Austin Jackson stole 27 bases while finishing runner-up in the Rookie of the Year balloting last season and the 24-year-old center field said recently that his goal for 2011 is to swipe 40 bags.
I think it’s just setting a goal to try to reach it, because I think I’m capable of stealing more bags. I think I need to try harder at it. I have speed and that’s a part of my game, and I definitely think that I could use it more on the base paths. It’s really just stealing a bag, maybe getting in scoring position a little more, try to score some more runs. I think it’s a thing you just have to kind of learn. I think it’s a thing I need.
Jason Beck of MLB.com notes that no Tigers player has stolen 30 bases in a season since Jim Leyland took over as manager in 2006, so getting to 40 on a team that generally doesn’t run a ton could be tough. In fact, in 19 seasons as manager Leyland’s teams have had a 40-steal player just three times: Edgar Renteria in 1998 and Barry Bonds in 1990 and 1991.
Looking beyond the Tigers and Leyland’s teams, a total of six players have swiped 40 or more bases in their age-24 season during the past decade: B.J. Upton, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jose Reyes, Carl Crawford, Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo. And prior to going 27-for-33 on the bases as a rookie, Jackson averaged 33 steals per 150 games in the minors.
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- BC - Feb 3, 2011 at 11:32 AM
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I want to steal 40 bases in 2011 as well.
But then again, I’m not in the best shape of my life.
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- trevorb06 - Feb 3, 2011 at 11:34 AM
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I heard Sandoval made a similar goal. He’s going to try to steal 40 cases. Cases of Twinkies.
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- yankeesfanlen - Feb 3, 2011 at 11:51 AM
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This is a trade I don’t think the Yankees should have made. I am satisfied with Granderson, however sometimes we get too experience-happy. Hope we keep Montero.
I know who we can trade!……3 guesses, the first 2 don’t count.It rhymes with Bat Load.
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- uyf1950 - Feb 3, 2011 at 11:58 AM
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Let me guess it’s the first word in “____ the Hut”. BTW Granderson really came on the last 6 weeks of the season. Hopefully that continues in 2011.
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- uyf1950 - Feb 3, 2011 at 11:55 AM
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My friends there is no “I” in team. What ever happened to “let’s make the team a winner”.
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- Ari Collins - Feb 3, 2011 at 11:58 AM
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His goal should be to walk 60 times and hit 60 XBHs. Otherwise all the steals in the world aren’t going to make up for his BABIP falling from .396.
