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SPORTS Friday 24 February 2023
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MLB’s bigger bases could lead to more steals, fewer injuries

By JAY COHEN time the big leagues sur-
AP Baseball Writer passed 3,000 steals and
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Like a 4,000 attempts.
violin virtuoso using a new “I’ve definitely been thrown
music stand, San Diego Pa- out by less than (4 1/2)
dres third baseman Manny inches ... so maybe that
Machado noticed a differ- starts factoring into results,”
ence right away. said Chicago Cubs second
Not only are the bases big- baseman Nico Hoerner,
ger, but they feel different, who swiped a career-best
too. 20 bases in 22 attempts last
“It’s definitely different, for year.
sure,” said Machado, a Of course, it also gives the
two-time Gold Glove win- majors’ top defensive first
ner. “They look better. I just basemen an even better
got to kind of keep playing chance of keeping runners
with it and stepping on it off base altogether.
and kind of like getting the “I think it could help. It’ll
feel for it. But it’s definitely give me another inch or so
different for sure.” of reach on a throw that
The bigger bases going wants to pull me off the
from 15- to 18-inch squares base,” said Arizona Dia-
are part of a flurry of The new, larger base sits next to the older, smaller base at TD Ballpark Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, mondbacks first baseman
changes by Major League in Dunedin, Fla. Christian Walker, who won
Baseball designed to put Associated Press his first Gold Glove last year.
more action and athleti- Besides the activity on the
cism back in the game and cracked cut down the dis- off the rubber it’s more 3,297 attempts last year, up basepaths, Major League
make it more appealing to tance between the bases important than ever that from 2,214 steals and 2,926 Baseball is hoping the
a younger generation of by 4 1/2 inches. The dis- pitchers are quick to the attempts in 2021, accord- change will help reduce
potential fans. tance between third and plate and strong-armed ing to Sportradar, but much injuries. While testing the
When the new rules were home and home and first catchers stay alert with run- lower than 3,229 steals and bigger bases in the minors,
adopted by baseball’s was trimmed by 3 inches. ners on. 4,365 attempts a decade there was a 13% decline in
11-person competition It doesn’t sound like much, “The run game, preventing ago in 2012. what the league calls “in-
committee in Septem- but the impact could be the run game, is something In testing in the minors, two jury events near the bases”
ber, the four players on considerable. that we’ve talked about, Triple-A leagues used the from 2021 to 2022.
the panel supported the Instead of waiting around we’re going to continue bigger bases for half of the There’s more room for first
bigger bases and voted for a three-run homer, big to talk about, because ... 2021 season. One experi- basemen to avoid get-
against the use of a pitch league teams could try a the stolen-base attempt enced a 2.2% increase in ting stepped on, or to pull
clock and limits on defen- more aggressive approach should increase a good bit, successful steals, and the their arm away in time to
sive shifts. on the basepaths. Coupled I think,” Dodgers manager other posted 0.7% increase. avoid a batter hustling up
The new bases “They with new limits on what Dave Roberts said. The 2012 season when Mike the line. It also should help
look like a pizza box,” Red MLB calls disengagements Major league teams fin- Trout led the majors with 49 avoid collisions all over the
Sox manager Alex Cora pickoff attempts or steps ished with 2,486 steals in stolen bases was the last diamond. q

U.S. women win SheBelieves Cup with 2-1 victory over Brazil

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Alex It was Morgan’s 14th ent and just taking it day we can’t, it will be very dif- said. Midfielder Rose Lavelle
Morgan and Mallory Swan- goal since the birth of her by day, game by game,” ficult. So that’s why I’m say- started for the United States
son scored and the United daughter in 2020, giving her Swanson said. ing we have a long way to after missing the first two
States defeated Brazil 2-1 the national team record Swanson, formerly Mallory go,” matches of the tournament
on Wednesday night to win for most goals as a mom. Pugh, married Chicago Brazil coach Pia Sundhage with a minor injury.q
the SheBelieves Cup for the “That was huge,” Swanson Cubs shortstop Dansby
fourth straight year. said. “I think we needed Swanson in December.
Japan, which defeated it, we needed the mo- Ludmila scored in stoppage
Canada 3-0 in the earlier mentum to kind of shift in time for Brazil to avoid the
match at Toyota Stadium, our favor. (It was) Alex do- shutout.
was runner-up in the four- ing Alex things. Simple, left It was the first goal the
team, round-robin tourna- foot, classic. She was get- United States has allowed
ment. All four SheBelieves ting beat up all first half and this year. The United States
Cup teams will play in ultimately she punished is undefeated in five overall
Women’s World Cup this them.” Swanson scored in matches.
summer in Australia and the 63rd minute, her fourth “We need to be on the
New Zealand. goal of the tournament same page. But not only
Morgan’s curling goal and seventh overall goal when it comes to read-
sailed out of reach of Bra- this year, matching her to- ing the game, but also the
zilian goalkeeper Lorena. tal of all of last year. emotional game, we need United States women’s soccer team lifts up and celebrates the
Morgan now has five goals “I think honestly it’s been to be on the same page. If SheBelieves Cup after winning the soccer match against Brazil
all-time in SheBelieves a good run. I’ve really just we can do that, I think we’ll 2-0 Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in Frisco, Texas.
matches. tried to focus on being pres- have a great World Cup. If Associated Press