The Mets’ acquisition of Eric Young Jr. accentuated how more and more organizations are thinking about adding speed when rosters expand in September – and maybe keeping it as a weapon in October.
The Dodgers, for example, have three fast players they have tutored in the art of reading pickoff moves and getting good bursts. Edwin Drexler, Robbie Garvey and Kyle Hudson were put on different minor league teams essentially as dedicated pinch-runners to see whether one can emerge as a September option.
Perhaps it was spurred by what Terrance Gore’s lightning did for the Royals late last season and into the playoffs or what a late-season factor Quintin Berry was for the 2012 Tigers, 2013 Red Sox and 2014 Orioles.
https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/632048409717833728/
Well, the Yankees currently possess the pro leader in steals. Jorge Mateo’s 79 steals between Low- and High-A are 14 more than second-place Yefri Perez, an outfielder at High-A for the Marlins.
However, the Yankees have no intentions of calling up Mateo, a 20-year-old shortstop who just might be their best prospect.
“@JorgeSalgado__: @SuaveCF1 taking bags on bags on bags. pic.twitter.com/4kzovpbOHv”
— Rico Noel (@SuaveCF1) September 2, 2014
In part it is about not wanting to use a 40-man roster spot and start Mateo’s clock before it is necessary. It is also because the organization has not yet resolved whether Mateo is stealing bases because he has acumen or because he is just so darn fast – in the majors it is about more than just outrunning the ball.
If the Yankees decide to go with a speed player, the main internal candidate is Rico Noel, who was released earlier this season by the Padres and signed to a minor league deal on July 2. In three minor league seasons from 2011-13, Noel stole 211 bases, including 90 in 2012.
He is known as a good defender, but is being used almost exclusively as a pinch-runner at Triple-A.
On whether to make Noel a September call-up, Brian Cashman said: “We will look at him a lot in the next 10 days stealing bases.”