Schafer becoming base-stealing threat for Astros

For all that's been made of how Jordan Schafer fits into the Astros' new patience profile of higher walk and strikeout totals, there's another element of the game that he adds to a team with little. In replacing Michael Bourn, whom he was traded for, Schafer provides one of the few significant base-stealing threats on the roster. Through the Astros' 1-0 victory Friday, Schafer maintains a pace for 56 steals and 20 times caught, putting him roughly at the threshold of success that must be maintained to make it a worthwhile endeavor at all. His career numbers of 35 steals and nine times caught are far greater than his ratio of 87:50 in the minors, when he was really struggling with the art despite great speed. "I never felt comfortable stealing bases (in the minors)," Schafer said. "I still have some stuff I need to work on, but I feel very comfortable doing it now." Schafer gives plenty of credit for those who have helped him ...