TAMPA \u2014 Getting in the lineup, then drawing a walk or rapping a hit can be the trickier part for Jose Caballero.<\/p>\n
Once the Rays\u2019 speedy and versatile infielder\/outfielder reaches base, it\u2019s pretty clear to him \u2014 and the opposing team \u2014 that his focus is to steal the next one. Usually successfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all know that I\u2019m there to run and that I will run,\u201d Caballero said. \u201cI\u2019m not scared of them. They should be scared of me, and that\u2019s pretty much it. I want them to think about me. I\u2019m not going to think about (those) guys. That\u2019s the mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n
That approach has worked pretty well for Caballero.<\/p>\n
Last year, in his first full big-league season, he lead the American League with 44 steals, but also was caught a majors-most 16 times. <\/p>\n
As this season nears the halfway point, he is again atop the league leaderboard and \u2014 with 25 successful attempts in 30 chances, went into play Tuesday on pace to steal more (56) and be caught less (11). <\/p>\n
\u201cGetting caught less is really important,\u201d manager Kevin Cash said. \u201cAnd I think Cabby understands that, and he learned a lot along the way last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the most important lessons is that he\u2019s not going to catch any team off guard, with Cash noting how last week in Boston Lucas Giolito paid extremely close attention (and eventually made an errant pickoff throw at second that led a Rays run). <\/p>\n
Jose Caballero heads to third base on a steal against the Marlins earlier this month. “(Opponents are) respecting how talented he is and the impact that he can have on the bases,\u201d manager Kevin Cash says. [\u00a0LUIS SANTANA | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
\u201cThe league and teams know \u2014 they\u2019re respecting how talented he is and the impact that he can have on the bases,\u201d Cash said. \u201cAnd I think Cabby is understanding that he\u2019s going to be treated differently when he gets on base. So he has to be more mindful of his decisions when he\u2019s out there. But to date, his decisions have been really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
That part is somewhat of a team effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think with his speed, there are probably nights where he could probably just go steal the base,\u201d first base\/baserunning coach Michael Johns said. \u201cBut I think a lot of times with just the amount of information we have and the amount of video, he\u2019s really good at taking that and processing it, and he really does trust whatever we tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n
That preparation is a key part.<\/p>\n
Caballero watches videos of opposing pitchers\u2019 pickoff moves to get a sense of their tendencies and what tips and tells to look for. He will adjust his initial and secondary leads, and he may tinker with his jumps.<\/p>\n
The Rays provide scouting reports with detailed data on the times for pitches to be delivered and catchers to throw to second, and give signs on whether the runner has to go, can decide or should stay. Johns will approach runners at first to whisper quick reminders of the key info. <\/p>\n
Stay updated on Tampa Bay\u2019s sports scene<\/p>\n
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida\u2019s college football teams every day.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re all signed\u00a0up!<\/p>\n
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0inbox? Let\u2019s\u00a0get\u00a0started.<\/p>\n
Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n And then there is what sets Caballero apart in his \u201ccatch me if you can\u201d approach.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing is, he\u2019s fearless.\u201d Johns said. \u201cHe\u2019s created so many runs for us just by his speed. And the other thing he does is he makes pitchers do things they don\u2019t want to do. He makes them side step (to quicken their delivery), makes them (attempt pickoffs), and they really put a focus on him. They take the focus off the hitter.\u201d<\/p>\n That last part is something Caballero finds quite rewarding.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to just get in the pitcher\u2019s head,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s been so many close games for us and sometimes I think we need to get the pitcher to think about something else instead of just throwing strikes and getting us out. That\u2019s my way to contribute to the team. I\u2019m just trying to help the team in any way possible.\u201d<\/p>\n The combination of knowledge and instinct has paid off.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just been one of those things where he just feels it,\u201d Johns said. \u201c(There\u2019s) nothing I can teach him. I\u2019m basically giving him information about the pitcher and the catcher battery, and he takes it from there. So every night\u2019s a little different. Every guy\u2019s a little different, what he\u2019s going to try to do with them. But it just starts with fearlessness.\u201d<\/p>\n Just as important as knowing when to steal is when not to.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s done a great job of not trying to force it,\u201d Johns said. \u201cI think both he and I tried to force some things last year when we probably shouldn\u2019t have, and we both kind of learned from it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut there\u2019s been times where he\u2019s been on (a green light) and he hasn\u2019t gone. He could have stole the base and he kind of flinched and didn\u2019t think he had it, or the pitcher did something that maybe we didn\u2019t know he was going to do, and he\u2019s done a great job of shutting it down those situations. And then the situations where we really need him, he\u2019s come up huge.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rays have been on the run overall, going into Tuesday\u2019s game leading the majors with 97 steals (in 119 chances, for an 82% success rate that ranks third overall).<\/p>\n And that has been a major element in the team\u2019s overall offensive surge during its majors-best 19-6 run since May 20.<\/p>\n \u201cI think every team that plays us right now knows that it\u2019s a part of our game,\u201d Cash said.<\/p>\n Teammates have enjoyed seeing Caballero, who for his career has 95 steals in 119 chances (79%), lead the way.<\/p>\n Outfielder Josh Lowe, who admits to a \u201clittle more methodical\u201d style in swiping 65 bases in 70 career attempts, said \u201cfearless\u201d is a fitting description for Caballero.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s very aggressive with stealing bases,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cI\u2019m surprised guys don\u2019t pick him off more, like just the way he leads off. But this year compared to last year, he\u2019s done a great job in terms of cutting down those just the stolen bases where he knows it probably wasn\u2019t the right attempt. So he\u2019s grown up in that aspect of learning when to go, and that\u2019s been a cool transformation to see on his part.\u201d<\/p>\n Starter Taj Bradley also has enjoyed watching.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s like a magic act, honestly,\u201d Bradley said. \u201dHe\u2019s real confident on the bases. I think that\u2019s a big part. Watching from the dugout, he has no fear. Being a great basestealer, that\u2019s what it takes. You\u2019re not scared of a pickoff or you\u2019re not thinking about how many limited (pickoff throws) they have, or who\u2019s in the (batter\u2019s) box. …<\/p>\n \u201cSo I just think it\u2019s amazing to see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nRays first base\/baserunning coach Michael Johns, front, praises the instincts of Jose Caballero. “It just starts with fearlessness.\u201d [\u00a0CHRIS URSO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all know that I\u2019m there to run and that I will run,\u201d Jose Caballero says of opponents. \u201cI\u2019m not scared of them. They should be scared of me.” [\u00a0JASON BEHNKEN | AP\u00a0]<\/p>\n
Jos\u00e9 Caballero is caught stealing and tagged out by Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon on March 30. It’s only happened five times this season. [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n