Leyland Turns Off The Green Light

Last winter, Austin Jackson said he felt he could steal 40 bases after swiping 27 in 33 attempts in his rookie season.

Probably not going to happen.

Jackson singled Friday to open Detroit's 7-4 loss at Toronto, and that would seem like a prime opportunity to give the speedy leadoff man the green light.

But he never tried to steal. And there was no hit-and-run attempt with Scott Sizemore at bat, either.

The brakes on Detroit's running game, at least in terms of stealing bases, began in the middle of last season.

The Tigers were in first place most of the first half of last season. Then immediately after the All-Star break, they got swept in their first two series. Then they lost three regulars within a week, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Brandon Inge.

Teams then quit pitching to Miguel Cabrera in anything resembling a game-altering situation, so when Jackson and Will Rhymes got on base, Jim Leyland kept them at first base.

Why have them steal, Leyland reasoned, when it just opened up first base so teams could walk Cabrera and pitch to Joe Anybody?

Would you rather have Cabrera hitting with a runner on first? Leyland asked himself. Or have Joe Anybody batting with runners on first and second?

The same thing is happening this season and likely will continue for some time into the future.

So will Jackson steal 40 bases?

He will, but it will take about four years to do it.

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