Notes and quotes on the Nationals’ running game in 2024 + more…
Dylan Crews talked shortly after he got the call to make his MLB debut about how the big league club in D.C.’s approach to the running game really fit with the way he plays.
“I think this organization definitely fits into my approach as far as aggressiveness,” the 2023 1st Round pick explained.
“We’re an aggressive team. We want to steal bases, turn a single into a double, whatever it is. I think it’s awesome to see how it transitions into my game.”
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Crews stole 12 in 15 attempts in 31 games in the majors, after stealing 29 in 40 attempts on his way up through the minors.
Washington’s rookie outfielder was one of 23 different Nationals with at least one SB on the year, “… the most in MLB … and the most since the 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates also had 23,” the club noted in their 2024 Season in Review.
Andres Chaparro, acquired in a deadline deal with the D-Backs, became the 23rd player to steal a base for the Nationals, his only successful attempt of the season after the 25-year-old infielder was caught trying to swipe one a month earlier.
It was Chaparro’s 31st attempt to steal a base in eight seasons as a pro, and his 20th successful attempt, but apparently the aggressive approach on the bases in D.C. was contagious. Chaparro was really eager to contribute to the team total.
“I guess Chappy was over there telling [first-base coach Gerardo] Parra, ‘Can I go? Can I go? Can I go?’ right from the first pitch,” Martinez told reporters, as quoted by MLB.com reporter Jessica Camerato after Chaparro’s lone stolen base on the year.
“Parra says, ‘Stay right here until you see the sign.’ I like that, but we’ve got to be smart about it.”
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Washington’s 223 stolen bases as a club led the majors.
They also led the majors with 73 total would-be base-stealers thrown out.
“Now the next step,” Martinez said, “… is to understand when to steal bases, the opportunity that arises, to be ready all the time. I know they’re ready, but picking opportunities where it’s beneficial to us, not just getting over there and run just to run. These are the things that they’ve got to learn. They’re young and they’re eager, they want to go. Everybody wants to steal.”
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A focus on the running game was the plan from the start last season, Martinez noted, recognizing what sort of roster he had and acknowledging the need to create opportunities to score runs rather than wait for big hits/home runs.
“I said this from the beginning, we’ve got to create different things,” Martinez said.
“This year, stealing bases was very, very important for us. Running the bases well was very important to us. We’ve had our flaws, but I think overall we’ve done a better job with that.”