With the complexity of scoring, much like that of Scrabble, the steals game is all about the triple word score. With names and with letters that are uncommon for words, you know the J’s and X’s of the world. We all can cheat and make the word “jo” or “ox”, but imagine the scoring erection you will get when you use Rajai. This wordsmith of the basepaths has been giving new form to the SAGNOF game. Over the last 14 games, no one in the game has more steals than Davis. Rajai has been the Magi of it for years, and it is crazy to think that he’s crazy Joe Louis old. He is 35, which isn’t quite as old as me, but I also don’t even run when chased, let alone run 90 feet from pillow to pillow. For the most part, Rajai is the goods because he basically fills all your SAGNOF needs and isn’t and absolute void in other categories like a newly DL’d Mallex. Davis, over the last 14, has put up 2 HRs and a cup full of RBIs. It is more than what we get from Mallex, who offers nothing but steals. even is an abysmal in BA, and his one saving grace is that his OBP is decent because he takes walks at almost a 17% clip. So for the few of you that are surfing for a SAGNOF savior to replace your Mallex fix… here are some names that could be good for now and later. Side note, I used to love that candy.
Michael Taylor – Is he finally going to start seeing regular at bats after basically hitting AA rock bottom, hitting .146 in April? In his last four games, he is 6/13 with a pair of homers and a steal in each game. Keep an eye on where he hits, as he hit in the leadoff spot on Sunday. He has the talent, just needed to get out of his funk and he looks like a hotschomata for this week.
Ender Inciarte – With the Mallex injury, someone has to ascend to the leadoff spot. Ender at the beginning seems a little contradictory. He has 9 runs in his last 15 games for an anemic offense in the ATL. His preseason hype as a decent 4-5th OF wore off when he crapped the bed out of the gate. His 2 steals and newly anointed rise in the batting order gives him some Christian Slater Gleaming the Cube type love from me.
Melvin Upton Jr. – I don’t care if it ever ends for the Bossman Junior. He’s been a sneaky side piece all year for those coveting his SD goodness. With one more homer, he will join Mookie, Altuve, and Ian Desmond as the only 10/10 guys on the year. He has 15 steals on the year, and he is an everyday player in the land of sailors and superb weather. Sounds like a vacation with the Bossman, a sailor and a fruity drink if I have ever heard of.
Last Place Teams – Anyone thinks it’s ironic that the top-4 SB teams over the last two weeks are all the worst teams in the NL? The Padres, Reds, Brewers and Braves. Maybe they are just trying to win at something. So way to go.
Seung Hwan Oh – Trevor Rosenthal has had a rocky road lately giving up earned runs in three of the last four games. Siegrist hasn’t been much better, enter the Dragon, or whatever his awfully translated nickname is. Oh, he had been stellar until the game where every reliever for the Cards fell asleep at the wheel. If the roof caves in, Oh is the direction I see them going.
Cory Gearrin – Casilla is out birthing a baby like a good daddy seahorse. For those not in the know male seahorses birth the babies. Gearrin got the save chance on Saturday, and if they get another opportunity before Santiago returns it will be his. SAGNOF away and instead of a streamer starter grab him, not literally.
