MLB games look and feel a bit different this year. There is a new pitch clock, bigger bases, and no shifts. The new rules were brought in with the hopes of shortening games and increasing the action. Bigger bases promotes base stealing and no shifts promotes putting the ball in play. Left-handed hitters no longer face three infielders on the right side, taking would-be base hits away from them. Bigger bases make the distance shorter for base runners to advance. There is also a limitation to the number of times a pitcher can throw over. Bigger bases and limited throws over give the base runners an advantage when it comes to stealing. These rules could be of great benefit to the Cleveland Guardians in particular.
We have already seen the impact of the new rules when it comes to base stealing. There were 70 stolen bases over the first four games this past weekend. For comparison, there were only 29 stolen bases league-wide over the same span last year.
First 4 days of 2022:
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 3, 2023
49 games, 29 stolen bases, 14 times caught stealing
First 4 days of 2023:
50 games, 70 stolen bases, 14 times caught stealing ?pic.twitter.com/0sWPiEwW4e
There are a number of players that should benefit from the new rules. However, is there any team that could benefit more from the new rules than the Cleveland Guardians?
During a time of emphasis on launch angle, most teams started looking for players who could hit the ball out of the park. Teams would sacrifice batting average and accept strikeouts in favor of an occasional home run. With the new rules this year, teams may once again start looking for guys who consistently put the ball in play and are more aggressive on the base paths. This is where the Guardians come in.
While scrolling through social media during a Cleveland Guardians game, you are bound to see fans of the opposing team unhappy with Cleveland’s play style and their “disgusting brand of baseball”. Fans want to see home runs, and last year Cleveland’s lineup didn’t have many power hitters. Instead the lineup centered around simply putting the ball in play and taking the extra base every chance they got. In fact, Cleveland had the second fewest home runs last year, but struck out the least amount among all MLB teams while ranking third in baseball in stolen bases. This small-ball style offense puts pressure on the defense to make every play. As an opposing fan or player it can feel like death by a thousand paper cuts, and unfortunately for them the 2023 Guardians picked up right where they left off in 2022.
The Guardians are back to playing their *disgusting* brand of baseball ?pic.twitter.com/BioMuT98NX
— betJACK (@betJACK) April 1, 2023
The Guardians opened their 2023 campaign against the Seattle Mariners and were up to their old ways. In the opening series, the Guardians stole 5 bases and scored 17 runs while only hitting 3 homers. They took advantage of four Mariners’ errors while wreaking havoc on the bases on their way to taking three out of four against the home team.
The Guardians’ play style isn’t the only reason they could be the biggest beneficiaries of the new rules. The Guardians’ Opening Day lineup consisted of six left-handed hitters (Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, Josh Bell, Josh Naylor, Andrés Giménez, Will Brennan). The lineup also had six players that had at least 18 stolen bases last year (Kwan, Rosario, Ramírez, Giménez, Brennan, Myles Straw). For as little as they struck out, and as good as they were on the bases, the Guardians were still middle of the pack in scoring (15th). With the inability for defenses to shift, the left handed hitters should see a couple more hits come their way. More hits leads to more stolen bases when it comes to Cleveland, which leads to more guys in scoring position. With the help of the new rules and maturation of younger players, the Guardians should be much better offensively.
The Guardians’ advantage goes beyond offense, as they also field one of the best defensive teams in the league. Last year Straw, Kwan and Giménez won a Gold Glove for their respective positions. New addition Mike Zunino is one of the best in the game as a catcher throwing out potential base stealers. So not only does Cleveland’s offense fit the new rules perfectly, their defense can limit the impact the rules have against them by potentially taking away would-be base hits.
Last year the Guardians had 17 players make their Major League debut, and they still won their division. They ultimately lost in the ALDS to the New York Yankees in five games due to the Yankees slugging. The new rules should not only help them repeat as division champions but may help them go further in October.
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