TEMPE, Ariz. — One of the axioms of baseball is to never make the third out at third base.
The logic, of course, is that the reward of an extra 90 feet isn’t worth the risk of ending the inning.
However, Jo Adell has stolen third with two outs twice this spring. Both times led to runs because of defensive mistakes.
Those two plays are the perfect encapsulation of the attitude that new manager Ron Washington has brought to the Angels. Being aggressive on the bases is not merely lip service. The Angels are pushing the envelope to the point of tearing it this spring.
Which is the point.
“We’re trying to create an atmosphere where you can push the limits and see where you can go in spring training,” said third base-coach Eric Young, who came from Atlanta with Washington. “That’s what we’re finding out. Guys are finding out for themselves what they can and can’t do.”
Outfielder Mickey Moniak used a common investment philosophy to summarize the Angels’ strategy.
“Scared money don’t make money,” Moniak said. “If you don’t try it, you’re not gonna know if you can do it. If you don’t have the confidence you’re going to be able to do it, it’s going to hinder you a little bit. We know that’s going to be a huge part of our game going forward this season.”
The Angels have stolen 33 bases this spring, which is the most in the majors. They’ve also been caught stealing 12 times, which is tied for the second most.
Beyond that, they’ve been pushing players to take extra bases whenever possible. Earlier this week, even catcher Caleb Hamilton went from first to third on a single to right.
Washington admitted he was saying “no, no, no” until Hamilton was safe.
“You don’t usually see big catchers doing that,” Washington said. “They’ve taken to it. Everybody else has no choice.”
Catchers Logan O’Hoppe and Matt Thaiss have each stolen a base, as has slow-footed first baseman Nolan Schanuel, third baseman Anthony…
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