Rays stolen base specialist Carl Crawford has 20 stolen bases on the season and is on pace to steal about 100 bases this year, which would be the first time that has been accomplished in 22 years. Still, in an interview he gave recently to MLB.com, he says he doesn’t expect to reach that mark. I’m inclined not to believe him, because he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down. If anything, I think he’s caught the stolen base bug. It seems that every time he gets on first base now, he’s immediately looking to steal. That might mean waiting a few pitches (he knows that pitchout is probably coming on a 0-1 count), but chances are at some point he’s going. What’s weird is that everybody in the stadium knows this, yet he’s still 20 for 20 on the season.

Crawford will have a challenge tonight: a lefty on lefty matchup against Yankees hurler Andy Pettitte. Even if he gets on base, he’s going to have some trouble stealing on Pettitte, who picks off the most baserunners every season because umpires won’t call his obvious balk pickoff move. Whatever happened to “don’t break the plane” and “don’t step towards home”? I’m convinced Pettitte could take a full lunge towards home, rotate his shoulders and fling the ball to first and the umpire would let it slide because Andy Pettitte is Andy Pettitte. Jose Molina is also a great catcher for nabbing runners, except he’s been really dinged up in the past few days and hasn’t looked good throwing the ball down to second base. I think his shoulder and/or collarbone is still bruised from a brutal foul tip he took in the game against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Tags: andy pettitte, carl crawford, jose molina, new york yankees, stolen bases, tampa bay rays