by David Colello

Created on: February 17, 2010

A player wanting to steal second in baseball needs to be fast of course, but he also needs to be smart.  Learning how to read a pitcher’s movements and knowing how to choose the right moment to run is crucial when attempting to steal any base.  When you are on first with a right hander pitching, you should always be aware of your statistical advantages as well.  Putting all three of these skills together will greatly increase your chances of making it to second safely.

Reading the Pitcher

All pitchers are methodical in their movements.  It is essential that they develop a rhythm with their pitching style in order for them to become consistent and effective.  The upside of this for a runner is that studying the pitcher’s rhythm can help predict any number of things including when they will throw over to first, when they will deliver a pitch, and even what type of pitch to expect.  Figuring out a pitcher’s “tells”, to use the poker terminology, can give the runner an extra fraction of a second reaction time in which to either dive back to first or sprint to second.

Choosing Your Moment

The fastest runner in the game still needs to choose the right time to steal second or else will be thrown out.  Conversely, the slowest runner can manage to steal second if they run when conditions are strongly favorable to them.  Multiple factors are involved in the decision to run.  Some have been discussed already, such as reading the pitcher and knowing what pitch to expect.  A fastball will be harder to steal during than a slow curveball or changeup, simply because the latter take longer to reach the catcher.

Additional factors that play a role in a runner deciding to steal include the number of outs, whether other runners are on base, and the abilities of the pitcher, catcher, and batter.  It really comes down to a gut feeling on the part of the runner.  It is based upon facts and odds, but stealing second is in the end a calculated risk.

Taking Advantage of a Right Hander

Every runner who is looking to steal second hopes that the pitcher is right handed, though it may not be immediately apparent why this is the case to someone unfamiliar with the sport.  Understanding why this is depends on knowing the difference between the wind up and the stretch. 

When a pitcher is not trying to hold runners close to a base, they use what is called a wind up style of pitching.  This means that they will rock backwards before kicking their leg and following through with the pitch.  The extra move helps them generate power.  However, when the pitcher is dealing with a runner who might steal a base, they use what is called the stretch.  This style of pitching eliminates the rocking back step, which sacrifices some power in exchange for a shortened time of getting the pitch to the plate.  This style has them stand with their dominant foot pressed parallel up against the pitching rubber.  Standing like this will cause their body to face either first or third base, depending on if they are left or right handed respectively, instead of towards home which it would face during a regular wind up.

Therefore, a runner has a distinct advantage when trying to steal second against a right handed pitcher for the simple reason that the pitcher has his back turned away from them.  It is harder for the pitcher to keep an eye on the runner, which in turn allows the runner to get a bigger lead.  Nothing is guaranteed when trying to steal second, but experience and a right handed pitcher might just give you the edge that you need.

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