, CarGo have good speed, DJ (LeMahieu) and Nolan (Arenado) are good base runners.”
The already existing nucleus of players, the added Ian Desmond and Alexi Amarista will provide more speed than most think. A main reason the Rockies didn’t take extra bases in the past was philosophy.
“There is a component of when to run and who to run,” Black described. “I think there is an offensive philosophy that you would like to have in place where you are able to apply pressure on the opponent in a number of different ways, not only in the batter’s box but on the bases. Base stealing, or the ability to stretch out bases and pressure opponent’s defense, it’s important.”
Factoring in full seasons from Dahl and Story and fully healthy, leash-off Blackmon, the team has the potential to jump from the bottom ten in base running to the top ten.
“It’s not so much about the stolen base, it’s about how we run the bases,” Black said. “That’s what I want and that’s what our guys want as well. Charlie two years ago stole 40 plus bases and last year he was down, we’d like to think he could increase that.”
While it’s cliche for your leadoff hitter to snag 40 bags, it’s unique to say the least to have a catcher that you’d consider a threat on base.
“Tony Wolters is aggressive, he still thinks he’s Dave Roberts, both of them being from Rancho Buena Vista High school.”
Wolters has already had a few attempts in spring. He only had five last year, but he — a former middle infielder — is built perfectly to get out and run a little bit.
“I know from the other side, Rickey Henderson was a different animal, Marquis Grissom, Otis Nixon, those guys were true base stealers,” Black recalled when he pitched in the bigs. “But the sneaky fast guys, with good big leads that bothers you, opposed to a guy with a two-foot lead, great you can pick your leg up and pick your pitches, you have to leadoff well.”
In the past the Rockies have gotten out and run, in fact, the Blake Street Bombers are the only team in MLB history to steal 200 bags in a year and sock 200 dingers. When Black was asked if he would like that out of his team, he responded, “how about that, that’s what I’m talking about.”
