MLB uses Mets slugger in creative video to introduce bigger bases
Thanks to the new pitch clock rules and the introduction of larger bases, Major League Baseball is anticipating a significant rise in stolen bags during the 2023 season. So much so that New York Mets slugger Daniel Vogelbach might even get an opportunity to steal a base for the first time in his career.
At least, that was the pitch for this clever—and funny—video from the league on Thursday to introduce the larger bases.
This is good stuff from the league, Vogelbach and Mets manager Buck Showalter to all go along with this.
Vogelbach, known for being a power-hitting left fielder that is not exactly the most fleet of foot, has not only never stolen a base in his Major League career, but has never even attempted to steal a base in the big leagues (he did, however, attempt 27 in the minor leagues and succeeded on 15 of those attempts!).
The idea behind the larger bases is to not only reduce injuries on collisions around the bags, but to also help improve offense by having more base runners be safe and to perhaps increase more stolen bases, which do bring a certain level of excitement to games.
They were introduced at two different levels of the minor leagues in 2022 and did see a small increase in the number of steals, with one league seeing a small 0.7 percent increase, while the other saw a slightly more significant 2.2 percent increase.
Stolen bases reached their peak in baseball around the 1980s and 1990s, but they have gradually reduced in popularity in the years since due to the risk-reward aspect of getting caught, injury concerns and a larger focus on keeping people on base and playing for the three-run home run.
Bigger bases and the pitch clock rules that will reduce the number of pick-off attempts might help get those numbers back up in future seasons.
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