Hoshino-kantoku says NPB steals bases better than MLB

Think Hoshino is missing something here.

In MLB, the SB is on the decline because of the risk/reward factor. HRs are up, slugging is up. Small ball is out. When you have a slugger who can hit a two-run homer, why bother with risking an out for moving up a runner to score one run? It's the Oakland A's philosophy that's being passed on to Toronto, and Boston to name a few.

And while we're at it, I was at the Tigers-Swallows game on Sunday, when the Tigers lost by one run. Tigers up to bat in the top of 11th, and Yagi got a hit. His PR, Shuuta (?) tried to steal, and was picked off, squelching a shot at taking a lead. After another out, Yano got a hit. With Hiyama, Yano and Kataoka (and with Hamanaka available to PH), I just couldn't understand why, in the top of the 11th, when you know the relief staff of your team [is awful], and you need that run, you would risk running against Furuta, who has a career mark of .476 of throwing baserunners out. Made no sense to me.

Yeah, that won't rate among the year's best plays, will it? The radio comments man at the time (it might have been Toshiro Yufune... can't remember) speculated that there might have been no sign and that Shuta ran by himself.

Against Furuta? Ya gotta wonder, don't ya? I mean, Shuta's good and all, but he's no Akahoshi.

Actually, it said in some newspapers that it was a hit and run, but Hiyama couldn't hit the ball.

Can't decide which is worse . Mind you, at least that would mean Shuta isn't stupid.

- Furuta, who has a career mark of .476 of throwing baserunners out, [...]

Is Furuta the best in Japan? I saw on TV yesterday, it showed that Amuse, catcher of Astro, throws out 0.600?

Where did they take these stats for a catcher? I don't see them in Yahoo Sports.

I think he got the number from Fututa's stats here, which are, unfortunately, incomplete.

Tanishige has been the best for the past couple of years, getting around half the attempts against him.

But even as he's aging and getting hurt more often, Furuta is considered to be the best catcher in Japan. Johjima is considered to be the best in the Pacific League, and he just got up to over .500 last season.

Maybe somebody should introduce the concept of the sidestep to Hoshino-kantoku...

Of course, I meant slidestep...

A team without HRs like Hanshin should try to risk a steal. Don't you think that Ichiro is very dangerous when he is at first base? He makes pitchers lose focus on the plate.

Teams like the Giants would choose home runs.

Agreed, Tigers need to be aggressive, but not in the 11th inning with your clean up coming up and a very suspect pitching staff to protect your tie.

Wow, last night (June 15), Takahashi also tried to bunt. That is strange for a home run batter.