Run, Run, Rudolph...

There are four pitchers in the major leagues this year who have thrown over 100 innings while allowing 10+ steals and not having a single attempt thrown out (excluding pickoffs). Some of this is their catchers' fault, but as manager Ned Yost noted recently about one of the four: "Benny's [Sheets] a little slow to the plate." Perhaps that has something to do with the other guys as well.

Here's the list:

• Dustin McGowan, Toronto, 159.1 IP, 28 SB
• Chris Young, San Diego, 156.0, 36
  
• A.J. Burnett, Toronto, 153.1, 29
• Ben Sheets, Milwaukee, 141.1, 21

I wonder if Johnny Estrada, Gregg Zaun and Josh Bard get together in the offseason and compete to see who can throw an egg against a wall the most without it breaking.

So what pitchers have allowed the most steals? Here's the guys with 100+ IP and 20+ steals against:

1. Tim Wakefield, Boston, 39 (Surprised?)
2. Chris Young, San Diego, 36
3. Greg Maddux, San Diego, 33
4. A.J. Burnett, Toronto, 29
5. Dustin McGowan, Toronto, 28
6. Brandon Webb, Arizona, 26
7. Daniel Cabrera, Baltimore, 24
8. Jose Contreras, Chicago (AL), 23
9. Rich Hill, Chicago (NL), 22
10. Jake Peavy, San Diego, 21
11. Mike Mussina, New York (AL), 21
12. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee, 21
13. Byung-Hyun Kim, National League, 21
14. Roy Halladay, Toronto, 20

Note Rich Hill is the only left-hander on the list. What's going on there?

Five players have at least five pickoffs in 100+ innings this year:

1. Doug Davis, Arizona, 6
2. Wandy Rodriguez, Houston, 6
3. Mike Maroth, Detroit/St. Louis, 6
4. Andy Pettitte, New York (AL), 5
5. Mark Buehrle, Chicago (AL), 5