Is it just me or is base stealing much harder this year?

[The Cleanest Genius]

I started taking an extra step leading off and it has increased my success rate significantly. I have yet to get picked off because I usually do it with players with high BR ability. I even got one with Ethier. That felt so awesome considering the fact that I was always getting caught stealing with speedsters just a few days ago. Now I just need to work on raising my number of hits per game.

[Animal Man]

I do not know what it is but I cannot steal a base to save my life. I started playing exhibition games with the Dodgers, so that I could give Dee Gordon a try... I am still getting thrown out 8/10 times. Change ups, fastballs, curveballs, it does not matter I get nailed everytime.

Then it dawned on me... are you people stealing early, or do you just load the steal and allow the player to run?

[Chaos81]

Quote: Originally Posted by Animal Man

Then it dawned on me... are you people stealing early, or do you just load the steal and allow the player to run?

I take one or two steps depending on the player, then load the steal and let the player run.

[Bamafan3723]

Quote: Originally Posted by Baughn3

I was having some trouble early on, but I found that making my guys slide feet first, straight into the bag has helped a ton. The headfirst slides are simply too slow this year (both straight into the bag and to the outfield side). I've had a few times where it looks like I'm going to swipe the base easily only to have my runner seemingly stick into the ground when he slides in and a quick tag gets him out. Try making an effort to slide feet first more often and I bet your percentages will improve a bit.

Exactly. For some reason this year when guys begin their slide it's like they go into slow motion. I've had the same experiences. Get a great jump and essentially have the base stolen but once I go into my slide, the slow motion kicks in and I'm out.

[DetroitStyle]

Stealing hasn't been an issue for me but oh man, CPU pick off moves are deadly. It's almost impossible to get back to the base of you take a step too far out.

[sink4ever]

Last year I had to up the slider because every time I tried to take a lead the pitcher threw over and often picked me off. This year it seems that they're much less likely to throw over when I take an extra step, so I feel like I've had better success stealing this year. I also like to run in 0-2 and 1-2 counts.