The art of stealing...

[CMH]

Re: The art of stealing...

I'm still having trouble with the timing. When should I start holding LT? Every time I try to steal, my runner goes too early and I get caught in a rundown...

You hold LT as soon as you're done taking your last step/lead.

So if you want to take a three step lead, you press LT once, then again, and finally one more time and simultaneously hold on. When you know that the pitcher is making his move to the mound, you let go and your base runner will begin to steal. Let go too early and the pitcher will turn to first. Let go too late and you'll get a bad jump.

I thought I was just trippin, But this same thing is happen to me with top base stealers. So it must be broke like everybody is saying..

It's not broken. You're pressing the slide button too soon.

[kpkpkp]

Re: The art of stealing...

I feel as though the pitch speed you choose (which is under "human" yet affects both CPU and human pitch speed) and baserunner speed has great impact of this.

Since I use Marzzens sliders, which have pitch speed at 65, and baserunner speed at 55, I have had VERY realistic success stealing.

(I try not to steal on fast balls, so no 2-0 counts where a fastball is likely. I always take 3 step leads. I just let the feet first slide happen I dont try and do head first ones, since the game hiccups and it doesnt seem to help if you do. I only make attempts with mid 80's speed or faster.)

I used to have pitch speed at 75, and runner speed at 50.

Now with pitch speed at 65, and runner speed at 55, I do well stealing.

[duke776]

Re: The art of stealing...

I feel as though the pitch speed you choose (which is under "human" yet affects both CPU and human pitch speed) and baserunner speed has great impact of this.

Yup, that's what it seems to me too. I have my pitch speed up at 90, and can only steal off of guys like Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf, Andrew Miller, etc. Guys who have slow deliveries. I just live with it though, because if I had the pitch speed any lower it'd be too easy for me to get hit after hit. I just hope next year they'd put in a baserunner stealing speed slider, which would offset the pitch speed slider if you changed it. Also, they need to make it so the throws by catchers are not perfectly accurate next year(don't know if lowering throwing accuracy of catchers will help this, but it's something I've been meaning to look into).

[kpkpkp]

Re: The art of stealing...

Yup, that's what it seems to me too. I have my pitch speed up at 90, and can only steal off of guys like Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf, Andrew Miller, etc. Guys who have slow deliveries. I just live with it though, because if I had the pitch speed any lower it'd be too easy for me to get hit after hit. I just hope next year they'd put in a baserunner stealing speed slider, which would offset the pitch speed slider if you changed it. Also, they need to make it so the throws by catchers are not perfectly accurate next year(don't know if lowering throwing accuracy of catchers will help this, but it's something I've been meaning to look into).

Yeah, every throw to a base is spot on.

Cathcers trying to throw out a stealer, OF's trying to throw out a sac fly runner going hom etc etc.

I think a lot of this has to do with the cannon arms everyone has, and the fact that errors never happen.

2 things Im hoping are addressed in the patch.

[Str8_A]

Re: The art of stealing...

You hold LT as soon as you're done taking your last step/lead.

So if you want to take a three step lead, you press LT once, then again, and finally one more time and simultaneously hold on. When you know that the pitcher is making his move to the mound, you let go and your base runner will begin to steal. Let go too early and the pitcher will turn to first. Let go too late and you'll get a bad jump.



It's not broken. You're pressing the slide button too soon.

hmm, you may be right. I'll give this a shot.


Also, one good tidbit to stealing is when you are getting ready to steal is to slightly release the RT so that it is half way. You get a much better jump doing so.

[jeffy777]

Re: The art of stealing...

hmm, you may be right. I'll give this a shot.


Also, one good tidbit to stealing is when you are getting ready to steal is to slightly release the RT so that it is half way. You get a much better jump doing so.

Good tip about slighty releasing the trigger while you wait for the pitch. I just tried this and it helps a lot.

[kpkpkp]

Re: The art of stealing...

Good tip about slighty releasing the trigger while you wait for the pitch. I just tried this and it helps a lot.

Hmm, I'll give this a shot.

I've been going with holding the trigger just with the tip of my finger to try and release it more quickly.

[BIG CAROLINA]

Re: The art of stealing...

The other shoulder buttons are probably what you'll use most of all. LB (L1) and RB (R1) will order all runners to advance or retreat one base, respectively. You can tap any shoulder button multiple times, so if you think there's a hit deep enough to score everyone, just keep tapping LB (L1) until the diamond radar has all runners with an "H" symbol, indicating they're all heading home.


Stealing uses the same controls in theory but add something else that's undocumented. When attempting to steal you have to hold the shoulder button for a split second, then release when you want them to actually move.



So, let's say you want to steal second. You'll select the runner while you're batting, then hold LT (L2). After he takes a few steps, you'll feel the controller vibrate for a second. This signals that the instant you release the button, he's going to take off to second. You can interrupt this (for example, if the pitcher is going to attempt to pick off your runner) by spamming RB (R1) or RT (R2). This will order the runner or runners to retreat to their bases and dive in.


Stealing bases requires incredible timing. As soon as you see the pitcher lift his leg for delivery, he's committed to the pitch: that is when you should release the button. Take the pitch (that is, don't swing) and pray that your runner makes it. You can specify a slide by pressing the left stick in any direction (for example, left stick upwards orders the runner to dive in head-first), but the runner will slide on his own anyway.


Runners who steal need to have REALLY high speed ratings. I refuse to attempt a steal with anyone whose speed rated below 85 (unless the game isn't really on the line), and I'm not comfortable with ordering a steal unless their speed is over 90. Of course, the opposing catcher's throwing speed and accuracy are factors also, so you may want to scout them out if you're in a season game. If you can time it better, by all means go for it.

Still, what's difficult here is that it's impossible to give a steal order and keep the runner within two or three strides of the bag. That means if you're playing a human opponent, and you see his runner go three or four strides away, he is almost certainly going to steal. The AI has the magical ability to give steal orders without making them lead that far off, so that won't help you playing single-player matches. However, it does mean that stealing with or against a human opponent is almost impossible. Practice the timing, though: you might find a specific combination that works for you.


This is from the IGN walkthrough on stealing

[ronnymixmaster]

Re: The art of stealing...

I posted a reply in this thread about a two weeks ago, so don't know what "good" advice has been posted since. However, just wanted to say that I have stolen successfully with default sliders.

As I once mentioned here, there are not just one, two or three factors involved... stealing is about strategy and probabilities.

Once I get a guy on base, I check his speed rating by hitting the "Start" button. The game pauses to bring up the line-up display and who's on base - plus their SPEED.

OK, say the guy is 85+ speed.... I can steal with this guy.

BUT... other determining factors....

Is the pitcher throwing mostly heat?
Does the CATCHER have a high throw-strength rating?
What's the count? Many pitchers throw a fastball if they are behind in the count...

And, check the pitcher's wind-up motion. If they have a slow wind-up (maybe they raise their leg and hold it for a split second) then send the runner!

Also, I use the bumper exclusively to take leads off the bag. Why, because the distance for releasing the button/bumper is shorter than the trigger (on Xbox).

So, go about stealing with a little strategy. You try and steal without thinking once about the steal situation, then you'll be frustrated by getting thrown out everytime.

No, not saying the game doesn't have flaws with the stealing feature, but if you don't think before running....

[seriousluboy83]

Re: The art of stealing...

if you wanna steal bases successfully don't lead off the bases...no 2-3-4 leads just hold the RT as soon as you reach the base and when the pitch is thrown then "go" and your steal rates will increase