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    • The baserunning aggressiveness of the Detroit Tigers is the deciding factor for the successful series
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    The baserunning aggressiveness of the Detroit Tigers is the deciding factor for the successful series

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

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    Detroit Tigers coaches and players meet every day on various topics in preparation for the game, but one meeting that took place nearly two months ago stands out to the players and could be the reason for their victories.

    It was a baserunning meeting led by third base coach Joey Cora, just hours before the Aug. 6 opener of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

    Since then, the Tigers have the best record in baseball at 32-14.

    “We had a team meeting about whether we wanted to be more aggressive on the bases,” said Parker Meadows, whose sprint speed of 29.2 feet per second ranks 27th among 337 players with at least 75 competitive runs. “It was an intense meeting to say the least. We’ve trusted him ever since and we’ve been able to do a really good job of being aggressive on the bases.”

    MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers 3B coach Joey Cora is a ‘good baseball player’ who ‘sends every runner’

    The Tigers responded to Cora’s hit by increasing their aggressiveness while running the bases.

    It was like a light switch was flipped.

    Their first through third attempts increased from 42.9% before August 6th to 44.7% since August 6th, while their second through third attempts increased from 65.8% to 88.6%.

    The Tigers have ranked first in the MLB in both categories over the last 51 days – by a significant margin. The 44.7% of first through third attempts is ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates (43.8%) and the San Diego Padres (40.8%), and the 88.6% of second through third attempts is ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (82.6%) and the Tampa Bay Rays (76.3%).

    “You have to take risks to make it,” said manager AJ Hinch. “That’s why we’re pushing these guys to try first and third. You have to risk something to make it. The consistent message goes out to the players, the players start to see it in the game and then we have an advantage. “It all pays off.”

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    The Tigers weren’t necessarily more successful on the bases, but they were certainly more aggressive, creating more run-scoring opportunities for a middling offense.

    This team needs all the runs it can get.

    In 2024, the Tigers averaged 4.4 baserunning runs above average, ranking 12th in the MLB. Here’s what stands out: The Tigers scored 2.6 of those runs in their 113 games prior to August 6th, then 1.8 runs in their last 46 games since August 6th.

    “I think our style of play, as we’ve gotten more athletic and a little younger,” Hinch said, “that we can do a few more things, then those little advantages on the edge of the competition are notable. There are many areas where we need to improve, but in some areas where we talk about pressure on the other side, we are becoming more and more confident in our ability to take our risks.”

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    It all goes back to Cora’s meeting.

    Aggression was the message, but deciphering the aggressive style on the bases wasn’t as easy as a single word. Instead, Cora showed several videos of past successes and failures to teach players what he wanted from them.

    “It was Joey,” said Zach McKinstry, who leads the Tigers with 16 steals in 16 attempts. “He got a little excited. I think he got his message across.”

    Match aside, Cora deserves credit for his aggressive sends at third base. He’s not afraid to make a mistake, whether it’s testing an outfielder’s arm on a sacrifice fly or testing an outfielder and an infielder on a relay throw.

    There’s a reason Francisco Lindor, who had Cora as third base coach from 2022 to 2023, warned the Tigers in spring training to “prepare your hamstrings” because Cora tends to send runners into situations where others are at third -Base trainers would do this I don’t even think about running.

    That’s why Hinch hired Cora to coach the Tigers in 2024.

    “I know (Jose) Siri has a good arm (in center field),” said Justyn-Henry Malloy, whose sacrifice fly scored the game-winning run in Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, “but we have him .” Joey Cora, so he sends (Matt Vierling) and V has good speed. He was safe and it was like a party in the dugout.

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    Cora – the older brother of Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora – has been criticized for his aggressive sends, which usually only occur when a player is thrown out on the bases, but the method of insanity has been proven to result in runs, particularly as the Tigers were mixed. Their squad includes a bevy of athletic players.

    The older Cora loves to put pressure on the opposing defense.

    This also applies to the young tigers.

    “When Joey came here in the spring, we knew that would multiply because of his aggressive mindset,” Hinch said, also pointing to assistant coaches George Lombard, Anthony Iapoce and Gary Jones. “This mix has resonated with this group of players as our athleticism has improved and our understanding of baseball has increased. These are young children learning when to take risks and when not to, but always being alert and ready for them.”

    Contact or follow Evan Petzold at [email protected] @EvanPetzold.

    Listen to our weekly Tigers show, Days of Roar, on-demand every Monday afternoon on freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And check out all of our podcasts and daily voice briefings at freep.com/podcasts.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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