The Yankees’ improved offense cannot solely be attributed to stolen bases

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports The verdict on the Yankees’ offense at the All-Star break was clear, repeated ad nauseum by announcers, pundits, and fans alike — the team was unathletic, one-dimensional, and slow. Before the break, the squad could only compile 20 stolen bases altogether, ranking them dead last in all of MLB. Yet despite fielding a highly similar roster, the tide has turned since the break.

Between the All-Star break and Monday’s make-up against the Angels, the Yankees stole 24 bases, already beating their first half total in less than a month. Forcing opposing pitchers to reckon with the running game is valuable, but that may be the only value the Yankees have really found…