Anyone that has visited ClimbingSky by now knows that my favorite player is Rickey Henderson, the epitome of speed on the base paths. Getting on base, disrupting a pitcher’s timing/concentration by being a threat to steal makes it easier for your teammates to do their job: advancing runners and knocking in runs.

My local nine, the Minnesota Twins, for the past 5 years have been last or near last in the league in Stolen Bases every season. That is even with one of the fastest players to have ever played the game, Centerfielder Byron Buxton. Last season, Cincinnati Reds shortstop Ellie De La Cruz (the most exciting player in the game) actually had more steals than the entire Minnesota Twins team!

Clearly Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli does not share my philosophy of the game. And though the Twins have enjoyed a great deal of success under his leadership, I cannot help but think that they could be even better if they gave opposition pitchers and position players more to worry about when the Twins were at the plate and had a man or two on base.

I was heartened to hear from Rocco at this year’s Twinsfest that the team was going to at least emphasize more situational hitting. By that he meant hitting to opposite fields, hitting behind the runners, etc. It is a start, but in the end, I do not think it is enough for the Twins to advance in the playoffs.

What do the Twins need? Speed on the base paths! Plain and simple. Baseball as Rickey played it. As Rod Carew played it. As Elly De La Cruz is playing it today. As Byron Buxton could play it if he were turned loose!