There is good reason why I ranked Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith so low this summer and made sure to avoid him in drafts. The stolen bases were not worth it in relation to the total lack of power, but it turns out, Smith could not even hit enough to play regularly. The Mariners farmed Smith to their alternate site -- sounds so sci-fi! -- Tuesday after he hit .133 with a pair of stolen bases in 14 forgettable games. Smith began Tuesday rostered in more than 40% of ESPN standard leagues. Well, the Mariners are telling you to move on so go and do it!
The problem for fantasy managers is that so many of the top stolen base threats from the 2019 season are simply not running as expected. Nationals shortstop Trea Turner finally stole his maiden base of 2020 on Monday, but of the 11 players who stole 25 or more bases in 2019, only three of them have swiped more than three bases so far (Adalberto Mondesi, Jonathan Villar, Tommy Pham) and the third fellow in that group is probably out for the season. Pham broke the hamate bone in his wrist this weekend.
Major league managers simply do not value the stolen base anymore. Perhaps if Smith, Jarrod Dyson and Delino DeShields offered even modest power, they would play more, but they do not. Everyone craves power. Moving up one base is no longer a big deal. Royals leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield, two-time AL hits leader and provider of an average of 16 home runs and 33 stolen bases the past three seasons, is currently sitting on five home runs and two steals. Power is king.
Regardless, stolen bases remain a category in roto leagues, so those who thought they would get them from a varied group consisting of Smith, Christian Yelich, Victor Robles, Kolten Wong and Francisco Lindor have not received them. Who is running and you can still get in ESPN standard roto leagues, available in at least 50% of them? Glad you asked. Oh, and ignore the category in points leagues.