Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

[capa]

One thing I always found odd...not just in this year's iteration of the game...is the cpu often (not always) seems to know when I will be stealing.

Example - runner on first (does not have to be a speed demon)...I press the left stick and L2 for the steal while pitcher is going into wind up. More often than not, the pitcher will throw over to first or even sometimes pitch out.

Now this may not seem odd, but it could be the first time I attempted a steal like in the 6th inning or something. Not like I have been running all day. There must be something in the code that triggers when I indicate I am stealing. I can't figure it out.

I am NOT using L1 to take a bigger lead. It is just L2 to indicate the steal.

Anyone else notice this?

[BigOscar]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

Not noticed it but I tend to take advantage of the computers predictability to steal. They won't pitch out or slide step if there are two balls or two strikes, so that's the time for an easy steal

[CaseIH]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

One thing I always found odd...not just in this year's iteration of the game...is the cpu often (not always) seems to know when I will be stealing.

Example - runner on first (does not have to be a speed demon)...I press the left stick and L2 for the steal while pitcher is going into wind up. More often than not, the pitcher will throw over to first or even sometimes pitch out.

Now this may not seem odd, but it could be the first time I attempted a steal like in the 6th inning or something. Not like I have been running all day. There must be something in the code that triggers when I indicate I am stealing. I can't figure it out.

I am NOT using L1 to take a bigger lead. It is just L2 to indicate the steal.

Anyone else notice this?

If you lower pick offs, you will stop some of the CPU throwing over. I did that in years past, but this yr I havent messed with it, as I felt it works much better in 17. I do know if you take a extra step with a man on 1st only the CPU will always throw over.

It does seem since the last 2 patches, that stealing is much harder, than it was out of the box.

[kaptainkarl76]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

I gave up on stealing this year..I can't even swipe a base half the time..even with Mookie Betts holding an 83 speed rating..Even with a good jump I get tossed out more often than not..

[Syce]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

i dont seem to have too much of a problem stealing, the last game i just played, i stole 2nd and it was so easy my guy was pretty much at 2nd base by the time the ball left the pitchers hand.

now i will say, that occasionally, if i extend my lead the cpu will throw over before i could even do anything, its like the very split second that you press the extend lead off he will throw over giving you literally no time to react.

[kehlis]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

I gave up on stealing this year..I can't even swipe a base half the time..even with Mookie Betts holding an 83 speed rating..Even with a good jump I get tossed out more often than not..

I did to, it's one of the more frustrating things for me.

[Skyboxer]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

i dont seem to have too much of a problem stealing, the last game i just played, i stole 2nd and it was so easy my guy was pretty much at 2nd base by the time the ball left the pitchers hand.

now i will say, that occasionally, if i extend my lead the cpu will throw over before i could even do anything, its like the very split second that you press the extend lead off he will throw over giving you literally no time to react.

Same here. So far I've had decent success "knock on wood"
I pick my spots and certain criteria needs to be there (count, pitcher on mound, catcher arm etc..)

I rarely take an extra step (bi-product of a couple years ago that seemed to be an auto success when extra step was taken) -- haven't played enough to know if that is an issue this year.

[DeJohn11]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

i dont seem to have too much of a problem stealing, the last game i just played, i stole 2nd and it was so easy my guy was pretty much at 2nd base by the time the ball left the pitchers hand.

now i will say, that occasionally, if i extend my lead the cpu will throw over before i could even do anything, its like the very split second that you press the extend lead off he will throw over giving you literally no time to react.

A lot of pitchers will try and time a throw over to match a runner taking a step in their leadoff, especially if a runner tends to "crossover" his legs while taking a lead.

[gp005]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

the runners hands or feet often hover over the bag as hes sliding (dont know if its a glitch) giving the SS more time to apply a tag.... i have gone into replay so many times..lol

if i dont get a great jump, i will retreat back to first ( its the only way i can keep success rate somewhat average with the rest of MLB....)

[ukas]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

One thing I always found odd...not just in this year's iteration of the game...is the cpu often (not always) seems to know when I will be stealing.

Example - runner on first (does not have to be a speed demon)...I press the left stick and L2 for the steal while pitcher is going into wind up. More often than not, the pitcher will throw over to first or even sometimes pitch out.

Now this may not seem odd, but it could be the first time I attempted a steal like in the 6th inning or something. Not like I have been running all day. There must be something in the code that triggers when I indicate I am stealing. I can't figure it out.

I am NOT using L1 to take a bigger lead. It is just L2 to indicate the steal.

Anyone else notice this?

Yes and I hate it. The CPU will always try to pick me off if I queue up a steal. Don't queue up a steal and the CPU never tries to pick me off.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

Same here. So far I've had decent success "knock on wood"
I pick my spots and certain criteria needs to be there (count, pitcher on mound, catcher arm etc..)

I rarely take an extra step (bi-product of a couple years ago that seemed to be an auto success when extra step was taken) -- haven't played enough to know if that is an issue this year.

Far from automatic Skyboxer and actually needed to have success with lesser speed lead off guys like Elsbury.

Stealing is highly realistic this year. You really need to get a good jump on the right count and right pitch as well as pitcher.

Watch the quirks for pick-off artist too. You do not want to take that extra step with that quirk in play.

Dee Gordon, Starling Marte, Billy hamilton.....elite base stealers. You will steal with them more often than not.

But i am getting nailed with Elsbury in my franchise. In fact through May 9th I have been caught 5 times. That is a little too high. But I am now resigned to fact that his 79 speed is simply not good enough to be a consistent base stealer anymore and I must really pick my spots much better with him. Same with Brett Gardner and his 73 speed. Also the steal rating is vital. that determines how good of a jump they get.

To compensate a little I did turn up steal ability a couple of clicks and pickoff frequency to 6 in combination with base runner speed at 3....I am getting very realistic results both in games and simulated stats around the league.

Finally a real true cat and mouse game within the game and true strategy is involved with swiping bags this year.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

Yes and I hate it. The CPU will always try to pick me off if I queue up a steal. Don't queue up a steal and the CPU never tries to pick me off.

Default lead and not que up a steal and they will still throw over if the situation calls for a possible stolen base attempt. I also am able to get an extra step, que a steal and take off.

Count, situation, pitcher on the bump, runner speed and runner steal rating and pitch type thrown all factor into the success rate.

They do not try to pick off every time. That has not been my experience.

And let me ask you something.....if you are Billy Hamilton or Dee Gordon etc....it would be pretty lame if the CPU did not try and keep you very very honest.....and work you. You need to earn that good jump.

I swear....when they make the game more realistic.....people cry. When they dumb it down...then people cry it is not hard enough.

They can't win for losing.

[capa]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

Default lead and not que up a steal and they will still throw over if the situation calls for a possible stolen base attempt. I also am able to get an extra step, que a steal and take off.

Count, situation, pitcher on the bump, runner speed and runner steal rating and pitch type thrown all factor into the success rate.

They do not try to pick off every time. That has not been my experience.

And let me ask you something.....if you are Billy Hamilton or Dee Gordon etc....it would be pretty lame if the CPU did not try and keep you very very honest.....and work you. You need to earn that good jump.

I swear....when they make the game more realistic.....people cry. When they dumb it down...then people cry it is not hard enough.

They can't win for losing.

With all due respect A&S, I have noticed an uncanny ESP type attribute by the CPU. It is true that more often than not, anytime I queue up a steal, the pitcher will throw over. And this can be with non speed demons. I could be doing a hit and run on a first pitch. It is not always the typical "good time for a steal or hit and run" counts.

It's odd...and it does not happen every single time...but it does happen enough for me to notice it as unusual and to question what is going on.

For example, yesterday I had a runner on first with 35 speed and less than 10 Steal attribute. The count was 0-0. I started him for a hit and run by pressing LS and L2. Pitcher threw over. I had not attempted a steal or hit and run up to that point.

Day before I had a catcher on first very low rated speed and I triggered L2 by mistake. Pitcher threw over.

C

[BegBy]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

I gave up on stealing this year..I can't even swipe a base half the time..even with Mookie Betts holding an 83 speed rating..Even with a good jump I get tossed out more often than not..

Me too. I can have anyone on base and get thrown out 95% of the time. No matter the situation, or...my favourite, they pick me off leaning or my guy starts running early and he looks like an amateur. I have played around 70 games so far and about 40 have been with the Blue Jays. Kevin Pillar (yes I know he's not a shining example of base stealing ability) gets picked off, quite literally every single game. Not safe once. Meanwhile just last night Freddie Freeman stole a base on me. Magically my catcher (Russell Martin) threw some weird high arching lob to the base. Freddie Freeman! The cpu can swipe bags on me all day long, seemingly with anyone they want and I can't get a single bag.

[kaptainkarl76]

Re: Stealing-does this happen to anyone else?

Well I don't get it..Never had any problems with stealing ever..Without having the stats in front of me, Videogame Mookie has been caught stealing more than actual steals..I can rarely take an extra step with him without being picked up on picked off..and when he does take off, he's out by a foot..

Lifetime Betts has been caught 13 times..out of 70 tries. I think I have been caught at least 5 times so far this season..I'm using Armor's sliders and at All-Star difficulty too..If you can't take a decent step off the bag, not sure how else I can get him safely to 2nd..

But on the other side, I have no problems throwing out runners..