When analyzing Jason Bay’s game, baserunning usually falls way down the list of things that might help define the outfielder’s major league existence. But considering his base-stealing success, it shouldn’t be pushed to the back burner.

It’s not how many bases Bay steals — 13 this season and 66 for his career — but how successful he has been when he attempts to swipe a bag.

Since the beginning of the 2005 season, Bay has the best success rate when it comes to stealing bases of any player in the major leagues, having stolen 59 bases while only getting caught seven times (89.4 percent). This year he has been caught just three times in 16 tries.

But what is just as amazing is how Bay got his start in stealing these bases. It’s a story his former baserunning coach in Pittsburgh, Rusty Kuntz, loves to tell:

“It probably took him almost two seasons to give him the green light,” remembered Kuntz, who is now the Kansas City first base coach. “Jason isn’t in that burner category, so he uses what he sees to get his feet going. He had enough speed to be able to steal, so I kept telling Mac [then-Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon] that when we were doing drills this guy was off the chart in terms of his jumps. He’s reacting to it so much quicker than anybody else. I asked him to please give the green light and just see what he could do.

“We weren’t doing very well at the All-Star break, so finally I walked in and talked to Jason about it and he said he would love a green light. So I walked into Mac and said, ‘Can we just see what happens giving Jason Bay a green light?’ Mac says, ‘I’ll tell you what, he can have the green light until he’s thrown out.’ I told him that was a good deal for me. So I went back to Jason and said, ‘OK, we’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that Mac gave us the green light, so you can go any time you want. The bad news is that as soon as you get thrown out, that green light goes to red really quick.’ He said, ‘OK, I’ll take it whatever it is.’

“Well, he goes off and sets the record for most times without getting caught. By about the 20th base in a row Mac walked over to me and said, ‘Hey, remember I told you if he gets thrown out he’s got no more green light? Well, that’s off. Tell him to keep running because he knows what he’s doing.’ He just took off from there, and every once in a while he’ll text me back and say, ‘Hey, I got another one.’ He’s an above-average runner, but he doesn’t have that burning speed. He just picks his spots and he can read the key as good as anybody I’ve ever had. That’s the key for him, he sees it and those feet start moving.”

The record Bay tied was that for most consecutive stolen bases in a season without getting caught, going 21-for-21 to begin the ‘05 season before being nabbed by Milwaukee’s Damian Miller on the third-to-last game of the season.

The ‘05 season, however, clearly set a tone, as Bay went on to steal 11 bases in 13 tries the next year. He went 4-for-5 in ‘07 and a perfect 10-for-10 last season.

“He’s an intelligent guy. He’s got the instincts,” Kuntz said. “He’s got all the ingredients you need as a player. I just gave him the information as far as what I’ve used in the past, in terms of looking for keys and different counts. I just gave him the information, and him being an intelligent guy he just took off with it. He was like a Rolodex in terms of taking in all the information. He got up to speed in about a month for what takes another player a year to get that.”

6 Comments for “The story behind how Jason Bay started stealing bases”

1. Joe Says:
   September 24th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

   NOW SIGN HIM BEFORE THE SKANKEE’S

2. Nick Gagalis Says:
   September 24th, 2009 at 5:24 pm

   It may not seem important, but I think Bay’s attention to baserunning is exhibit A for the Red Sox signing him. By caring so much about the little things, Bay has thrived in the lineup and fit in perfectly. He plays well late in games, and he’s replaced Manny Ramirez in everything except the way starting pitchers deal with him.

   The Sox should give Bay close to Manny money, especially if the contract is for three or four years. They can’t afford to lose him.

3. JD Says:
   September 24th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

   Absolutely!!! Whatever it takes, get it done! It would be a gaping hole without him in this lineup. It has to be done.

4. Dan Says:
   September 24th, 2009 at 7:29 pm

   I wouldn’t give Bay close to Manny money, but JD Drew money, yes I think I would. 3 year deal for 41 million sounds about right to me

5. Randall Springfield Says:
   September 25th, 2009 at 4:30 am

   Let’s compare the impact and value of recent players. Jason Bay vs say Dice-K.
   Which player has been more consistent, predictable, and performed in his role in a more meaningful way?? Or compare Jason to Manny. Which player is easier to manage? Make it easy on yourselves and predictable for the fans. You were right when you thought winning is important. Sign Jason Bay. Find some more like him.

6. Tom Dockery Says:
   October 4th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

   Chase Utley set the record today,a perfect 23 for 23.

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