You can use the buttons, that's what Classic base running controls are.
I find the use L stick (no longer analog) is much easier. You flick towards the runner you want to control, and hit the base button you want him to go to. If you want to advance/retreat all runners, L1 or R1 respectively.
To steal individually, you hold the L stick in the direction of the base the runner is on, and press L2 to queue a steal. If you want him to go manually, you hold L2 until it vibrates and then release. The runner goes as soon as you let go of L2.
It can be a lot to wrap your head around for the first few games, but I find the default controls much more intuitive than the classic controls.