Young eyeing NL stolen base crown

NEW YORK -- Most of the intrigue of this year's National League stolen base race revolves around Brewers rookie shortstop Jean Segura, who has not played since Sept. 18 due to injury. After the Mets' 4-2 loss to the Brewers on Friday, Segura is tied atop the leaderboard with Mets outfielder Eric Young, Jr.

Young swiped two bags in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Milwaukee to tie Segura with a career-high 44 steals -- despite the fact that he did not become an everyday player until the Mets acquired him from Colorado in June.

"He had a two-and-a-half-month lead on me," Young said of Segura.

In the three months since, Young has rapidly caught up in terms of both plate appearances and stolen bases. Batting leadoff more often than not, including Friday, Young leads the NL in plate appearances since the trade. He also leads in stolen bases, with 36 in 89 games.

Compare that to Segura, who has stolen at least seven bases, but no more than nine, in each of the first five months of the season, and six in September. If Segura returns to the lineup this weekend, as Brewers manager Ron Roenicke indicated he would, it will set up an intriguing subplot between him and Young on the season's final days.

"It's going to be fun," Young said, admitting that he's had his eye on the leaderboard since becoming an everyday player. "Regardless of the results, it's been fun the whole way, this whole season."