LOS ANGELES – Speed is merely a part of the equation for top base stealers, a fact that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows well.
So when Roberts says Shohei Ohtani’s ability to steal bases has improved considerably as the season has progressed, the assessment carries weight.
Roberts had one of the more acclaimed steals in baseball when he swiped second base in the ninth inning of Game 4 in the 2004 American League Championship Series for the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees.
The steal helped the Red Sox rally for the victory and emerge from a 3-0 series hole to advance to the World Series and ultimately win the title to end an 86-year championship drought.
Roberts was on hand for another steal of significance when Ohtani swiped second base in the fourth inning Friday. It was his 40th steal of the season, second most in baseball, and it came five innings before Ohtani’s game-ending grand slam to give him 40 home runs.
Ohtani became just the sixth player to deliver a 40-40 season and it would not have been possible without a massive improvement on his previous high in steals: 26 in 2021.
“I just think now he is looking like a base stealer,” Roberts said. “The jumps are way better, the situations he runs just makes more sense to the scoreboard and he’s became a really plus base stealer and not just a fast baseball player.”
Ohtani has been working closely with first-base coach Clayton McCullough on his base-stealing technique. It has led to 24 steals in 26 chances since the start of July and a perfect 12-for-12 run in August, heading into Saturday’s game.
“It’s just really being able to have open communication with the coaches, a lot of people in the clubhouse to first of all have an aggressive approach on the bases to make sure that I’m utilizing my running ability,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
Ohtani’s last 12 steals have come in his previous 19 games, beginning with an Aug. 3 game at Oakland when he stole three bases. Including Saturday, he had 33 games to record 10 more steals and hit the 50 mark.
“Clayton and (Ohtani) have formed a really nice relationship and whether it’s talking about mechanics, talking about pitcher tendencies, it’s good to see because they have been working hand in hand together,” Roberts said.
Ohtani’s 40 steals came in 44 attempts. When he stole 26 bases with the Angels in 2021, he was thrown out 10 times.
Ohtani threw 10 pitches in the bullpen before Saturday’s game, the first time he has thrown from a mound since elbow surgery nearly a year ago.
While the outing was part of Ohtani’s regular rehab progression, the Dodgers have no intention of using the right-hander in either the regular season or in the playoffs this October.
Ohtani was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts for the Angels last season, when he won his second American League MVP award. He has pitched in five of his seven MLB seasons, going 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts. He has 608 strikeouts over 471 2/3 innings.
Roberts said that the return of right-hander Tyler Glasnow from elbow tendonitis will not come as quickly as expected but it does not mean there has been a setback.
Glasnow, who went on the injured list Aug. 16, threw from 60 feet while playing catch Saturday, but still has to progress to 90 feet and then 120 feet before he gets on a mound for a bullpen session. Only then will he progress to a simulated game and/or a minor league rehab assignment.
“So I think it’s going to be a slower process than we all anticipated initially,” said Roberts, who still expects Glasnow to return before the end of the regular season.
The injury was not desired but the downtime could serve Glasnow well. He might be in his ninth major league season, but the 31-year-old Glasnow already has reached career highs in starts (22) and innings (134).
After playing in three consecutive games following his return from the injured list then getting two days off, Max Muncy was back in the lineup Saturday at third base and batting seventh.
The lineup alternated left-handed hitters with right-handed hitters starting with the left-handed hitting Ohtani at the top. Lefty swinging Gavin Lux was batting fifth, with Roberts open to having Lux or Muncy in the No. 5 spot as the last month of the season progresses.
“Honestly, the players make the lineup,” Roberts said. “If you perform, you’re going to be higher up and play, and if you don’t then you’re going to be lower and don’t play. Simple as that.”
The Dodgers have turned 8/24 weekend into a celebration of late Lakers star Kobe Bryant and had members of the 1980s Showtime Lakers on hand for a pregame ceremony. The first 40,000 fans received a Lakers “Showtime” T-shirt.
The star power was immense with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Mychael Thompson, A.C. Green, Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis and Michael Cooper all on hand to speak to the crowd and reminisce about their playing days. They also threw out a group first pitch.
Magic Johnson was spending time with his mother in Michigan and was not on hand.
The first 40,000 fans at Sunday’s game against the Rays will receive a T-shirt honoring Bryant.
Rays (RHP Shane Baz, 1-2, 3.48 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Gavin Stone, 11-5, 3.44 ERA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570-AM
