Cutch on the Bases

[magnumo]

There's a tidbit at the bottom of this article, stating that Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-7 in stolen base attempts since June 19.

If necessary, Clement willing to catch for Bucs | pirates.com: News

How can that be? How can a guy with his speed be so unsuccessful as a base-stealer? This is a serious question..... I rarely see the Pirates in person or on TV, so I don't have eyeball evidence of my own.

 

[thecrow124]

Because it takes him a long time to get to top speed. Good base stealers typically have a great first step and get to top speed within a step or 2. McCutchen has a horribly slow first step and takes 4-5 steps to reach top speed.
Not to get too technical about the physics of running, but Clutch is a heel striker, which puts his weight back on take-off. While it means little to ones top speed, it makes for a very slow start.

 

[sychmd]

i dont think he ever slides head first, so he is usually slowing down as he gets to the bag, and then slides in the slowest way as opposed to accelerating into his slide and sliding the most efficient way.
head first also allows you the most flexibility in getting under or around a tag on a close play.
how is his lead, i never see that part of his game.
lastly, i think it has to be some part intellectual. something isnt clicking. whether it is recognition of delivery to home or slow at picking up certain cues and markers to get going ..... ?

 

[Darkstone42]

Cutch's leads always look small to me, and as Crow has indicated, he does accelerate slowly.

As for sliding feet-first, I don't understand why he and Tabata always seem to do that. There have been multiple occasions on which both of them have slid feet-first where a head-first slide would have been more effective. Of course, head-first is also a little more dangerous in terms of getting hand or wrist injuries, so perhaps that is on their minds.

 

[magnumo]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I appreciate your comments.

 

[element1286]

He runs at very obvious times as well, you can predict when he is going to run fairly easily. Also, I'd rather they slide headfirst, it isn't worth the wear and tear on the wrists/hands to slide headfirst for such a miniscule gain as a stolen base.