Adventures in baserunning

The Twins on Sunday had an inning ended when both Ehire Adrianza and Mitch Garver got caught in rundowns. It is today a what-if play -- what it Joe Mauer had gotten to hit with men on the corners in that inning? Would it have changed the complexion of the game?

We don't know that alternative universe. We do know that in this universe the 2018 Twins have seemingly been prone to baserunning blunders.

So I decided to dive into Baseball Reference this morning to see what their numbers say about the Twins baserunning. A highlights (or lowlights, if you prefer):

*The Twins lead the American League in getting picked off, with 10. Nobody else has more than seven.

* The Twins are next to last in stolen base attempts (23). Only Oakland tries to steal less often.

* The Twins have the fifth worst stolen base percentage in the AL, at 72 percent.

* The Twins have been thrown out on the bases 23 times, which is exactly league average. Boston and Houston are 1-3 in this, but they have lots more baserunners. Tampa Bay is second in lost runners.

* The Twins are second in the AL in extra bases taken. They've gone first-to-third  or second-to-home on singles, or first to home on doubles, on 48 percent of such opportunities; only Texas, at 50 percent, is higher.

Specifically, the Twins have gone first to third on a single 38 times in 101 such opportunities; first to home on 23 of 51 doubles with a man on first; and second to home on 42 of 64 singles.