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May 16, 2008

Ellsbury on First, Second Base Open

During a recent game thread, a question arose: How many times has Jacoby Ellsbury reached first base with second base open and then attempted to steal?

Looking through my scorecards, I found 23 occasions so far this season (0412 = April 12, etc.):
Game 12 0412 - Leadoff single in 1st, 0-0;
SB on 2nd pitch to Pedroia

Game 13 0413 - Leadoff walk in 1st, 0-0,
SB on 2nd pitch to Pedroia

Game 17 0417 - Leadoff HBP in top 1st,
SB on 1st pitch to Pedroia
HBP in 3rd, 1 out, Sox 1-0,
SB on 1st pitch to Pedroia

Game 20 0420 - Walk in 3rd, 1 out, Tex 2-0,
SB on 2nd pitch to Lowrie
Single in 8th, 2 outs, Tex 5-2,
no attempt

Game 21 0421 - Leadoff walk in 3rd, 0-0,
SB on 1st pitch to Pedroia
Single in 4th, 2 outs, Sox 2-0
SB on 3rd pitch to Pedroia

Game 22 0422 - Single in 8th, 1 out, 6-6,
no attempt

Game 23 0423 - Single in 3rd, Cash on 3B, 0 out,
LAA 3-1, no attempt

Game 24 0424 - Single in 9th, 1 out, LAA 7-3,
no attempt

Game 26 0426 - Leadoff single in top 1st,
no attempt

Game 31 0502 - Single in 4th, 2 outs, Sox 3-0,
SB on 2nd pitch to Pedroia

Game 32 0503 - Leadoff single in 1st, 0-0,
no attempt
Walk in 2nd, 1 out, Sox 3-2,
no attempt, but took 2nd on WP

Game 33 0504 - Leadoff single in 1st, 0-0,
no attempt

Game 36 0507 - FC in 5th, Varitek on 3rd, 1 out,
Det 5-2, SB on 2nd pitch to Lowrie
Leadoff single in 7th, Det 8-5,
SB on 2nd pitch to Lowrie

Game 37 0508 - Leadoff single in 5th, Sox 3-1,
no attempt

Game 38 0509 - FC in 5th, 1 out, Sox 6-5,
SB on 1st pitch to Pedroia
Single in 8th, 2 outs, Sox 6-5,
no attempt

Game 42 0513 - Walk in 8th, 1 out, Bal 5-3,
no attempt

Game 43 0514 - Leadoff single in top 1st,
SB on 1st pitch to Pedroia
Single in 3rd, 1 out, Sox 1-0,
no attempt
In 12 of those 23 situations, Ellsbury has attempted to steal second base -- and he has been successful all 12 times. I have no idea how this rate (52%) compares to other base stealers. ... I should also note that in some of the other 11 situations, stealing would not usually be done.

However, Ellsbury has 15 (not 12) stolen bases so far this year. The other three pilfered bags came as part of double steals, one in Game 20 and two in Game 33.

There were also six times in which the next batter put the first pitch into play, giving Ellsbury no chance to steal:
Game  1 0325 - Leadoff single in 7th; Sox 3-2;
Lugo 1st pitch GIDP

Game 9 0409 - FC in 9th; 2 outs; Det 7-2;
Cora 1st pitch single

Game 12 0412 - Single in 6th; 1 out; NY 2-1;
Pedroia 1st pitch double

Game 36 0507 - Leadoff single in top 1st;
Lowrie 1st pitch GIDP

Game 40 0511 - Leadoff HBP in 3rd; Min 5-0;
Pedroia HBP on 1st pitch

Game 43 0514 - Single in 5th; Van Every on 3B,
2 outs, Sox 2-0, Pedroia 5-3 on
1st pitch to end inning
In summary, when Lyndon has been on first and second is open, he's tried to steal about half of the time. And almost always on the first or second pitch.

Ellsbury is also 24-for-24 in steal attempts to begin his career. The major league record is 27, set by Tim Raines.

8 comments:

  1. now that is an excellent post! Extremely interesting and well done! Would love more posts like these :)

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  2. Montreal's Tim Raines. Score one for America's hat.

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  3. I would be shocked if Ellsbury didn't beat Raines's record.

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  4. I would be shocked if Ellsbury didn't beat Raines's record.

    Let's not go jinxing Lyndon here.

    Thanks for looking that up for us Allan - good stuff.

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  5. I think LBJ will never be caught. Ever.

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  6. Pretty sure the wondering was mine and not Ish's.

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  7. You may be right. I'm too lazy to go back and check. I changed the wording of the post. Sorry.

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  8. Pretty sure the wondering was mine and not Ish's.

    Yeah, Phil brought it up and we all followed up on it, etc etc etc. Good stuff, though. Very interesting.

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