New first base and and running coach Roberto Kelly said Sunday that he'll push the Giants to run more often this season.
Kelly managed at low Single-A last season and his team attempted 297 steals in 150 games. While all the running may not do much for what figures to be a sub par Giants offense, it could provide nice boosts to the fantasy value of guys like Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn and Omar Vizquel. Rowand predicted Sunday that he could steal a career-high 25 bases if given the green light.
I love how Dave Roberts name wasn't in there because you can't steal first. This should absolutely be the approach going into 2008. Rowand and Molina are the only real power threats and aren't even close to the typical power hitters. I expect the Davis/Roberts platoon in LF (if Davis wins the job of course) to produce 60+ SBs. Vizquel will have to run a lot more since he is most likely to bat 8th. This teams is going to have a hard time driving in runs so stealing bases will be the key to this offense. Kelly makes sense but after watching Bochy last season, sense is uncommon to him.