The Standings

Some top base thieves are feeling the pinch this season.
In 1998, White Sox Mike Caruso and Ray Durham succeeded on nearly
80% (58 for 73) of their combined steal attempts, but through
Sunday they'd been nabbed more than half the time in '99. Here
are the players with the worst stolen-base success rates (on at
least 10 attempts) this year.

--David Sabino

PLAYER, TEAM STOLEN BASES ATTEMPTS SUCCESS RATE

1. Mike Caruso, White Sox 4 10 40.0%
Sophomore jinx? Already gunned down as many times this year
(six) as he was in 28 attempts as a rookie

2. Ray Durham, White Sox 6 13 46.2%
At the start of 1999 his career rate of 77.5% placed him among
the most efficient base runners. Not any more

3. Bobby Abreu, Phillies 5 10 50.0%
Outstanding speed has yet to translate to the base paths.
However, it's only a matter of time

4. Quilvio Veras, Padres 7 13 53.8%
Led the National League in 1995 by getting caught 21 times; he
also led in swipes that year, with 56

T5. Ellis Burks, Giants 6 11 54.5%
On pace to be caught more than 40% of the time for the fifth
time in his 13-year career

T5. Quinton McCracken, Devil Rays 6 11 54.5%
Lost for the year after a May 24 knee injury; he stole 17 or
more bases in each of his three full seasons

7. Jose Offerman, Red Sox 9 16 60.0%
Responsible for nearly a third of Boston's running game: 9 of 29
team steals and 7 of 19 times caught

T8. Marvin Benard, Giants 8 13 61.5%
Career success rate until 1997 was 70.7%. In 1998 and 1999
combined, it's a paltry 52.1%.

T8. Andruw Jones, Braves 8 13 61.5%
Undeniably fast, but baserunning the one of his five tools that
still needs polishing

10. Derek Jeter, Yankees 7 11 63.6%
1998 rate of 83.3% (30 for 36) fourth best in American League;
more slugger than speedster in '99