X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Stolen Base Fallers - 2018 Season Review

Which MLB players saw their stolen base totals decline unexpectedly in 2018? Tyler Germain looks at fallers whose fantasy baseball value took a dive based on lower SB totals last season.

The 2018 MLB season was one in which stolen base numbers were down across the board, from 2,527 total steals in 2017 to 2,474 this year.

Even the league's most prolific thieves were affected, as the highest individual stolen base total in 2017 was 60, while 45 was tops in all of baseball this year.

While the decline in stolen bases was obviously a pervasive issue, some offenders were worse than others. Let's take a look at the players who had the sharpest drop in stolen bases this past season.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Stolen Base Fallers

Dee Gordon (2B/SS/OF, SEA)

In 2017, Dee Gordon returned from his PED suspension and wasted no time showing off his speed. Gordon stole 60 bases in 2017 and was caught just 16 times. Gordon put himself in position for lots of steals by getting on base at a .341 clip that year, but despite his solid season, he was shipped to the Mariners in the offseason as part of the massive overhaul in Miami.

2018 was a very different story for Gordon, who cut his SB total in half with just 30 steals on 42 attempts. Gordon's speed is not in question, but his bat certainly is. Gordon saw a dramatic decrease in OBP, posting a .288 in that category. It's not uncommon for a player's numbers to fall off when switching leagues; add in the fact that the Mariners were below league average as a team in terms of SB and it's not too difficult to see why there was a significant dip. The good news for fantasy owners looking to Gordon for steals is that he isn't likely to repeat this lackluster campaign. Gordon made hard contact 20.4% of the time in 2018, the highest rate of his career, but still posted a .304 BABIP, his lowest since 2013, while walking a career-low 1.5% of the time. As Gordon learns the pitchers in the AL and begins to see his OBP numbers come back toward their career averages, Gordon will once again find himself atop the SB leaderboard.

Billy Hamilton (OF, CIN)

In four straight seasons from 2014 to 2017, Billy Hamilton never stole fewer than 56 bases. But in 2018, he fell off a cliff (not literally, though that would explain the sharp decline in stolen base numbers) and swiped just 34 bases. This one is a little harder to figure out than Gordon, though. Hamilton has never been an OBP machine and actually stole more bases in 2015 (57) with a .274 OBP in 114 games than he did this year with a .299 OBP over 153 games.

The answer is simply that the Reds didn't let Hamilton loose nearly as often as they have in the past. His 43 total attempts were a ridiculous decrease, and the Reds as a team attempted 49 fewer steals in 2018 than they did the year before. The question, though, is why? Cincinnati was terrible in just about every offensive category in 2018, so it's surprising that they didn't unleash one of the very few offensive weapons they possessed more often. Hamilton is among the fastest players in all of MLB and will be a free agent at the end of the 2019 campaign, so the Reds would be silly not to let him run wild to try and maximize his trade value at the deadline. He's still got the speed to steal over 50 bags, if someone will just let him run.

Cameron Maybin (OF, SEA)

In 2017, Cameron Maybin had his second-best year on the basepaths, swiping 33 bases in 41 attempts across 114 games split between the Angels and the Astros. In 2018, that total dropped all the way to 10 steals in just 15 attempts across 129 games split between the Marlins and the Mariners. Despite appearing in more games in 2018 than in 2017, he started in 20 fewer and saw 66 fewer plate appearances. On top of that, he played the 2017 season with two teams that ranked 1st (LAA) and 8th (HOU) in stolen bases, as opposed to 2018 in which the teams he played for were 14th (SEA) and 29th (MIA) overall.

Maybin's future output really depends on how he's used, and by whom. The 32-year-old outfielder is a free agent this offseason, and if he lands somewhere he can start frequently or with a proclivity for stealing via pinch runners, it's not unreasonable to think that Maybin could turn in 25 or more steals. It's not likely, however, that Maybin will ever top the 30-SB mark again, as his legs aren't getting any younger and, aside from his 2016 campaign with Detroit, he's never been one to hit for much average. He probably won't be a target on too many draft boards for 2019.

Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)

No list of 2018's biggest disappointments would be complete without mentioning Byron Buxton. Still just 24 years of age, the youngster appeared in 140 games in 2017 and stole 29 bases while being caught just once. Fantasy owners bet big on Buxton in 2018, looking to capitalize on a young talent coming into his own, and his consensus ADP heading into the year was 59. Hindsight is always 20-20, but what a bust that turned out to be.

Buxton appeared in just 28 games for the Twins in 2018 before suffering a wrist injury that landed him on the DL. It wasn't the end of the world, but when his DL stint was up, the Twins optioned Buxton to Triple-A, and he remained in the minors for the rest of the season. He finished with just five stolen bases and a miserable .156/.183/.200 slash line through his first 90 AB. Despite the disappointment that was 2018, there is still a silver lining. If Buxton had remained in the Majors and continued at the exact same pace, he still would have finished the season with around 25 steals (given seeing the same number of AB he did the previous season). Buxton's speed is real, but he'll need to put the nagging wrist injury behind him and find a way to hit for average at the MLB level if he intends to use it.

Elvis Andrus (SS, TEX)

Since his rookie campaign in 2009, Elvis Andrus had stolen at least 21 bases every year. Through the 2017 campaign, he had stolen over 30 bases on four separate occasions, and his highest season total was 42 SB back in 2013. In 2018? Five steals.

We can certainly point to Andrus' broken elbow--which he suffered in April and which kept him out of action until mid-June--as the main cause for the drop in numbers, but that doesn't tell the whole story. In 2017, Andrus reached base 229 times and stole 25 bags, which means he stole successfully in about 11% of the times he found himself on base. This past year, those numbers were much different. Andrus reached base 129 times and stole successfully just five times, just under a 4% rate. It could be that the Rangers were being careful with Andrus, who had never appeared in fewer than 145 games prior to 2018, or that Andrus himself was feeling hesitant. History tells us that if the perennially-durable Andrus can bounce back health in 2019 he'll be a lock for another 20 SB season, but he's on the wrong side of 30 now, and we all know that nothing is a lock once a player reaches that age.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Luis Rengifo37 mins ago

Injures His Hamstring On Friday
Ketel Marte2 hours ago

Likely To Land On The Injured List
Eury Pérez2 hours ago

Eury Perez Throws Bullpen On Friday
Edward Cabrera2 hours ago

To Make Second Rehab Start On Sunday
Matt Brash2 hours ago

On Track To Return In Late April
Ketel Marte2 hours ago

Dealing With Strained Hamstring
Jordan Romano3 hours ago

Shaky While Recording Save Against Dodgers
Julio Rodríguez3 hours ago

Julio Rodriguez Posts Three-Hit Performance
Corbin Carroll3 hours ago

Blasts Two Homers
Tylor Megill3 hours ago

Looks Sharp In Home Opener
Wilyer Abreu3 hours ago

Collects Three Hits
Shota Imanaga4 hours ago

Impressive In Win
Ryan Burr4 hours ago

Could Throw Bullpen Next Week
Brad Lord5 hours ago

Could Make A Start On Sunday
Patrick Corbin5 hours ago

Jack Leiter Placed On Injured List, Patrick Corbin Promoted
Vidal Bruján5 hours ago

Vidal Brujan's Rehab Stalls
Jud Fabian5 hours ago

Showing Power At Triple-A
Javier Assad5 hours ago

Getting Close To Rehab Assignment
Kutter Crawford5 hours ago

Not Cleared To Face Hitters
Michael McGreevy5 hours ago

Rebounds In Second Start
Liam Hendriks5 hours ago

To Throw Bullpen Session This Weekend
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
10
11
11
12
19
13
22
14
24
15
25
16
29
17
39
18
40
19
41

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
1
1
2
3
3
7
4
11
6
14
7
15
8
18
9
19
10
20

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
UFL DFS PICKS, FANTASY FOOTBALL, DRAFTKINGS, FANDUEL

UFL DFS Lineup Picks: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Fantasy Advice for Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of the inaugural UFL season, RotoBallers! We already have one week in the books, with the XFL teams off to a hot start at 3-1 while the USFL conference went 1-3. We have Houston squaring off against Arlington in the early game and San Antonio versus St. Louis in the later […]


Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: NFL Draft QB Scouting Report!

Michael F. Florio gives his scouting report for the 2025 NFL Draft QB class. Do Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders live up the hype? Should you be excited about Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe? Plus, he goes over the deeper options in this class! Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (SiriusXM channel […]


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Best Bets: Week 2 Picks

Well, the opening week is always full of curveballs, and 2025 was no exception. We actually saw the Birmingham Stallions lose a game, looking bad in the process. Overall, I went 3-3-1 on spreads and over/unders last week, so a bit inconvenient that neither parlay worked out. It is a short season, so the pressure […]


Isaiah Bond - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks - NFL Draft

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers: 5 Undervalued Draft Targets

We all know at this point who the top names are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Ashton Jeanty will be the dynasty rookie RB1. Tetairoa McMillan will be the rookie WR1. But fantasy leagues aren't won just by getting a top-2 or three rookie pick and grabbing the best guys. Rookie drafts are also […]


Ja'Marr Chase fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Two-Round Start-Up Dynasty Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single Quarterback

The players you select in the early rounds of dynasty fantasy football start-up drafts have a massive impact on the chances of your team winning for many seasons after the first one. So it's crucial to nail these picks, and there are a few ways you can do that. Obviously, no one's being selected in […]


Tetairoa McMillan - College Football DFS Lineup Picks, NCAA CFB, NFL Draft Prospect

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single-QB

Thankfully, fans and fantasy football players only have to wait a few more weeks for the 2025 NFL Draft. That means dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are right around the corner. While dynasty fantasy outlooks for the NFL Draft prospects will change between today and the end of April, it’s time for another dynasty rookie […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For Wide Receivers On New Teams: Davante Adams, DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk, and more

The 2025 NFL offseason has been full of breaking news alerts. Last year, all the action was at the running back position, with Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs changing teams. However, all the action has been at the wide receiver position this offseason. Some big-name wide receivers remained with their current teams. Tee […]


Bijan Robinson - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Running Back Preview: Targets & Sleepers For 2025 Drafts

While the NFL is in the middle of its offseason, the fantasy football world never takes a break. Much in the fantasy world will change between now and the start of the regular season. Yet, let’s take an early look at the running back position for 2025 fantasy football drafts. Below are three early-round studs, […]


Russell Wilson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Fantasy Football Outlooks For QBs On New Teams: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, more

The NFL quarterback carousel gets to spin every offseason, and plenty of QBs have already found new homes ahead of the 2025 NFL season. For fantasy football, a player's surrounding team is extremely important, so it's worth looking into each of their outlooks with their new squads. There are still a few unsigned QBs, but […]


Shedeur Sanders - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Superflex/Two-QB

The 2025 NFL Draft is still less than 30 days away. Therefore, dynasty fantasy rookie mock drafts are nearly here. Much will change between now and the NFL Draft. However, it’s time for another dynasty rookie mock draft. This rookie mock draft is a two-round, 12-team, and two-quarterbacks. For a deeper dive into dynasty strategy, […]


Deshaun Watson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Offseason Team Needs: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

The AFC North, comprised of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers, sent two teams to the playoffs in 2024 and had one on the cusp of a playoff berth. The Ravens have the best roster of the four teams by a long shot. The Steelers have a solid defensive group, and […]


UFL RANKINGS, FANTASY FOOTBALL,

UFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 2: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2025)

Week 2 of the UFL season is just around the corner. This week will feature one game on Friday, one game on Saturday, and two on Sunday. Birmingham and Michigan will play at 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, followed by Memphis-D.C. on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Sunday's game pits the 1-0 Renegades against the […]


Calvin Ridley - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Picks, Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings: Overvalued, Undervalued Players (2025)

Dynasty fantasy football rankings constantly shift, especially as we inch closer to the new season and fantasy drafts. Dynasty managers know the importance of finding those underrated players who could be steals in drafts or trades. They also know some players are overhyped due to unsustainable trends or past production. I'll break down two overvalued […]