Stealing Home

Like the question, kind of a "welcome to BBCOR, start playing small ball" thread.

IMHO, its best if you have a LHP in the wind-up as the first criteria. A RH batter is also a plus to block the catcher's view and access as a second criteria. Obviously having a speed burner on third is necessary before you even think about it.

Usually, it's a little deeper in the count as it's been measured several times by the baserunner and he's sure he has the jump, no look from pitcher and timing figured out. I wouldn't try it with two strikes on the batter as it's too easy for a catcher unassisted double play on a strike.

Batter should hold his position in the box as long as possible before moving. At the moment of truth, he should allow the runner to have a straight shot at the plate. I've seen catchers jump out to field the pitch in front of the plate. Batter should make contact (as non-violently as possible) with the catcher to cause catcher's interference if this happens. He get's first base and the runner returns to third (unless bases loaded).

Under no circumstances should the batter swing at the pitch...

In my club ball coaching days, probably 12U or 13U, we had a hot sign where a slap on the butt for the runner at third meant runner steals home / suicide squeeze. A kid batting about .022 hits a triple out of the blue. He's the biggest, slowest kid on the planet (but great P). I get so excited he actually got not only a hit, but a triple, I slap him on the butt while I congratulate him. Next pitch he takes off for home, I think "OMG I DIDN'T JUST DO THAT!!!!" Batter hits a GB to second base, runner scores (he was only five steps down the line when the ball was hit). Probably doesn't score if he isn't running with the pitch. Nobody even noticed he was running except him and I.

IMHO, the most exciting play in baseball is the steal of home. I saw Arizona St. try it a few years ago with bases loaded. First and only triple steal I have ever witnessed. They later admitted to lining it up for several innings before actually trying it.

The Japanese HS catchers will "shift" to the left [behind] the right handed hitter and "tag" out" the runner. We tried to steal on a "curve ball" count.

When our National American team played the Japan National team this was a standard technique.

The Japan coach "pick up" our signals. They have one player in the dugout watching our "signs".

For this reason, I now use former ML players and current pro scouts as coaches in International competition. Our 30th year, we do learn "a little".

Bob

Bob, very interesting.

Back in the day, we had a way of dealing with "stealing signs". I'm not an advocate of that anymore as my opinions have softened with old age. Now I'm more an advocate of more elaborate signs to make it more difficult to steal signs.

By that I mean, swinging gate open, swinging gate close, indicator for wipe off and blind wipe off. I'm sure others have more complicated signs to increase the combinations but still make it easy enough for HS kids to understand.

I once was able to pick up Arizona St's signs, but only because they had a 3-2 count with one out and the batter fouled off about 10 pitches with a runner at first. They sent the runner about half the time, which provided enough opportunities to see the positive and negative results and allowed me to back into their signs. It was work, but I figured it out. Nobody gained any benefit other than myself from this post.

I watch a lot of softball as well and you can pick off pitch calls with an IQ of ~14. I don't bother relaying since the hitters don't grow from having the advantage. If you're paying money to get better, use the AB's to get better. That doesn't happen if you know what pitch is coming. In that way, SB parents have more going for them than BB parents.

Wait to relay signs until there is a HS state championship or something more significant on the line.

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"What is the best ball/strike count on which to steal home?"

Two balls, no snarks!




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quote:

"What is the best ball/strike count on which to steal home?"

Well I've seen it done 2 strikes 2 outs done twice consecutively... First one tied the game; second one won the game in the bottom of the 7th