How do you steal bases?

**Ohpityme** · 04-06-2009, 05:58 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Hmm
I take the lead just before the wind up and press L2 straight after and I have a great success rate for stealing bases I'm talking 70%+
I dont think I've ever been caught stealing with Reyes.
I'll only ever try and steal with
Reyes,Beltran and Wright and Castillo.
When youre swining at the pitches to foul off then maybe youre just assuming hes not gonna make and youre actually stopping him succesfully stealing a base?
And with the dives its just aim the stick in the direction you want to dive isnt it???

**Zinger** · 04-06-2009, 06:58 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

I sympathise with the OP. I'm playing as the reds, so have got base speed to spare, but so far my success rate has been abysmal. I'll try Ohpityme's tip about taking the lead just before the wind up.

**The Bimmer** · 04-06-2009, 08:22 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

My tip would be that you make sure you run in the right situations. For EX. stealing on the first pitch is a low% play because most pitchers throw a fastball to start. Look for a favorable count to run like an 0-2 or 1-2 count were you know there is a great chance the CPU will try an make you chase something off-speed and out of the strike zone. Sometimes the batter at the plate dictates when i steal. If i have a guy at the plate i know they are trying to pitch around you will find opportunities to run also. Hope this helps

**RogueHominid** · 04-06-2009, 08:32 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Originally posted by The Bimmer

My tip would be that you make sure you run in the right situations. For EX. stealing on the first pitch is a low% play because most pitchers throw a fastball to start. Look for a favorable count to run like an 0-2 or 1-2 count were you know there is a great chance the CPU will try an make you chase something off-speed and out of the strike zone. Sometimes the batter at the plate dictates when i steal. If i have a guy at the plate i know they are trying to pitch around you will find opportunities to run also. Hope this helps

That's very helpful. I've learned what good hit and run counts are, but I was transferring that to steals as well and getting killed, lol. It makes sense to run on pitcher's counts.

What gets me is that the announcers frequently comment on base stealers going early in the count, and since I am still learning good baseball fundamentals, I sometimes take my cue from them. Not such a good idea

.

**The Bimmer** · 04-06-2009, 08:57 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

I am glad this helps you out. Also be aware of who you have at the plate. For ex. Last night i had Crawford at first with 2 outs and Burrell at the plate with Gross on deck. I was thinking they might pitch around Burrell to get to Gross (to have lefty against lefty), so i took the first 2 pitches which were balls just like i thought, and on 2-0 i figured i aint seeing anything good here so i sent Crawford and guess what a curveball in the dirt, it gets past the catcher and Crawford moves up to third. Burrell gets walked on four pitches. This should give you an example of a good spot to run in.

**Effington** · 04-06-2009, 11:51 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

I don't think the issue is stealing on fastball counts, it's just that there's a huge delay between when I press the steal button and when he actually moves. I generally press the button right when the pitcher goes into his windup, do you need to wait a second? The few times I get a decent jump I am successful.

**RogueHominid** · 04-06-2009, 11:59 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Originally posted by Effington

I don't think the issue is stealing on fastball counts, it's just that there's a huge delay between when I press the steal button and when he actually moves. I generally press the button right when the pitcher goes into his windup, do you need to wait a second? The few times I get a decent jump I am successful.

Okay, I see what you're saying. I've noticed that delay as well, but you can directly input the steal command whenever you like by hitting triangle. Make sure you have the runner selected using the R-stick, and when you want to bolt, hit triangle and your guy will take off with no hesitation. You just better be right, or you'll get picked off. With the RT, I think there's a slight delay as the batter makes his read to ensure that the pitcher is going to the plate. It wouldn't surprise me if SCEA programmed the baserunning attribute to contribute to the length of that delay, but I can't say that for sure.

**Effington** · 04-06-2009, 12:20 PM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Ah, I'll definitely have to try that. I've been using L2 to steal, I haven't directly controlled him. I'll let you know what happens when I play next.

**zeus9800** · 04-06-2009, 12:36 PM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Definately tough. Every time you try to take a lead the CPU pitcher throws over, so you can't really do that. If it's a halfway decent throw from the catcher you can't steal without that lead. I've still done ok but I like to steal, a lot, so I'm not a fan of how difficult it is, though you could say it was too easy in the past. But even the blazing fast guys get caught a lot, on off-speed pitches. IRL, even slow guys can steal once in a while, I wouldn't even bother trying here unless it's a hit and run.

The way I do it, and no idea if it helps or not, but it seems to, is after I hit the L2 button, when the pitcher starts coming to the plate I hit L1 several times, seems to keep the delay to a minimum.

Never used the triangle method, I always seem to screw it up, especially with a guy on third also, so I just don't steal in those situations.

**Big Shmooz** · 04-06-2009, 01:21 PM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Why don't you just change the sliders to give you a better jump?

**thekodinator** · 04-06-2009, 10:26 PM

Re: How do you steal bases?

How do you steal ONLY 2nd when you've got guys on the corners? I dunno how many times I've tried and accidentally sent my runner on 3rd home and got tagged out.

Also, how do you steal a base directly, rather than just "auto steal" using L2?

Any help here is much appreciated.

**steelcurtain311** · 04-06-2009, 10:48 PM

Re: How do you steal bases?

Stealing is so insanely inaccurate in this game. Guys like Reyes do NOT get gunned out when they get a perfect jump on a breaking ball or off speed pitch. It won't happen, does not happen.

**Effington** · 04-06-2009, 11:05 PM

Re: How do you steal bases?

According to the instructional manual (this is also in the game, if you pause it and select "strategy guide"), to send only one runner when multiple are on base, you press L2 + left stick. Since I have not actually tried this in game, I am guessing you point the left stick in the direction of the base you want to steal.

Anyway, I tried the left stick + base icon to steal early. This function appears to only work if you press it before the pitcher starts his wind-up. Pretty easy for him to pick you off, in fact every time I've pressed it, I was in a run-down. You can't use it after the pitcher has moved.

As for sliding, I believe there is an option to have auto sliding or manual, and it's defaulted to auto.

**Zinger** · 04-07-2009, 02:31 AM

Re: How do you steal bases?

It would help to know the arm strength of an opposing catcher. Anyone know if there is a way to check this before the game in season mode?

How do you steal bases?

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