What is the secret to SB's?

[dowie]

I am a vet of this series, but for some reason I can't get going on the basepaths - like ever!

I know the cpu uses the slide step a lot and that certainly doesn't help but no matter the size of the lead, the pitcher, the count or the baserunner ;I am being thrown out i bet 90% of the time.

Am I doing something wrong from a controller perspective?
Any advice is appreciated.

Dowie

[Caulfield]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

No advice but im interested in the same info. I play station to station but there are some great 80s era rosters i play with that really beg to be stolen with. What a great time to be a runner.

[Lexicon]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

I either steal on the 1st pitch or the 4th pitch, and I usually only steal with guys who are 70 in both speed and steal. I'm usually successful, but I obviously don't steal very much. Honestly, the pitcher and catcher are about as important as anything. Know the arm strength and the accuracy of the catcher, and try to steal on an off-speed pitch, if you can guess that correctly. I rarely ever take a lead, as I get thrown out more times than not.

[tjhamstar]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

I like to hold down L2 and then release when I want my runner to steal, find it to be more effective than double tapping the button. Just a matter of timing and playing the odds with some luck sprinkled in.

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[jeffy777]

Re: What is the secret to SB

I used to time my jumps, but found I was much more successful just by tapping the button once to preload the steal, combined with a one extra step leadoff. I’m currently leading the league in my franchise, so it’s working pretty well.

The main thing you have to do is be patient. Don’t go on the 1st pitch as the CPU is obsessed with pitch outs and will almost always do so on the 1st or 2nd pitch if you have even a semi-decent speedster on base (really hope they tone this down next year btw as it’s not very realistic).

So what I do is wait until they pitch out, or at least slidestep, then before the next pitch take an extra step off first and tap to queue up your steal. You have to hope they don’t slidestep twice in a row, but if your guy is fast enough, he can beat it. This is where preloading your jump comes in handy as it’s easier to get a good jump vs. the slidestep, for me at least.

As for the leadoff, try to wait until right before or as the pitcher is coming set to take your extra step. If you do it too early, he’ll often be more likely to attempt a pickoff, pitchout, or slidestep. If your guy is really fast, you really don’t even need the extra step, especially if the pitcher has a slow move to the plate or their catcher has a weak arm, but I like to take one extra step either way just to be on the safe side as there’s really no danger in doing so.

Annother very important element is the slide. Hold the right stick to the right to slide around to the outside of the bag and avoid the tag. It can often be the difference between being safe and walking back to the dugout in shame.

As for stealing 3rd, I wouldn’t even attempt it. Even if you use manual jumps and time it perfectly, there seems to be a delay with stealing 3rd (maybe for balance reasons) and it’s really hard to get a good jump. Sometimes it works out, but more often than not, you’ll get gunned down even with baseburners so it’s not worth bothering with imo. Don’t get greedy! :wink:

Anyways, hope that helps.

[jada855]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

Dowie,

I think it depends on how you play the game. I use player lock for Franchise mode and find it very easy to steal a base even with a 75 Speed and 40 steal rating. I usually just time the pitchers leg kick.

Leading off in this style of play other than the default lead is never rewarding. If you lead off you will never be able to dive back to the bag safely without holding the left stick. And will be out 100% of the time regardless of the pitchers rating!

However full team control maybe a different ball game all together so it depends on how you play the game as full team controls are slightly different.

👍

[OneTonneBaby]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

It's something i've struggled with but got better at since i changed from using the pre loaded steals, which imo are frustrating and useless, to holding the button down and releasing when i want.

Firstly though, check your base running and base runner speed sliders and adjust accordingly.

What i tend to do now (which still isn't perfect) is watch the pitcher very closely. Even replays. Watch he's delivery and how long he takes to get to the plate. If a pitcher puts his head down twice and on the third one throws the pitch I'll release the button as his head goes down a third time. The problem is that the CPU pitchers change up their delivery for this very reason. Sometimes I get awesome jumps and easy steals whilst other times they pick me off in a run down.

[Bunselpower32]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

A few things, some situational and some controller based.

Steal based on the situation. If you've seen 2 fastballs and one or both of them was a strike, you can reasonably guess that an off speed pitch is coming, good time to go. If your guy is 2-0, a fastball might be coming, but there almost assuredly won't be a pitch out and slide step, so also a good time to go.

Controller-wise, I found something earlier this year that seems to work. When you want to steal, press L2 once, like normal, and then hold L1 through the jump. For whatever reason it seems to give a more true jump without being overpowered.

Also, if a guy has a really slow delivery, I'm sending guys a lot and I'm doing it manually because the dice roll for jumps makes it unrealistic when guys don't leave until a 2 second stretch is finished.

#2 in your program, #1 in our hearts. You will be missed, Red.

[RogerDodger]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

Some great tips in this thread. Just to add, if I call for a steal but I see my guy is slow to jump, I am fast on that RB button sending him back. Not something you'll see much in baseball but it's saved me from losing a baserunner here and there.

[countryboy]

Re: What is the secret to SB's?

What I do is press L2 to cue up the steal. Then I let my baserunner take a normal lead. When I think the pitcher is going home, I'll press L1 to try to get a "jump" on the pitcher and throw from the catcher. Some times it works and some times it doesn't but I've had more success stealing doing that, than I have of taking a normal lead or an extra step lead.