A big part of run prevention is the ability to control the opposing team’s running game. Throwing out runners trying to steal and holding runners on is a very important aspect of the game for the pitching staff and catchers. It’s something that doesn’t appear sexy in the box score, yet adds up as the season goes along.
The Dodgers have been very good at preventing the running game the last couple of seasons. Catchers A.J. Ellis and Yasmani Grandal have been pretty good at throwing out would be base stealers. However the one part of that equation that the Dodgers were excellent at in 2015 was picking off runners.
The pick-off can really help a club in games especially in the later innings. It’s like getting a free out. The Dodgers led all of MLB in pick-offs in 2015. As you can see they led MLB by a wide margin with 21.
| RK | Team | SB | CS | PK |
| 1 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 85 | 42 | 21 |
| 2 | Atlanta Braves | 84 | 33 | 18 |
| 3 | Seattle Mariners | 65 | 40 | 15 |
| 4 | Chicago Cubs | 137 | 38 | 14 |
| 4 | St. Louis Cardinals | 54 | 29 | 14 |
| 6 | Boston Red Sox | 75 | 38 | 13 |
| 6 | Chicago White Sox | 75 | 30 | 13 |
| 6 | Detroit Tigers | 72 | 43 | 13 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Angels | 93 | 43 | 13 |
| 10 | Colorado Rockies | 92 | 35 | 11 |
| 10 | Kansas City Royals | 75 | 35 | 11 |
| 10 | New York Yankees | 71 | 36 | 11 |
| 10 | San Diego Padres | 122 | 60 | 11 |
| 10 | Toronto Blue Jays | 60 | 41 | 11 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 144 | 43 | 10 |
| 15 | Texas Rangers | 82 | 25 | 10 |
| 17 | Oakland Athletics | 78 | 40 | 9 |
| 17 | Tampa Bay Rays | 88 | 44 | 9 |
| 19 | Houston Astros | 87 | 27 | 7 |
| 19 | Philadelphia Phillies | 79 | 32 | 7 |
| 21 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 73 | 28 | 6 |
| 21 | Baltimore Orioles | 62 | 29 | 6 |
| 21 | Cincinnati Reds | 100 | 31 | 6 |
| 21 | Milwaukee Brewers | 104 | 46 | 6 |
| 21 | Minnesota Twins | 93 | 22 | 6 |
| 21 | Washington Nationals | 53 | 32 | 6 |
| 27 | Miami Marlins | 74 | 25 | 5 |
| 27 | San Francisco Giants | 82 | 32 | 5 |
| 29 | Cleveland Indians | 71 | 39 | 4 |
| 29 | New York Mets | 75 | 26 | 4 |
That’s a lot of pick-offs. Looking at the distribution of said pick-offs we can see that the king of pick-offs Clayton Kershaw had the majority of them with 9. The rest of the guys still had a lot too. Brett Anderson recorded 6, and Zack Greinke had 2.
Clayton Kershaw 9
Brett Anderson 6
Zack Greinke 2
Of course being left-handed always helps. Generally the lefties always have the best pick-off moves. Jon Weisman wrote a great read on Kershaw’s pick-off move with some quotes from fellow teammates and coaches. According to Weisman Kershaw made a NL high 127 throws to first. The Dodgers generally found that most opponents tend to run on Kershaw’s first movement after they reach base which usually ends up being their undoing.
Kershaw led the National League in pick-offs for three consecutive seasons from 2010-2012, and has the most pick-offs (55) of any pitcher in MLB over the last seven seasons. Overall Kershaw has recorded 57 career pick-offs. Anderson is no slouch in the pick-off department either. His 6 pick-offs last season were a career high and he has recorded 20 career picks. Newly signed Scott Kazmir is a bit of a pick-off connoisseur himself with 25 recorded during his 11 MLB seasons.
In case you were wondering the Dodgers finished tied for second in the majors with 10 balks.
Nice post Scott. Sacrifices and holds by middle innings relievers are often over looked as well, but they add up to be a significant factor in a championship season. Often times, it seems a team have all the luck (like many feel the Royals had), but I feel luck has nothing to do with it. Granted there are fortunate bounces and blown calls by umps but they are minor in comparison to making plays that set a team up for wins. It is the “do whatever it takes to win” drive that separates good teams from great teams… here’s hoping Roberts can instill this attitude in all the players this year!
Message to Watford:
Congrats on your victory in the FA Cup….Cheers!
Cheers Artie – nice of you to think of me. Last 16 now.
Chelsea next on Wednesday.
Looking forward to to beginning of April when my favourite sport begins.
The team at the bottom of the list represented the NL in the WS last year….interesting!
i noticed that same thing! yet in the playoffs they got clutch hits and we choked big time
The Dodger bench really looked bad, after Murphy hit the HR off of Greinke, in that last game. The Dodgers looked like they were already defeated, after Murphy hit that HR, even though they had a couple of innings to either tie the game, or score two runs, and go ahead. In other words, they looked totally defeated. This is what I hope Roberts changes. Mattingly was way to acceptant, when the Dodgers didn’t win games, and things didn’t go right.
I have a surprise for you guys coming soon!
Great, Scott. I’ve had a few surprises these last few days of good news. The best news I got was a fair step of improvement with my health just yesterday afternoon. So I’m feeling pretty chipper, friends! And after getting back in town it was cool to find Howie resigned. All players joining pitchers and catchers is on my birthday……..I guess unless that date changed a day like it just now appeared at SPLA lol. CHEERS!
That’s wonderful Quasi! I am so glad to hear you are feeling better.
Awesome Quas.
Looking forward to this surprise tomorrow. By any chance is it a date with Salma Hayek?
It’s actually going to happen later today Bobby. Earlier than I expected. It’s a great thing. Check in about an hour from now. Unless you are referring to Quasi’s surprise then I hope it is a date with Selma
Yeah, her billionaire husband is just a runner-up.
Are Mark & Badger having a duel?
Great news Quas… Easy does it!!!
Watford – Did you find that pint in Ireland??? Or possibly 2…