Stealing with 2 Strikes

Mike Lowe · 08-29-2013, 01:29 PM

Will the hitter ALWAYS take the pitch? I like to try and stay out of double plays and will call for a steal with a full count and less than 2 outs. It seems the batter either walks or strikes out looking every time.

The batter should always protect with 2 strikes. This needs a fixin'!

DCG12 · 08-29-2013, 01:35 PM

I have found that in full count situations that the run and hit option (not the hit and run) works better. The hitter will swing if its a strike and walk if its a ball.

The Wolf · 08-29-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG12

I have found that in full count situations that the run and hit option (not the hit and run) works better. The hitter will swing if its a strike and walk if its a ball.

^ This

Questdog · 08-29-2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Will the hitter ALWAYS take the pitch? I like to try and stay out of double plays and will call for a steal with a full count and less than 2 outs. It seems the batter either walks or strikes out looking every time.

The batter should always protect with 2 strikes. This needs a fixin'!

Steal sign = batter take pitch and let runner steal (if the pitch is going to be a strike, the batter will sometimes swing and miss on purpose just to make it a bit tougher for the catcher.)

Run and Hit = runner steal and batter swing if pitch is good (one negative of this play is that the runner's focus is on stealing second, so is sometimes not able to take advantage of a hit ball by moving on to third, since he has slid into second not knowing where the ball has gone. Another negative of this play is that since the runner doesn't pay attention to the ball, he is more susceptible to line drive outs. Of course, the "Hit and Run" runner is a dead duck on infield line outs as well, but the "Run and Hit" runner is also susceptible to outfield line outs - especially to right field).

Hit an Run = runner go and batter swing if pitch is not horrible (this is not a steal attempt, but just a head start on moving since the runner knows the batter is going hit the ball. The runner's focus is on finding where the ball goes when hit, therefore if the batter fails to make contact, the runner has not been running at full speed (and was not worried about getting his best jump) and is at a disadvantage in making it safely to second when the failed "Hit and Run" becomes a steal attempt.

One thing I would like is a green light sign, where the runner can go on his own.....whenever the runner chose to steal on his own, then it would of course be akin to a 'Run and Hit'.....

I also think that strikeouts have become so prevalent in today's game that the use of the "Hit and Run" play is becoming fairly rare......

.

Mike Lowe · 08-30-2013, 10:23 AM

1st and 3rd...if I use run and hit, will the runner on 3rd steal home?

pumph · 08-30-2013, 10:44 AM

What then is "Send Forced" good for?

nyy26wc · 08-30-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumph

What then is "Send Forced" good for?

If you "steal" then the runner doesn't go unless he gets a good enough jump.

If you send forced, he goes regardless of it.

I have had good success with send forced for Mike Trout. The rest of my team is a bunch of slow pokes who rarely get the steal sign anyway, so no need to send force for them.

rpriske · 08-30-2013, 11:15 AM

Send Forced is exactly for that 1st and 3rd situation. You are telling the guy on first to run and the guy on 3rd to stay put. Otherwise it is the same as Run & Hit.

nyy26wc · 08-30-2013, 11:18 AM

From the manual--

Steal--"The runner on the selected base will try to steal. He might not actually go if he cannot get a good jump, however."

Send forced--"The runners on base will go, no matter what happens at the plate."

Hit & run--'The runners will leave before the ball is hit, and the batter will try to make contact. This option is often used by teams who do not have a lot of power and need to 'manufacture' runs."

Run & hit--"The runners will leave before the ball is hit, and the batter has the option of trying to make contact or taking the pitch. This option is usually used only when the runner has a good chance of stealing a base."

Padreman · 08-30-2013, 11:22 AM

Sorry if off topic but where can you find the stat that tells you how would-be-base stealers have been gun down by a catcher?

cblacker · 09-01-2013, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

1st and 3rd...if I use run and hit, will the runner on 3rd steal home?

No, you would probably have to choose "Double Steal" for the runner on third to try to steal home.

And I would also like a "Green Light" option as Quest Dog described. That would be awesome because it seems like a lot of the top base stealers operate in that manner.

cblacker · 09-01-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padreman

Sorry if off topic but where can you find the stat that tells you how would-be-base stealers have been gun down by a catcher?

If you open up the catcher's profile and go to his Fielding Stats, you can see his Caught Stealing percentage. I also open up the pitcher's profile, go to his Pitching stats, switch it to "Opponent Batting Stats" and look at how many steals and caught stealing have occurred against that particular pitcher.

jmolony3 · 09-02-2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumph

What then is "Send Forced" good for?

I have always thought if send forced for full count and 2 outs sending the runners that are forced to move no matter what the outcome at the plate.

cblacker · 09-02-2013, 10:46 AM

The runners go on their own in a full count with 2 outs if there is a runner on first, first & second, or bases loaded. Use "Send Forced" if you want the batter to take the pitch and want the runner to try and steal regardless of whether he gets a good jump or not. Personally, I never use it.

Nunyer · 09-02-2013, 11:01 AM

Batters will swing when using 'send forced', it's not an automatic take like the standard 'steal' command.

cblacker · 09-02-2013, 04:10 PM

Are you sure? Because then what's the difference between "Send Forced" and "Run & Hit"?

Fyrestorm3 · 09-02-2013, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nunyer

Batters will swing when using 'send forced', it's not an automatic take like the standard 'steal' command.

No. "Send Forced" is the same as "Steal," the only difference being the runner will attempt a steal 100% of the time.

Nunyer · 09-02-2013, 04:32 PM

Well, I will say that I am sure that is how it worked in v13... Don't know if I've used it enough in v14 to have seen a swing yet.

Nunyer · 09-02-2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm3

No. "Send Forced" is the same as "Steal," the only difference being the runner will attempt a steal 100% of the time.

You are incorrect. Test it yourself. It took me all of 90 seconds to confirm. Batters can/will swing when using "send forced". I don't know why I would lie about such a thing... or why you would claim I was when you obviously didn't know better.

Fyrestorm3 · 09-02-2013, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nunyer

You are incorrect. Test it yourself. It took me all of 90 seconds to confirm. Batters can/will swing when using "send forced". I don't know why I would lie about such a thing... or why you would claim I was when you obviously didn't know better.

Hey, cool your jets, I never accused you of lying, I just disagreed with you.

Well, I just tested it myself and hey - YOU'RE RIGHT. What an amazing turn of events! My god, I couldn't possibly have been MISTAKEN, could I? No, of course not. I obviously, blatantly accused you of lying and didn't know any better.

You know, I was intentionally gone from the boards for a week after the two threads that caused all the you-know-what to hit the fan. I'm starting to think I should have stayed gone.

08-29-2013, 01:29 PM	#1
Mike Lowe Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,178	Stealing with 2 Strikes Will the hitter ALWAYS take the pitch? I like to try and stay out of double plays and will call for a steal with a full count and less than 2 outs. It seems the batter either walks or strikes out looking every time. The batter should always protect with 2 strikes. This needs a fixin'!

08-30-2013, 11:18 AM	#9
nyy26wc All Star Reserve Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 679	From the manual-- Steal--"The runner on the selected base will try to steal. He might not actually go if he cannot get a good jump, however." Send forced--"The runners on base will go, no matter what happens at the plate." Hit & run--'The runners will leave before the ball is hit, and the batter will try to make contact. This option is often used by teams who do not have a lot of power and need to 'manufacture' runs." Run & hit--"The runners will leave before the ball is hit, and the batter has the option of trying to make contact or taking the pitch. This option is usually used only when the runner has a good chance of stealing a base." Last edited by nyy26wc; 08-30-2013 at 11:21 AM.

08-29-2013, 01:35 PM	#2
DCG12 All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Traveling through another dimension-not one of only sight and sound,but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundries are those of imagination. Posts: 1,161	I have found that in full count situations that the run and hit option (not the hit and run) works better. The hitter will swing if its a strike and walk if its a ball.

08-30-2013, 10:23 AM	#5
Mike Lowe Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,178	1st and 3rd...if I use run and hit, will the runner on 3rd steal home?

08-30-2013, 10:44 AM	#6
pumph Minors (Single A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 94	What then is "Send Forced" good for?

08-30-2013, 11:15 AM	#8
rpriske Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Spencerville, ON, Canada Posts: 27,226	Send Forced is exactly for that 1st and 3rd situation. You are telling the guy on first to run and the guy on 3rd to stay put. Otherwise it is the same as Run & Hit.

08-30-2013, 11:22 AM	#10
Padreman Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (formally San Diego, CA.) Posts: 4,131	Sorry if off topic but where can you find the stat that tells you how would-be-base stealers have been gun down by a catcher?

09-02-2013, 10:46 AM	#14
cblacker Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 324	The runners go on their own in a full count with 2 outs if there is a runner on first, first & second, or bases loaded. Use "Send Forced" if you want the batter to take the pitch and want the runner to try and steal regardless of whether he gets a good jump or not. Personally, I never use it.

09-02-2013, 11:01 AM	#15
Nunyer All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Baseball Ned Flanders stares into your soul... Posts: 594	Batters will swing when using 'send forced', it's not an automatic take like the standard 'steal' command.

09-02-2013, 04:10 PM	#16
cblacker Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 324	Are you sure? Because then what's the difference between "Send Forced" and "Run & Hit"?

09-02-2013, 04:32 PM	#18
Nunyer All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Baseball Ned Flanders stares into your soul... Posts: 594	Well, I will say that I am sure that is how it worked in v13... Don't know if I've used it enough in v14 to have seen a swing yet.