Reds Making Big Strides On Basepaths

[Ron Madden]

Cincinnati Reds making big strides on basepaths

Before Matt McLain made his major league debut at Coors Field on Monday, Cincinnati Reds Manager David Bell predicted McLain’s baserunning instincts would fit in well with the current roster.

McLain’s first career hit was a hustle double, taking an extra base on a line drive to center field. One batter later, McLain scored from second base on a single into shallow left field, beating a throw to the plate.

“I tell J.R. (House) all the time, he’s the best third-base coach in the league because all he does is send guys home,” said Reds first-base/baserunning coach Collin Cowgill. “I think what’s really been fun to watch and fun to hear, everybody from top to bottom, whoever is in the lineup, they are paying attention to running the bases.”

The Reds have the fourth-fewest home runs in the league (34).

Baserunning, to this point, has been a key ingredient to their offense.

The Reds rate as the seventh-best baserunning team in the majors, according to FanGraphs’ baserunning metric.

The Reds have been below average in stealing bases this season (31 swipes in 44 attempts), but where they excel is taking an extra base on singles and doubles.

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[Ron Madden]

Joel Luckhaupt
@jluckhaupt

Reds have a -35 run differential in innings 1 & 2 combined (worst in baseball) and a +2 run differential in the rest of the game.

[Ron Madden]

Inside the Reds' perfectly executed game plan in the fifth inning vs. the Cubs

Around noon on Sunday, Cincinnati Reds baserunning coach Collin Cowgill went over “base stealing scouting reports” with the Reds’ position players.

Before every game, Cowgill breaks down all the tendencies that a Reds’ base runner could pick up on to steal an extra base.

On Sunday, Cowgill gave the Reds a tip about running against Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smyly.

Then in the fifth inning, Reds shortstop Matt McLain turned that conversation into a game-changing stolen base in the Reds’ 8-5 win that got Cincinnati the series sweep.

The Reds’ two-run fifth inning was the turning point, and the inning was a combination of hustle plays, heads up moments and a perfectly executed game plan.

During the team meeting before Sunday’s game, Cowgill called Smyly a “reader.”

“He’s staring at you,” Reds outfielder TJ Friedl said. “He’s waiting to see what you do, and then you decide what to do. CC’s biggest thing was saying, ‘If you’re going to go, you have to run on his first move. As you go, you got to haul to second base, try to get in a throwing lane, and make them make a perfect throw.’”

Following a single to right field in the fifth inning, McLain saw his chance to execute this play against the left-handed starter. As soon as Smyly lifted his right leg and started his pitching motion, McLain bolted for second base.

Smyly saw McLain out of the corner of his eye, turned his pitch attempt into a pickoff attempt and made a throw to first base that would have easily picked off McLain.

Except McLain was bolting to second base. When Cubs first baseman Trey Mancini tried to catch McLain with a throw to second base, McLain slid in safely ahead of the tag.

“He put the pressure on them,” Bell said. “We have some speed. We really believe that it’s a big part of our game to be aggressive on the bases. Always look to try to advance.

If it doesn’t go perfect, we get thrown out a time or two. We can’t let it take our aggressiveness away.

With the at-bats our guys are having, we’re doing it a lot with singles and doubles, which is great, but it’s worth the risk to try and get into scoring position.”

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