Back when MLB announced its new rules regarding bigger bases, limited pickoff attempts and the adoption of pitch clocks, there was a wave of giddiness that spread throughout Birdland. After all, the O’s featured the two best base-stealers in the American League in 2022 with Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins. When asked if he could steal 50 bases in 2023, Mateo laughed and said “put it on the books”. The O’s were seemingly ready to get off the to races.
And get off to the races they did in their opening series against Boston. On Opening Day, Mateo and Mullins combined for four steals and were wreaking such havoc on Boston catcher Reese McGuire that he was pinch-hit for in the 7th inning.