Major League Baseball

Extra base can translate into higher place

Published May. 18, 2010 10:03 p.m. ET

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Orlando Cabrera gets a little upset when one of his Cincinnati Reds teammates fails to take the extra base on a hit.

``If you don't do it, you're in trouble - with me,'' the shortstop said.

It's a point of emphasis for the Reds, and it's paying off. The Reds went from worst to first in the NL Central by doing the often-overlooked things right, and that includes getting a runner from first to third on a single. They lead the majors in that category, doing it 32 times in their first 38 games, according to STATS LLC.

The standings suggest it's more than just another stat.

Heading into Tuesday's games, the top three teams in the first-to-third category were in first place - the Reds, Twins and Rangers. Last season, four of the top five teams in the category reached the playoffs - Angels, Yankees, Dodgers and Twins.

Teams that do it often know it doesn't just happen.

``We talk about this from the minor leagues all the way up,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. ``Be aggressive, see how many times you can get from first to third smartly during the course of a game, but understand the situation. Our guys are very aggressive and we like to do that.''

The Reds are a good example of how it can make a difference.

They've had nine straight losing seasons, most of them with an offense built around a core of power hitters including Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn. It didn't translate into many wins, especially against top-of-the-rotation pitchers who are good at avoiding the homer.

In the last two years, Cincinnati begun remaking its roster, trying to play more ``small-ball'' offense and scratch out runs instead of counting on that one big swing.

``I think when you play this type of game, you understand that it's not a one- or two-man show every day, waiting for one guy to hit a home run,'' said Cabrera, who signed with Cincinnati after playing last season with Oakland and Minnesota. ``It becomes a team effort every day. It seems like it's working.''

The Reds ranked 14th in the category last year, doing it 75 times. Third-year Reds manager Dusty Baker has been trying to get his players to be more discerning on the bases, taking advantage of every chance to keep going.

``I think you always have the guys who can do that,'' Baker said. ``I think a lot of it's emphasis, and most of it is judgment and when to do it. I've been emphasizing it since I've been here. Sometimes it takes a little while to get an understanding.''

There's a lot of behind-the-scenes work that makes those extra 90 feet possible. Teams scout opposing outfielders, figuring out how long it takes each to get to a ball hit to one side or the other, then how long it then takes them to get rid of it. How strong is their arm? How accurate is their throw? All that information has to be in a runner's head as he's standing on first base.

``It's all about trying to be aggressive and take advantage, forcing defenses to make plays,'' Gardenhire said. ``When you do that, that's how teams end up making mistakes. They get rushed.''

Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo - who has gone from first to third this season - said having an opposing runner on third makes a difference in how a pitcher approaches the next batter.

``There's always that opportunity to have a passed ball,'' Arroyo said. ``That's the thing. You make guys pitch different because they're more leery of bouncing split-fingers and breaking balls because you can give up a cheap run.

``Plus, even if it does nothing in that inning, it kind of sets a tone for the game about playing the game right and letting the other team know you're going to take the extra base any chance you get. It starts playing tricks on the mind a little bit.''

Last year, the Rangers were last in the majors in the first-to-third category with 54. They're third this season with 25 already, a big improvement that has figured into their early success.

``It's always important for any offense to go first to third,'' manager Ron Washington said. ``When the opportunity has been there for us, we've been doing it. I certainly want them to go first to third.''

Several things factor in: Getting a runner to first, getting a hit to move him over, having a runner aware of when to keep going. Last year, the Angels led the majors with 119 first-to-third successes. This season, they've slipped to 16th overall with only 17.

``It's tough to go first to third when you're not getting to first,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``A lot of things on our offensive side haven't materialized.''

There's always the exception.

Toronto has gone first to third on a single only four times this season - the Reds did it that many times in one game - in large part because of how its offense works. The Blue Jays had more extra-base hits (169) than singles (160) and now lead the majors with 65 homers.

They get to third a different way.

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AP freelance writers Ian Harrison in Toronto and Ken Sins in Arlington, Texas, contributed to this report.

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