Stealing Second?

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

I have Willy Taveras (99 speed, 99 steal) and I got thrown out 2 out of 3 times trying to steal 2nd in my last game against the DBacks. I take 3 steps (they try to pick him off every time i take 4 steps) and he still cant make it. I'm not getting a perfect jump on the pitch but its still pretty good. i woulda thought some1 with a 99 speed and 99 steal could still make it. Any1 else having troulbe or any1 else have some tips?

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Stealing Second?

It's a bit difficult (maybe too difficult, particularly with lower rated players) but what I do is take a 2-3 step lead, hold the trigger and try to release right before the windup.

It's basically a guessing game, which was an interesting and realistic way to try to approach it. The trouble is, the elite base stealers should still be able to take off on a pitcher's first movement and make it the majority of the time. I think they just took the concept a bit too far, is all.

Is there a steal success or speed slider? I haven't tried to dive into that aspect yet.

[panthers_freak]

Re: Stealing Second?

I have Willy Taveras (99 speed, 99 steal) and I got thrown out 2 out of 3 times trying to steal 2nd in my last game against the DBacks. I take 3 steps (they try to pick him off every time i take 4 steps) and he still cant make it. I'm not getting a perfect jump on the pitch but its still pretty good. i woulda thought some1 with a 99 speed and 99 steal could still make it. Any1 else having troulbe or any1 else have some tips?

are you running on the first pitch? usually the pitcher will throw some type of fastball on the first pitch so he can get ahead in the count. try stealing when you have a strike or 2 on your batter, as the pitcher will most likely throw offspeed stuff, and breaking balls. also, some pitchers have very slow deliveries to the plate. it is much easier to steal on them. for instance, dan haren has a slow delivery and im sure you could steal on him easily

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Stealing Second?

ok, ill have 2 try stealing on 2nd and 3rd pitches, and ill look into the steal sliders.

[dramachild11]

Re: Stealing Second?

are you running on the first pitch? usually the pitcher will throw some type of fastball on the first pitch so he can get ahead in the count. try stealing when you have a strike or 2 on your batter, as the pitcher will most likely throw offspeed stuff, and breaking balls. also, some pitchers have very slow deliveries to the plate. it is much easier to steal on them. for instance, dan haren has a slow delivery and im sure you could steal on him easily

when you check the attributes of players you'll see that like swing count aggressiveness some guys have a stolen base aggressiveness thing (mostly people run on an 0-1 or 0-2 counts)
that shouldn't matter but i guess it does

[FedEx227]

Re: Stealing Second?

It's just like real stealing. It's a risk/reward type thing, like SoxFan said they may have taken it a bit too far, but in essence you're suppose to take off on first move.

If you do first pitch a LOT of times you're going to be running on a fastball which even for elite basestealers can be problems depending on who is throwing said fastball. I'd wait a bit, try to go on a 2nd or 3rd pitch, if you time it right the elite guys should get in on curves, changeups or any breaking/offseason pitch just fine.

[CybrSlydr]

Re: Stealing Second?

ProTip - When I played baseball back in HS, I always watched the pitchers front foot. If that front foot breaks towards the plate, GO! They have to go to the plate or it's a balk.

Combine this with running on a good count (when the batter is even or ahead early in the count), you should catch the pitcher on an offspeed pitch like a changeup or curve.

Try to not run on the first pitch unless the pitcher is known to throw first pitch curves, etc.

[Padgoi]

Re: Stealing Second?

Increase User baserunner speed to 55.
Seems more realistic.
On 50 I was getting thrown out by like 4 steps with Johnny Damon.
On 55, it was MUCH closer.

[CybrSlydr]

Re: Stealing Second?

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this - my singles to the outfield with runners on second weren't scoring! And these aren't worm burners either - typical outfield ground balls.

I think I'm going to up mine as well - thanks for the idea.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Stealing Second?

the thing i hate the most about this game so far is that when i have a guy on first and hit a blooper, he just stands between 1st and 2nd, waits for it to hit the ground, and then runs to 2nd and gets thrown out every time.