Three Surprising Mariners Stats

3. The Mariners are 12 for 21 in base stealing attempts.

According to some statistical studies, players need to successfully steal a base 67% of the time to avoid costing their team runs by attempting to steal. For those of you who are not good at math (like me), the Mariners are currently stealing bases at a 57% rate, costing themselves runs by running. Despite a team-wide commitment to being more aggressive on the base paths, six of the Mariners’ 12 stolen bases have come from one player, center fielder Leonys Martin. Take away Martin, who is six of eight on base stealing attempts, and it gets worse. The only other Mariners to attempt a steal this season are Aoki, Marte, Lind, and infielder Luis Sardinas. Aoki has been terrible at stealing bases in particular, swiping only two in six tries.

"Six of the Mariners 12 stolen bases have come from Leonys Martin"

I’m mystified by Aoki continuing to get the green light on first base. He’s 34 years old, obviously a step slower than he was in the Japanese leagues and in his first four seasons in the Major Leagues. His stolen base numbers have declined every year since his “rookie” season in 2012 when he stole 30 bases on 38 attempts for the Milwaukie Brewers. I get that the lead-off man is supposed to steal bases, but maybe a Moneyball approach with Aoki will save the Mariners some runs.

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