The St. Louis Cardinals have a lousy offense, so they should steal more bases

The St. Louis Cardinals can’t acquire help through a trade because we’re past the deadline, and they can’t call up help from the minors because there are no minor leagues this year because of COVID-19.

So, they’re going to have to find a way to score more runs from within. The best way to do that it to take advantage of the speed of Harrison Bader, Tommy Edman, Tyler O’Neill and Kolton Wong and run, run run.

The Cardinals don’t have a terrible issue with getting runners on base, despite the fact that so many players have lousy batting averages. They just can’t move players over and in. They get on via a walk, an error or a single and then the runner stays parked at first base for the next three outs. One of the major reasons for that is strikeouts, the second is hitting the ball into the shift and the real killer is rally-killing double plays. Stealing early and stealing often can solve all of those problems.

First, when runners are likely to go, pitchers can’t mess around with off-speed stuff and breaking balls because it gives runners a better chance to successfully swipe a bag. Off-speed pitches and sliders are the bane of the young Cardinals hitters. Moving base runners will help the offense by giving batters better pitches to hit.

Second, it’s difficult to shift when the runner or runners might be going. You can’t really play the third baseman where the shortstop usually stands if there is a runner on second, trying to take third. If there is a runner on first, it’s a complicated maneuver to have to cover second base. At the very least some of the real estate fielders are trying to cover will have to be surrendered to try to stop the base stealer, opening up hitting lanes.

Third, the batters won’t have to move the runners up if they move themselves up. With this lousy American League baseball that’s being played these days, it typically takes the Cardinals three hits to drive in a run if one of the batters doesn’t hit one over the fence — and that’s not happening nearly enough this year. So, if a batter gets on and then steals second, it takes two hits instead of three. That’s a lot more offense.

Another less direct way stealing more bases will help the offense is it creates some enthusiasm. Suddenly an offense that looks like it’s just going through the motions has an identity and a plan.

Will it work? It’s hard to say. But it certain that what the team is doing now isn’t getting the job done. This offense is pathetic and, if the Cardinals manage to make the postseason because of expanded playoffs, it’s going to be even tougher to score runs against the better teams in baseball. This club is playing a steady diet of games against losing teams and can’t stay over the .500 mark against the likes of the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers and it still can’t get the job done at the plate.

If nothing else, do it as a tribute to Lou Brock. The Cardinals should take some pride in the number 20 tribute patch they’re wearing on their shoulder and make life miserable for opposing hurlers. Take control of games instead of waiting for things to happen. I’ve had enough of watching Wong and Matt Carpenter grounding out to the second baseman. Let’s shake things up. At least if they ground out to the right side with a runner on second, it will move him to third instead of becoming a double play ball.

So many things happen when runners put pressure on the defense and force it to move. Stealing one base so often leads to a hasty throw getting through the second baseman, allowing the runner to go all the way from first to third. The Cardinals are terrible at bunting, so that’s not a great option for moving runners up. But why give up the out when you can potentially move into scoring position for free? If that runner walks and steals second with no outs, suddenly you have three chances to bring him home with a single or a more realistic chance to bring him in with a ground ball and a sacrifice fly.

Just try something, Cardinals. And why not get back to the team’s roots to do so?

Scott Wuerz

Belleville News-Democrat

Scott Wuerz has written “Cheap Seats,” a St. Louis Cardinals fan blog for the Belleville News-Democrat, since 2007. He is a former BND reporter who covered breaking news and education.