McLaren: "Ichiro could steal 80"

[OneLoveBoomer]

2001: 56
2002: 31
2003: 34
2004: 36
2005: 33
2006: 45
2007:37
2008: 30-35

He's stolen over 50 just once. He's 34 years old. I doubt he receives a "2nd wind."

He's a very selective stealer. He tends to go for sure things. If he widens his choices to more opportunities, he'll get a lot more SBs, but CS'ed slightly more also.

[CadensDad]

2001: 56
2002: 31
2003: 34
2004: 36
2005: 33
2006: 45
2007:37
2008: 30-35

He's stolen over 50 just once. He's 34 years old. I doubt he receives a "2nd wind."

He's a very selective stealer. He tends to go for sure things. If he widens his choices to more opportunities, he'll get a lot more SBs, but CS'ed slightly more also.

I say 45 would be max

[Field]

We almost need a sticky thread for all of this SB speculation. I guess this is what managers stew over in the offseason. I mean, anything 'could' happen, I want to know what is highly likely to happen. 80 isn't all that likely for a player of his age. I could see increasing his SB projection by 5-10 bags, but I wouldn't draft him expecting much more than that.

Ichiro is definitely one of the gems of baseball, absolutely fantastic to watch. I've never really valued him all that highly in fantasy as I tend to side towards the more power-laden players. That said, I really don't see a whole lot of difference (value-wise) between him and Carl Crawford who seems to get drafted a full round before Ichiro. I know Crawford is the sexier pick since he still qualifies as the "upside" play due to his age; however, I haven't really seen much power progression over the past few years. I'd actual prefer Ichiro to Crawford for 2008 season especially since Ichiro has the ability to hit for that freakishly high average.

[Grounded Polo]

80 would be insane but Ichiro's just a freak, I would not be surprised if he could pull it off if that was an official team goal.

Pigs will be seen flying around the Space Needle, before this happens. Johns trying to build fan enthusiasm, or he's got a serious drinking problem.

Yeah, it's not actually going to happen, but I thought Jimmy Rollins declaring the Phillies as the team to beat over the Mets last season was just a method of building fan enthusiasm after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2006 and then we know what happened there.

[HOOTIE]

Yeah, it's not actually going to happen, but I thought Jimmy Rollins declaring the Phillies as the team to beat over the Mets last season was just a method of building fan enthusiasm after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2006 and then we know what happened there.

Rollins popping off won him a mvp, no doubt, as his numbers didn't. One look at 2006 however, shows that while Philly finished 12 games back, it really was only 5 games, using (Pythagorian win-loss record). NYM were lucky in 2006. A 5 game swing, isn't like the USA beating Russia.

[Y`s Guy]

Back around November 10th Ichiro received a Hitori Hanzo sword. I feel that he can now achieve anything that he wants now. Once people hear about the sword who is going to stop him? The Crazy 88's? Black Mamba? Jared Saltalamachia?

[AKhomebrewer]

...
I'm really more interested in the Betancourt comments since he is a boredline viable MI and even 5 or 6 more SB could push him into a little bit of a sleeper in deeper leagues.

Good observation of this article. Everybody's already targeting Ichiro somewhere relatively early in their drafts, and his slot won't change dramatically based upon this kind of report. But, if McLaren's not simply blowing preseason smoke (always a possibility) and these imported coaches have an impact, Betancourt could be a nice sleeper pick at MI.
Speed hasn't been holding him back; he entered the league with a lack of refinement in reading pitchers, timing, and the other mental aspects of basestealing that separate the quick from the elite. Perhaps some of that can be trained into him ... ?

[Grounded Polo]

Through 161 at-bats, Ichiro has 16 stolen bases. Through the arbitrary magic of extrapolating at-bats, He would finish with 67 if he kept up his current pace with as many at-bats as last year.

And you all thought Ichiro threatening 80 was hearsay.

[Ender]

Ichiro stole 13 bases last May too and then less every month after that, 9, 7. 6.

I still am a doubter, as the year wears on he'll run less.

[Grounded Polo]

Ichiro stole 13 bases last May too and then less every month after that, 9, 7. 6.

I still am a doubter, as the year wears on he'll run less.

Everyone should be a doubter but this particularly torrid May could put him ahead of last year's curve when he starts slowing down so he could get back into the 40s.