Stolen base efficiency - Orioles edition

[Frobby]

There are 14 Orioles who have attempted at least 100 steals in their Orioles career.    In order of efficiency:

Corey Patterson 102/125 = 82.4%
Brian Roberts 278/347 = 80.1%
Luis Aparicio 166/212 = 78.3%
Brady Anderson 307/405 = 75.8%
Don Baylor 118/159 = 74.2%
Adam Jones 90/122 = 73.8%
Al Bumbry 252/344 = 73.2%

Jerry Hairston Jr. 94/133 = 70.7%
Mark Belanger 166/241= 68.9%
Paul Blair 167/257 = 65.0%
Bobby Grich 77/120 = 64.2%
Don Buford 85/133 = 63.9%
Melvin Mora 82/131 = 62.6%
Mike Devereaux 73/120 = 60.8%

The gap on the list isn’t intentional (phone formatting thing), but it so happens that 71% is usually about the break even point on the success rate you need in order for it to be worthwhile to attempt a steal.   The break even point moves a little depending on the offensive environment of the time (more offense => higher success rate to break even).  

Luis Matos barely missed the cut at 96 attempts, and he succeeded a healthy 75.0% of the time.    Jonathan Villar wasn’t here long enough to come close to 100 attempts, but he succeeded on 83.6% of his 73 attempts, higher than anyone on the list above.    He’s topped by Nate McLouth, who had an 84.0% success rate in 50 attempts.

The player who had the highest number of attempts with less than a 50% success rate was none other than Cal Ripken Jr., who succeeded on only 36 of 75 tries (48%).    

The 2006/2007 teams that featured BRob and CPat were fun to watch: 121/153 (79.1%) in ‘06 and 144/186 (77.4%) in ‘07.   Earl uncharacteristically let his teams run wild in 1973-74, but they weren’t quite as efficient: 146/210 (69.5%) in ‘73 and 145/203 (71.4%) in ‘74.    

It’s not always the most efficient strategy, but it is fun to watch a team that likes to steal.   

[Moose Milligan]

Corey Patterson is one of my favorite bad Orioles ever.  And he wasn't even all that bad in 2006. 

Never would have guessed that he was here long enough to steal 100 bases though.  

And I always forget how good Brian Roberts was in his prime.  

[HowAboutThat]

If Nate Mclouth were still here, I would not complain about left field nearly as much.

[Can_of_corn]

46 minutes ago, Philip said:

If Nate Mclouth were still here, I would not complain about left field nearly as much.

He'd be 41, I think you would.

[bobmc]

12 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

He'd be 41, I think you would.

We haven't seen him much lately but I bet Brady could still be passable out there.    And CLB would still be here with the same emoji dressing up her posts!  (sic) B E L E I V E !

[Number5]

21 hours ago, Frobby said:

Luis Matos barely missed the cut at 96 attempts, and he succeeded a healthy 75.0% of the time.  

He should be on the list, IMO, since he would have been at 71% had he failed in all four additional attempts needed in order to reach 100.  Isn't that what they do in determining batting championships - calculate the BA assuming an out in each of the additional times at bat needed to qualify?   Maybe that's why your phone left that empty space - it knew that Matos belonged right there!