Stolen Base Stuff and Junk

[DOUGHBOYS]

Paul Goldschmidt has reached base via hit or walk 50 times in June.
He's hit .380 with 10 home runs.
His owners are happy that he is hitting like the player they drafted.
Still, there is something missing.
Goldschmidt has not stolen a base in June. The stolen bases are what set Goldschmidt apart from highly drafted first basemen like Rizzo, Freeman, and Votto.
It's not surprising.
Goldschmidt has average speed. He is an opportunity base runner. His mind needs to be on stealing a base when reaching. Goldy has had a lot more to think about this season. When he was 'regular' Paul Goldschmidt in April, he stole two bases.
Slumping Goldy in May never stole a base.
Same for June with his hot streak.
When Goldy goes back to 'regular' Paul Goldschmidt, he'll again steal bases.
His owners, however, are gypped out of two months of thievery.

Stolen bases are not the same this year.
Usually, we have 'the usual suspects' leading the pack. IE Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon.
We're close to the middle of the season and neither leads baseball in steals.
Michael Taylor is the current leader with just 23 thefts.
This means that no player is on a 50-steal pace.
Mike Trout is the last player to have led baseball in steals while not stealing 50 bases, He stole 49 in 2012.
For 2019 drafts, this could mark the end of drafting the one tool player such as Billy Hamilton.
Hamilton has stolen just 15 bases this year.
More alarming for Hamilton is that when reaching base, he is not running as much.
In the past, his percentage to hits to stealing was 41 per cent.
This year, that percentage is 30 per cent.
It seems to be a lower per cent that is permeating baseball. The stolen base has taken a back seat to launch angles.
Why risk an out on the bases when the next fellow could hit a home run?
The mindset today, is that it is ok for Joey Gallo to hit homers and bat under the Mendoza line. For Hamilton, it is not ok.
It is, indeed, a different game today.

Monthly totals make for strange player bedfellows.
Manny Machado has three homers and three stolen bases in June.
So does Jackie Bradley Jr.
So does Charlie Culberson.
So does Rafael Devers.
Speedster Manny Margot leads the month getting caught stealing.
Margot has been caught four times and been successful....zero.
Michael Taylor has attempted 13 stolen bases in June. No other player has attempted more than eight eight.
Yep, that would only be two attempts a week.