Pete Crow-Armstrong Joins 40-40 Club, Becoming First Cub to Reach Milestone

Q: What underlying modern rule changes are secretly fueling this sudden surge in historically rare 40-40 MLB seasons?

The biggest hidden driver is MLB’s 2023 baserunning rules, especially larger bases and strict limits on pickoff throws. Those changes have made stolen bases easier and more efficient, which directly boosts the “40 steals” half of a 40-40 season. The league enlarged first, second and third base from 15 inches to 18 inches, slightly shortening the distance between bases. That trims the runner’s path by a few inches on steal attempts, enough to matter at elite speed. MLB also limited disengagements by pitchers: after two pickoff attempts or step-offs in a plate appearance, a third unsuccessful try becomes a balk. That gives runners more confidence to take bigger leads and better anticipate when they can go. The pitch clock has added to that pressure. Pitchers now work faster and have less freedom to vary timing indefinitely, which can make them more predictable to base stealers. The result has been a clear jump in stolen-base attempts and success rates across the sport since the rules took effect. That does not explain the home-run side by itself; players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. still need rare power-speed talent to get to 40-40. But modern rules have unquestionably lowered the barrier to elite steal totals, helping turn what was once almost unreachable into a more realistic target for the game’s best all-around athletes.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 24

Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player in Cubs history to post a 40-homer, 40-steal season, with Chicago marking the milestone after its game against Miami.
At age 24, Crow-Armstrong joined just six other MLB players to reach 40-40 and became only the third ever to pair 45-plus home runs with 40 steals.
His season line now stands at .280 with 45 home runs, 107 RBIs and 40 stolen bases, strengthening his case as one of baseball's top performers this year.
Craig Counsell and Jed Hoyer both praised the feat before the game, while the Cubs entered Friday still trying to avoid a Marlins sweep and clinch a playoff berth.