Short Hops: Running before you walk

RUNNING BEFORE YOU WALK

They say you can’t steal first base — but it almost seems that Willy Taveras can. With a dozen more swipes than his nearest competitor, he appears be a lock to lead the NL. But the disconnect is that the Rockies outfielder has 51 of them despite a skimpy on-base percentage of .302. Over a full season, only eight players have stolen 50 bags with a lower one. (It helps that he opened the year 18-for-18 when attempting to pilfer third.)

Rockies skipper Clint Hurdle almost always bats Fast Willy atop the order (a role in which his OBP is below .300), but Wednesday night’s loss to Arizona illustrated the price to be paid for the center fielder’s overanxiousness. Taveras saw only nine pitches the whole game and went 0-for-4. Once he came up following a walk to .039-hitting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and, rather than make misfiring Randy Johnson throw a strike, he popped up the first pitch and left two men on base. Later, again with two aboard, he fouled off the first offering and bounced into a double play on the second. Ironically, after going well over a year without a GIDP, it was Taveras’ second in three games.

So if you were wondering why two teams dumped him before his 25th birthday, and why he’s periodically benched despite the grand thievery, tremendous outfield defense and a career batting average that stood at .293 before this year, now you know. His managers simply lose patience with his impatience.

THE WIZARDS OF OHS

Four years ago, Brad Ziegler was pitching independent ball in Schaumburg, Indiana after being released by the Phillies. Now his shoes and hat are in the Hall of Fame — mementos from the game in which he set the major league record for scoreless innings to start a career. As of Wednesday, the 27-year-old was still unscathed after 38 frames. Ziegler, in fact, has yet to even surrender an extra-base hit.

This stat, however, has just got to be WRONG: Twelve of the 134 batters he’s faced have hit into a double play! In more familiar terms, that’s the equivalent of a batter rapping into roughly 55 twin-killings over a full season. (Only 14 players have ever hit into as many as 30.) So difficult is it to lift Ziegler’s submarine stylings that he hasn’t allowed a home run since 2006 — 98 appearances covering 140 2/3 innings at Double-A, Triple-A and The Show the past two years.

Ziegler is not the only rookie pitcher slinging ciphers, however. Chris Volstad made 15 minor league starts without serving up a gopher before he was called up by Florida. (Geovany Soto is the sole big-leaguer to take him yard so far in 38 2/3 innings.) And recently recalled Mets reliever Eddie Kunz has made 56 lifetime appearances on the farms without serving up a circuit.

HIT AND RUN

Short Hops’ recurring installment of slapdash observation and imprudent opinion:

Eighteen starts into his season, Twins righty Kevin Slowey has yet to allow a first-inning run (a team record), and he hasn’t walked anyone in 16 of his first 29 career starts (a major league mark).

The Rangers went 13-12 in July despite an ERA of 6.63.

On the same day that Jonny Gomes saw his Tampa Bay record for home runs by a rookie broken by Evan Longoria’s 22nd, he was sent to the minors.

Corey Patterson just snapped an 0-for-23 streak with runners in scoring position. Of course, he’s not much better in any situation; he’s the only guy in the majors with at least 250 plate appearances who’s still looking up at the Mendoza Line (.194 AVG).

By the way, of the nine players hitting below .220 with that minimum, five are catchers (Jeff Mathis, Jason Varitek, Kenji Johjima, Paul Bako, Carlos Ruiz) and one (Daric Barton) used to be.

Of all the nutty nuggets to come out of the Red Sox’s 19-17 conquest of the Rangers on Tuesday, our favorite is this: Texas’ Scott Feldman was the first starter to allow 12 runs and not take the loss since Gene Packard of the 1918 Cardinals (who actually got a “W’ against the Phillies).

QUOTABLES

“If he would come, I would go. I wouldn’t want to deal with it.” — Astros manager Cecil Cooper on the prospect of signing Barry Bonds.