June 6th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka The date was May 24,2016. During Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ pregame media briefing, I asked him a very direct question – one that I myself had been asked many times by frustrated Dodger fans:
“Are you planning to do anything about the fact that your team is last in the National League and next to last in the MLB in stolen bases?”
I was surprised by Roberts’ answer – a guy who himself was known for his outstanding base running skills as a player.
“No,” answered that Dodgers skipper bluntly. “I think that we can do a better job as far as our stolen base percentage but we’re just not wired to steal a bunch of bases. We can pick our spots but I think then you start trying to force things and it just doesn’t make sense for our roster construction.”
But that was then and this is now.
Since then – a mere 14 days ago – the Dodgers have stolen nine bases; three by Trayce Thompson, three by Howie Kendrick, two by Joc Pederson and one by Justin Turner. In a matter of two weeks the Dodgers have nearly doubled their number of stolen bases and have jumped to eighth in the NL and 20th in the MLB in this extremely important offensive category – just like that. And during that time, only two would-be Dodger base stealers have been caught; Yasmani Grandal and Chase Utley, and both of those were on failed hit and run attempts.
Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson scored easily from first base on Adrian Gonzalez’s two-out double in the first inning of Sunday afternoon’s 12-6 pounding of the Atlanta Braves.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Why the sudden ‘re-wiring’ of the Dodgers running game that not only has them stealing more bases but also taking extra bases on base hits? Here’s what Roberts had to say after Sunday’s 12-6 shellacking of the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium when I asked him that very question.
“I think that the base coaches are doing a great job pushing the envelope and trying to get that mindset, but ultimately it comes down to the players’ buy-in,” said Roberts. “We talk about playing the game the right way and that’s a part of it … when you’re on the base creating opportunity for the next guy, the guy on-deck, the guy that’s going to come up to bat.
“We see Howie went first to third, Kiké takes the extra base [turning a single into a double] and those things that spark an offense and provide that energy,” Roberts added.
Howie Kendrick went from first to third on a Joc Pederson single to short right field in the third inning on Sunday afternoon. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Without question, the guy creating the biggest spark and most of the energy is 25-year-old Trayce Thompson, who is now tied for second on the team in stolen bases with Yasiel Puig at four; one behind Howie Kendrick. But all of Thompson’s base thievery has occurred since May 23 and there is every reason to believe that the L.A. native will soon take over the team lead in stolen bases within the next couple of games. And though 24-year-old Joc Pederson has only three stolen bases on the season and NL Rookie of the Year-hopeful Corey Seager only one, you can bet that these three young guns – who SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo affectionately calls “PeagerSon” – will be pushing each other on the basepaths, just as they are with their respective bats.
For the second time in three days, Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager had a multi-home run game on Sunday. He leads the team in batting average (.286), hits (65), home runs (14) and RBIs (35).
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
It’s amazing what can happen in 14 days, isn’t it?
Posted in 
Yes, amazing.
It is good to see Seager, Pederson, Thompson, Hernandez, Barnes, Puig and Grandal available as younger players. I expect Puig to be traded if he doesn’t soon start to make some hay. His status as “potential five tool” has to soon go beyond potential. Maybe he needs a change of scenery. Still difficult to tell with Grandal as he is streaky and on a long streak. It probably remains to be seen if it a streak, a reality or if he is still not 100%.
The running game isn’t all about stolen bases as outlined in the article. Stolen bases are indeed good but so is taking the extra base, beating out an infield hit, going first to third unexpectedly, etc. Running in all its variations just keeps a pressure on the defense.
The three amigos are starting to take the lead on the team which is encouraging. Good job by Howie Kendrick.
While I would agree with the increase in stolen base (and attempts) is great, I think the turning point was much more recent…last Saturday, when 4 of those 9 stolen bases occurred But more than that was what Bluenose alluded to, when Clayton Kershaw beat out an infield base hit, went to 2nd on the walk to Seager and scored on the hit by Turner. What was impressive was that Seager was thinking 3rd on that hit from contact, barely beat the throw from Inciarte, and Kershaw scored without a play. Maybe Inciarte gets Kershaw at the plate if Seager doesn’t attempt 3rd. The Dodgers certainly do not need Kershaw going aggressive into the plate on a bang bang throw. There was additional aggressive base running yesterday. I hope that the coaches will continue to take chances on the bases. Not every attempt will be successful, but I would guess that more runs will be generated with aggressive base running than with station to station baseball.