Stealing bases is frustrating

rink23 · 05-03-2019, 08:39 PM

Been playing OOTP for a loooong time now, love the game, obsessed with it.

Still playing 2019, will upgrade once my current season comes to an end.
But the thing that bothers me the most is trying to steal bases.
I am not a big base stealing guy -- although every year my owner sends me a nasty note telling me he wants to see improvement -- but will try to swipe my share when the odds are in my favor.
(I shift between playing batter-by-batter and pitch-by-pitch depending on the situation).
It just gets wearisome to me, though, when I have pitcher with a low hold rating (usually my catchers arm is 65-plus), the game turns into a track meet.
However, when the other team has a low hold pitcher and weak armed catcher and I try and step up the pace and all they seem to do is retreat back to the bag.
What makes it even more infuriating, is you finally give in and tell the batter to swing and he hits into a double play.
I know you can force send (usually ends up with a caught stealing) or run and hit.
But my base stealers are at the top two spots in my order on this particular club and I don't want to take the bat out of the hands of my thumpers at 3-4-5.
Just venting, as I lost a key game in the midst of a pennant race the other day.

Opponent's pitcher had a hold of 40, catcher an arm of 40.
I must have tried to steal 8-10 times, and never once was an attempt made. I also think I hit into multiple double plays.

Findest2001 · 05-03-2019, 08:42 PM

Yup. Same here even with rickey Henderson skills it happens to me all the time. Moreso in the playoffs...grrr

DaBears · 05-04-2019, 02:41 PM

Don’t know if this might work, but something to try is to up the base stealing aggressiveness of your runner. This must be done outside of when playing the actual game, but I have found it helped. Matt talked about this on the podcast last week as well.

middleson · 05-05-2019, 11:45 AM

Rink 23 I echo your concerns with the addition that when I face a poor hold pitcher and a week arm catcher, no matter the game status , way behind, way ahead, somehow the weak arm catcher is able to anticipate what I am about to do and call a pitchout. Conversely I enjoy a successful pitchout about once ever five or six seasons.

TomVeal · 05-05-2019, 11:57 PM

Try calling "run and hit".

As for the phenomenon that you report, I suspect that OOTP players try to steal unrealistically often and that the game negates that tendency.

SxSnts9 · 05-06-2019, 08:44 AM

Run and hit will obviously help avoid the double play, but you're probably just getting frustrated with recency bias. I find that SB% usually evens out for me in the end and I've had games where I've gotten 3 great basestealers hosed by an average catcher. It happens.

Or you could be like modern day managers and just wait around for the home run haha. TTO for life!!

Findest2001 · 05-06-2019, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SxSnts9

Run and hit will obviously help avoid the double play, but you're probably just getting frustrated with recency bias. I find that SB% usually evens out for me in the end and I've had games where I've gotten 3 great basestealers hosed by an average catcher. It happens.

Or you could be like modern day managers and just wait around for the home run haha. TTO for life!!

I actually find I have great success on double steals. Probably at a higher rate than stealing second TBH.

IanIachimoe · 05-06-2019, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomVeal

Try calling "run and hit".

As for the phenomenon that you report, I suspect that OOTP players try to steal unrealistically often and that the game negates that tendency.

this makes sense IMO.

I've had a few 150+ SB season, only because I try to steal almost every time. totals would be outrageous otherwise.

IanIachimoe · 05-06-2019, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Findest2001

I actually find I have great success on double steals. Probably at a higher rate than stealing second TBH.

I also have much better success on double steals. they go every time.

05-03-2019, 08:39 PM	#1
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 17,949	Stealing bases is frustrating Been playing OOTP for a loooong time now, love the game, obsessed with it. Still playing 2019, will upgrade once my current season comes to an end. But the thing that bothers me the most is trying to steal bases. I am not a big base stealing guy -- although every year my owner sends me a nasty note telling me he wants to see improvement -- but will try to swipe my share when the odds are in my favor. (I shift between playing batter-by-batter and pitch-by-pitch depending on the situation). It just gets wearisome to me, though, when I have pitcher with a low hold rating (usually my catchers arm is 65-plus), the game turns into a track meet. However, when the other team has a low hold pitcher and weak armed catcher and I try and step up the pace and all they seem to do is retreat back to the bag. What makes it even more infuriating, is you finally give in and tell the batter to swing and he hits into a double play. I know you can force send (usually ends up with a caught stealing) or run and hit. But my base stealers are at the top two spots in my order on this particular club and I don't want to take the bat out of the hands of my thumpers at 3-4-5. Just venting, as I lost a key game in the midst of a pennant race the other day. Opponent's pitcher had a hold of 40, catcher an arm of 40. I must have tried to steal 8-10 times, and never once was an attempt made. I also think I hit into multiple double plays.

05-06-2019, 08:44 AM	#6
SxSnts9 Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2016 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 154	Run and hit will obviously help avoid the double play, but you're probably just getting frustrated with recency bias. I find that SB% usually evens out for me in the end and I've had games where I've gotten 3 great basestealers hosed by an average catcher. It happens. Or you could be like modern day managers and just wait around for the home run haha. TTO for life!! __________________ "They let me down real easy when they cut me. I showed up at the stadium and was told that visitors aren't allowed in the clubhouse." - Bob Uecker

05-03-2019, 08:42 PM	#2
Findest2001 All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Boston Posts: 960	Yup. Same here even with rickey Henderson skills it happens to me all the time. Moreso in the playoffs...grrr

05-04-2019, 02:41 PM	#3
DaBears Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 467	Don’t know if this might work, but something to try is to up the base stealing aggressiveness of your runner. This must be done outside of when playing the actual game, but I have found it helped. Matt talked about this on the podcast last week as well.

05-05-2019, 11:45 AM	#4
middleson Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 27	Rink 23 I echo your concerns with the addition that when I face a poor hold pitcher and a week arm catcher, no matter the game status , way behind, way ahead, somehow the weak arm catcher is able to anticipate what I am about to do and call a pitchout. Conversely I enjoy a successful pitchout about once ever five or six seasons.

05-05-2019, 11:57 PM	#5
TomVeal All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Spanaway, Washington Posts: 1,181	Try calling "run and hit". As for the phenomenon that you report, I suspect that OOTP players try to steal unrealistically often and that the game negates that tendency.