MLB's new rules implemented last season proved to be a success. Games were faster, there was more action, and more bases were stolen than ever. Most teams took advantage of this, except for the Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians have plenty of speedsters on their roster including Myles Straw, Steven Kwan, José Reamírez, and Andrés Giménez just to name a few. However, it still felt like they were leaving a lot on the table.
Kwan made sure to emphasize that this year will be different. Cleveland plans to make grabbing extra bags a focus for the team.
I think last year was kind of like a test trial to see how that all goes," said Kwan. "We've got so much information now. New coaches with new perspectives, they've brought some stuff to us. So yeah, I think we're gonna try to make that a priority."
Cleveland started off the season by stealing a lot of bases, but that trend faded off as the season went by only to pick back up in the fall. It's almost as if the Guardians abandoned a major part of their identity in the middle of the season.
Sticking to this game plan could create a lot of problems for opposing pitchers and catchers.
The Guardians will once again rely on contact and smart base running to score runs. This means that getting runners in scoring positions will be crucial to their overall success. A Cleveland team that is a threat on the base paths will unlock their full potential and Kwan seems to realize this.
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