The Baltimore Orioles took advantage of new rules affecting the way pitchers work.
The Maryland squad stole 10 bases in its first two games of the season — five in each — to become the first team since 1901 to do so.
The new rules state that pitchers only have 20 seconds between each pitch when there are runners on the bases. What’s more, pitchers can only attempt two off-foot strikes per batter. From the third, if the runner is not out, then they commit an illegal fake.
A big hint of what we could see this season came in the Orioles’ 10-9 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. Adam Fazier, who stole 41 bases in the first seven seasons of his career, had such a good start on his second steal it was comical.
The Orioles already have Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins as the American’s top two stealers in 2022. Both players have committed seven thefts in three games so far. If players like Frazier also get involved, we won’t know where to turn.
Still, the Orioles finished midfield with 95 stolen bases last season. The Texas Rangers led the Majors with 128. If the early days of the campaign are any indication, it will take a lot more than that to finish at the top in 2023. Eleven teams have a one-goal average so far. stolen per game.
Teams maintained an 83.3% save percentage, up from 75.4% last year, and there were 84 steal attempts in 50 games, an average of 1.68 per game. This is a 24% increase from last year’s average (1.36) and correlates with the 26% increase seen in the minor leagues from 2019 to 2022 as the new rules were implemented. tested.
Rookies elsewhere in MLB have taken the opportunity to show off as well. New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who earned his job in training camp, stole a base in each of his three games.
Ditto for St. Louis Cardinals prospect Jordan Walker. The young outfielder hit three singles and a double and stole a base in his first three starts.
Only two teams have stolen more than 300 bases in a season since 1920: the 1976 Oakland Athletics (341) and the 1985 Cards (314). Will we see a first in 38 years this season?