How do I get better at stealing bases?

[RollTideRoll0929]

I just cant get the hang of it.......either the CPU tries to pick me off every other pitch of an at bat, and if they dont go for the pick off they pitch out. If I hit the L1 once to extend my lead off, I get picked off a good bit. My lead off hitter on my team in franchise mode has a 93 speed rating with an 88 stealing rating, I'm 8 games into my franchise and he has 1 steal and 7 times hes either been picked off or thrown out. Sometimes I feel like I get a great jump but my runner doesnt always take off the second I let go of the L2 button, almost like a quarter second delay and my speedy layoff hitter gets gunned down. I dont really see any sliders that can help me other than CPU pickoff, I can tune that down but I'll still get gunned down by the catcher or fall victim to the pitchout.

[Great Whale]

Quote: Originally Posted by RollTideRoll0929

I just cant get the hang of it.......either the CPU tries to pick me off every other pitch of an at bat, and if they dont go for the pick off they pitch out. If I hit the L1 once to extend my lead off, I get picked off a good bit. My lead off hitter on my team in franchise mode has a 93 speed rating with an 88 stealing rating, I'm 8 games into my franchise and he has 1 steal and 7 times hes either been picked off or thrown out. Sometimes I feel like I get a great jump but my runner doesnt always take off the second I let go of the L2 button, almost like a quarter second delay and my speedy layoff hitter gets gunned down. I dont really see any sliders that can help me other than CPU pickoff, I can tune that down but I'll still get gunned down by the catcher or fall victim to the pitchout.

Simulate SB, attempt.

[AReifschneider]

I forget what difficulty I'm on (I think All-Star) but I don't even bother taking leads or even timing the release and just judge the pitcher's wind-up. If it's pretty slow, even a guy like Christian Stewart at 60something speed and 23 steal can make it reliably by only pressing L2 to queue it up. I'm playing as the Tigers and nobody on that team is any good at baserunning and about two guys are fast, but I can pick up a steal or two a game like this.

[RollTideRoll0929]

Quote: Originally Posted by AReifschneider

I forget what difficulty I'm on (I think All-Star) but I don't even bother taking leads or even timing the release and just judge the pitcher's wind-up. If it's pretty slow, even a guy like Christian Stewart at 60something speed and 23 steal can make it reliably by only pressing L2 to queue it up. I'm playing as the Tigers and nobody on that team is any good at baserunning and about two guys are fast, but I can pick up a steal or two a game like this.

I usually only take a 1 step approach and I only play on veteran difficulty but man they're so damn persistent, either trying to pick me off or pitch out several times per AB. Even taking just a 1 step lead off is risky for getting picked off. Never had this much trouble stealing in a baseball game, never

[BrianM207]

Yeah I'm not great at it either. In fact i got picked off twice in a game last night, first time that's happened all year! I will say the CPU does seem much more persistent this year with pick offs than in previous years

Sent from my SM-G960U using Operation Sports mobile app

[brunopuntzjones]

NEVER take a lead if you plan to steal with a fast runner. They totally broke this last year, I think. If you take a lead and load a steal, you will get picked off half, or more, of the time, regardless of your baserunner's skill.

I only take leads if I'm going to attempt a steal with a slower guy, but only after testing the pitcher by taking them with no intent to steal. If he's ignoring me, then I might make the attempt.

My preferred tactic is to wait 2-3 pitches and see where I am in the count. When I'm ready to steal, I wait until the pitcher is set, then tap R2. Before or as he goes through his windup I hold L1 (I think some folks prefer to tap it rapidly).

Try to get yourself to counts where the pitcher needs throw a strike. If you have a fast guy on base, they'll often use the first two pitches on pitch outs or quick pitches. If they get to 2-0, they're unlikely to risk making it 3-0, so try going then. Just watch for a pickoff move.

If the pitcher is ahead, you still have a better chance deeper in an AB, but it's riskier.

[wizfan2]

Be aware if the pitcher is a "pickoff artist" but it was passed on to me on one the threads,
L2 , then L1 been about 80 percent on steals since in my Nats franchise.

[RollTideRoll0929]

So what does the L1 do? I see a few people posted to hit L1 after L2.......L1 as far as I know makes your runner lead off, but if you already hit L2 to cue to steal, what is the purpose of hitting L1?