Gary Matthews Jr., Jacoby Ellsbury Bring Back the Exhilirating Steal of Home

With his team ahead by one with two-out in the fourth inning, Los Angeles Angels’ center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. took a comfortable lead off third base. Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Max Sherzer was in the midst of his delivery when the alarm was sounded by the home crowd.

Matthews, once Sherzer started his windup, broke for home. Sherzer realized this, and threw the pitch outside. Catcher Miguel Montero caught the pitch, but it was too late. Matthews flew in, sliding gracefully across the plate to score the fourth Angels’ run. Nonchalantly, he popped up, then jogged back to the dugout downplaying the significance. The Diamondbacks and their fans were left in disbelief.

It was the third time a straight steal of home has been accomplished this season. Boston Red Sox center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury did so against the New York Yankees in late April. Demarlo Hale, the third-base coach, watched Ellsbury study Andy Pettitte’s delivery, then witnessed a rarity. Talking about the feat after the game, Ellsbury said “I joke around with DeMarlo all the time about how I can steal home…when I saw Andy in his windup on the previous pitch, I was thinking, ‘I can make it.’” With two out ahead by one against their hated rival, Ellsbury had the guts few have in this era of baseball.

As Ted Keith of Sports Illustrated documents in his article, The art of stealing home: Studying baseball’s most exciting play, some players dislike the idea of stealing home. The Florida Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez has stolen 148 bases during his four year career. Yet, despite his success, he has not only never attempted the gutsy and dangerous play, but he has never contemplated doing so.

The New York Mets’ speedster Jose Reyes–who averaged 65 stolen bases during the 2005-2008 seasons–has stated the opposite, but has yet to back up his excitement.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ Aaron Hill, who swiped home off Pettitte in 2007, said that he’s “never experienced anything like it.” I am sure, if asked, that a majority of stolen base threats would adopt Reyes’ thinking, and feel as invigorated as Hill did. So why is this such a rare feat?

Keith, by making an example of Ramirez, basically said that many aspire to, but don’t have the ability, or courage to follow through. This skittish mindset doesn’t just pertain to current base-stealers, however. Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who compiled 938 stolen bases in his 19-year career, including 118 in 1974 as a 35-year old, never stole home, let alone make an attempt.

When a team is threatening and has a pitcher on the ropes, this may be too risky and downright bone-headed to try. In baseball, there are many unwritten rules. One of them is presumably taught to all hitters: Never make the final out of an inning at third base. The final out at home, however, especially during a relatively harmless situation, can lead to new-found respect for the brave soul by his manager, his teammates, and the fans. As Matthews said after his successful steal: “I figured I could give it a shot.” Clearly, the steal of home can cement a player into baseball lore, and is worth trying. It is a moment, Ellsbury said, “I’ll never forget.”