Chapter 12. Leading Away and Stealing Bases

A base runner can travel the 90 feet between bases in about three to four seconds. A ball can be thrown that same distance in less than one second. It is obvious then that any boy who wants to attempt stealing bases has his work cut out for him. Let's assume you are the runner now, and breakdown and examine the whole process of leading away or stealing bases, returning to the base, and breaking for the next base.

First of all, be sure the pitcher has his foot on the rubber before giving up contact with the base. As you wait for him to put his foot on the rubber, face the mound with your left foot against the rear corner of the base.

You can start leading away or stealing bases as the pitcher takes his stretch-but be careful! The pitcher can throw almost any time during the stretch move. (If the pitcher uses a full windup, you can move as soon as he moves).

When stealing bases, to get away from the base, take a sliding step right with the right foot. Bring the toe of the left foot in back of right heel and take another sliding step right. You should be able to take three and a half such steps. (About the length of your body plus one step).

When you reach the end of your lead, the heels should be off the ground, the weight distributed evenly on the balls of both feet, the body bent at the waist, hands hanging free. Be poised to go either way.

Never turn your back on the base and walk away from it to obtain a lead. Never lean, or shift too much weight in one direction.

LEADING AWAY AND STEALING BASES FROM 1ST BASE

The offensive team should watch the opposing pitcher the first few times he takes the "stretch" position to pick up any weaknesses he might reveal.

Many young right-handers for example, will take a stretch, bring the hands to the stop position, then turn their shoulders to the left side as they look toward 1st. Before the pitcher can throw to the plate, he will have to rotate the shoulders to the right. Examine .this particular weakness-which is most common among young pitchers:

The pitcher takes his stretch. He turns head and shoulders left to look at the runner. As he starts to twist right, that's when the runner should GO! If the pitcher doesn't throw to the plate-and attempts to throw to 1st or 2nd instead-he will commit a balk and the runner gets 2nd base automatically.

But, balk, or no, the runner can get a tremendous "jump" on the pitcher by taking advantage of the extra move of the shoulders.

Assuming, however, that a pitcher knows his job and shows no faults in holding a runner, the runner should always watch the pitcher's feet-not the head or body. The feet will tell him whether to go back, or break for the next base. This is the way to "read" them: .'", A right-hander who uses the "jump" move.

Watch both feet. If the front foot comes up-GO!

If the right heel comes up-GET BACK! A right-hander who uses a pivot.

Watch the front foot only. If the front foot comes up and starts to the plate-GO! If it starts swinging to 1st-GET BACK!

A left-hand pitcher.

Watch the front foot only. It will come up, swing back then start either toward 1st or home. Don't move until you see which way it's going. But, don't take as big a lead as with right-handers.

Use these two methods to return to 1st base:

If it's going to be close-DIVE and tag the back of the base with the right hand.

If you have the throw beaten, pivot left, take the first step with the left foot. On reaching the bag, tag the corner with the left foot and at the same time swing the body right to face the infield. If the ball gets away from the first baseman, you're ready to go to 2nd.

When runner leading away from 1st has pick-off throw beaten, he should hit back corner of bag with left foot, let momentum swing him right.
	Fig. 39

LEADING AWAY AND STEALING BASES FROM 2ND BASE

As you lead away from 2nd, back into left field slightly. This will help you see the second basemen when you have your eyes on the pitcher. It will also hinder the shortstop as he races you back to the bag for a tag play. Take as much lead as the second baseman and shortstop will give you. If the second baseman is two feet away from the bag-you take two feet. If he and the shortstop are in normal fielding position-take three and a half to four steps. Don't turn your head to look at the shortstop. Listen to the 3rd base coach-hell tell you to "keep coming", to "stop", or "GO BACK!"!

As far as the pitcher is concerned-watch both feet. If the front one comes up, you can go. If the back one moves, go back to 2nd.

While stealing bases, whenever you try to steal 3rd on a pitch, hook slide to the right. If you're returning to 2nd, go back head first if it's going to be close; or hook slide left or use the bent-leg straight in slide against the second baseman. Hook right or use the bent-leg straight in slide against the shortstop.

LEADING AWAY FROM 3RD BASE

Sometimes the pitcher uses the stretch move with a runner on 3rd ; sometimes the windup. If the pitcher is right-handed and takes a stretch, play him as though you were on 1st with a left-hand pitcher. If he's left-handed, play him as though you were on 1st with a right-hander.

If the pitcher uses the full windup, you're free to lead away or stealing bases at the first move of the pitcher's body-not before. Always stand in foul ground when leading away from 3rd base. Thus, if you're hit with a batted ball, you will not be called out. Take as much territory as the third baseman will give you. If he's six feet away from the base, take a six-foot lead.

When stealing bases, don't try to steal home against a pitcher taking a stretch move; you'll never make it. If the pitcher uses a windup, take as big a lead as you can get, put your head down and go at the pitcher's first move-usually the hands. To get back to 3rd on a pick-off attempt, go head first if it's going to be close; hook left or use the bent-leg straight in slide if you have the throw beaten.

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