Reds picking spots for steals, not running wild

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NEW YORK — The Reds came into Tuesday leading the National League in steals with 17 and were tied for second in the Majors. That doesn’t mean they’re the “Running Reds,” stealing bags at will. Players have been picking their spots and giving themselves the best opportunity.

“I think it’s more about what’s out there to take,” Reds manager Bryan Price said Tuesday afternoon. “You get some of these pitching staffs that everybody is a 1.1-1.25 [seconds] to the plate from the stretch and there’s really very little you can do. Some teams might be quick with a runner at first base, [but] the runner gets to second and they go up by three- or four-tenths of a second. That makes third base an option to try and steal with a lot of optimism that guys can make it.”

During Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Mets, the Reds tied a season high with five steals against the deliberate delivery of Mets starter Noah Syndergaard. Trailing, 1-0, in the third inning, Billy Hamilton bunted for a single against Syndergaard and then stole both second base and third base while Zack …

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