BJ Upton plans on stealing 900 bases next year

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Moments after BJ Upton prolonged the World Series by stealing second base and then scoring on a single to left, the Tampa Bay Rays centerfielder predicted that he’d steal 900 bases next season.

“What’s the record for steals in a season, about 400?” Upton asked. “I feel like I can double that, and then some.”

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The modern record for steals in a season is actually 130, by Rickey Henderson. It’s been 21 years since a player stole 100 bases in a season, when Vince Coleman stole 109 in 1987.

“How many bases did I steal this year?” Upton asked. “I think it was about 250, right? 248, 249 … something like that? And I was injured for part of the year.”

Upton actually stole 44 bases, and was caught stealing 16 times. He is a perfect six-for-six this postseason, though, and he has a total of 81 steals in his short big league career.

“Listen, it’s not going to be easy,” Upton said. “But I figure if I hit 300 singles, and add another 155 walks, then I’ll be on base 455 times. So if I steal second and third each of those times, then I’ll be at 900 steals easily. I can even be thrown out ten times. And that doesn’t even count reaching on an error or being hit by a pitch. See, the things is, in both base stealing and life, you have to have a plan.”

While many dismissed Upton’s comments as being a pipe dream, at least one person was fully on board with the plan.

“I think B.J. Upton can do anything he wants to,” said announcer Joe Buck. “Literally, anything. If he wants to try and steal 900 bases next year, he can certainly do that, and I can tell you one thing. When he gets to the end of that journey, Joe Buck will be waiting there to give him a giant hug.”