With a new face in the fold, the Braves may look to be a bit more speedy on the basepaths.
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Video Transcript
What’s up everybody?
What’s up everybody?
So the Braves made a really smart move this off season that I don’t think a lot of people are talking about.
So the Braves made a really smart move this off season that I don’t think a lot of people are talking about.
They hired Antone Richardson away from the Mets to be their new first base and base running coach.
They hired Antone Richardson away from the Mets to be their new first base and base running coach.
And based on kinda what we’re hearing out of spring training, this guy is already making an impact.
And based on kinda what we’re hearing out of spring training, this guy is already making an impact.
Drake Baldwin actually had a, a great quote, about it before, the Braves beat the Yankees seven to six on Friday.
Drake Baldwin actually had a, a great quote, about it before, the Braves beat the Yankees seven to six on Friday.
He said Richardson was the mastermind behind Juan Soto’s thirty-eight stolen bases, last year.
He said Richardson was the mastermind behind Juan Soto’s thirty-eight stolen bases, last year.
And just kinda think about that for a second.
And just kinda think about that for a second.
Soto’s previous career high-end steals was twelve.
Soto’s previous career high-end steals was twelve.
The guy ranked in the thirteenth percentile in sprint speed and is still tied for the NL lead in stolen bases last year.
The guy ranked in the thirteenth percentile in sprint speed and is still tied for the NL lead in stolen bases last year.
That doesn’t just happen on its own.
That doesn’t just happen on its own.
That is a lot of the coaching.
That is a lot of the coaching.
So Baldwin would definitely know.
So Baldwin would definitely know.
As a catcher last year, he had to deal with Richardson’s base runners kinda firsthand.
As a catcher last year, he had to deal with Richardson’s base runners kinda firsthand.
He said they always felt like they were one step ahead, like you’d try to throw a guy out and he was already there.
He said they always felt like they were one step ahead, like you’d try to throw a guy out and he was already there.
so now that Richardson is on his side, Baldwin seems to love it.
so now that Richardson is on his side, Baldwin seems to love it.
Here’s the thing, the Braves were twenty-sixth in stolen bases, last season with just eighty-two.
Here’s the thing, the Braves were twenty-sixth in stolen bases, last season with just eighty-two.
That’s terrible for a team with the kind of athletes they have.
That’s terrible for a team with the kind of athletes they have.
Michael Harris had twenty steals, but b-beyond that, nobody else was really running, and that kinda was a problem because it made the offense kinda one-dimensional.
Michael Harris had twenty steals, but b-beyond that, nobody else was really running, and that kinda was a problem because it made the offense kinda one-dimensional.
They were too reliant on the long ball.
They were too reliant on the long ball.
There was not enough pressure on the base path.
There was not enough pressure on the base path.
So now look at what Richardson has to work with.
So now look at what Richardson has to work with.
Austin Riley ran a twenty-eight point two feet per second sprint speed last year.
Austin Riley ran a twenty-eight point two feet per second sprint speed last year.
That’s actually faster than Juan Soto.
That’s actually faster than Juan Soto.
Baldwin said he could see Riley getting fifteen or more steals, and honestly, if Richardson got Soto to thirty-eight, why not?
Baldwin said he could see Riley getting fifteen or more steals, and honestly, if Richardson got Soto to thirty-eight, why not?
You add that to what Harris can do, get Ozzie Albies back to, like, a twenty-plus steals for the first time since 2021, and then you throw in a healthy Ronald Acua Jr., and that’s a completely different offense.
You add that to what Harris can do, get Ozzie Albies back to, like, a twenty-plus steals for the first time since 2021, and then you throw in a healthy Ronald Acua Jr., and that’s a completely different offense.
So the Braves are doing well in spring training right now.
So the Braves are doing well in spring training right now.
The vibe feels a little bit different under Walt Weiss, despite the injuries.
The vibe feels a little bit different under Walt Weiss, despite the injuries.
They’ve got questions to answer, before opening day for sure, but I think Richardson is the kind of under the radar addition that can change how this entire team plays.
They’ve got questions to answer, before opening day for sure, but I think Richardson is the kind of under the radar addition that can change how this entire team plays.
And if he does what he did for, for New York in Atlanta, I think the rest of the NL East has a, a really big problem on their hands right now.
And if he does what he did for, for New York in Atlanta, I think the rest of the NL East has a, a really big problem on their hands right now.