The Los Angeles Dodgers were many things last season. Experts on the basepaths was not one of them. In effort to address their weakness, the Dodgers hired Ron Roenicke as third base coach last August, and reassigned Lorenzo Bundy, whom Roenicke replaced, to being in charge of outfield defense.
While there was improvement during the second half of the 2015 season, there was still plenty to be desired. With the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hiring Roenicke last November to coach third base, the Dodgers were left to fill a void.
One step in the right direction came in the Dodgers’ decision to hire Dave Roberts as manager. Roberts swiped 243 bags over the course of a 10-year Major League career, with none more important than his stolen base in Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series.
Roberts and his coaching staff have brought a renewed focus to and emphasis on baserunning, aided during Spring Training by Dodgers legend Maury Wills. Yasiel Puig has often been at the center of questionable decisions on the basepaths, but has thus far turned a new leaf under Roberts.
Puig’s instincts and aggressive baserunning were on full display in the seventh inning on Sunday night as he scored from second base on Yasmani Grandal’s infield single. Prior to scoring, Puig stole second base during Grandal’s at-bat.
Earlier in the week, Puig legged out a hustle double against the Arizona Diamondbacks, needing a crafty slide to avoid being tagged. He has his manager’s support in pushing the envelope.
“Right now, all the times he’s taken an extra base or tried to steal a base, it’s a good baseball play,” Roberts said after Sunday’s win. “Tonight he sparked us for an insurance run, and Yasmani was able to take the extra base. This whole season we’ve done that, and I think baserunning is contagious.”
Grandal called Puig’s decision an “aggressive play” and acknowledged he benefitted from it by advancing to second base on Brandon Crawford’s throw home. Grandal also believes more of the same would suit the Dodgers well. “It was a heads-up play and I think that’s how we should keep on playing,” he said.
Roberts, who previously called managing Puig a “joy,” said he’s discussed baserunning with the dynamic outfielder and the entire roster, stressing the importance of not giving outs away. “It just speaks to playing team baseball,” Roberts said.
