In Baseball you don't really need to wait for a perfect hit from your batter to advance to the next base. If you're feeling daring and your legs are up for it, try outsmarting your opponent by stealing a base.

How To Steal Base

You'll need at least a runner on a base. To steal a base tap the next square closest to your runner before the pitch is thrown.

If you have multiple players:

• you'll need to tap each individual square in front of your runners 
  E.g. if your runner is on the 1st base, you need to tap the 2nd one. 
  
  
• tap the one further from the home base to move all of them.
  E.g.: you have a player on the 2nd and 1st base, if you tap your runner on the first and both will move! 

When To Steal A Base

The mechanics of stealing a base are rather easy, but base stealing shouldn't be performed willy-nilly.

If you're uncertain of you batter's batting success, you should probably hold-off on stealing a base if there is a slower runner on the next base. He will either be forced to move, risking being tagged out, or he will stay put and your runner trying to steal the base will have to run back.

On the other hand, it's worth trying to run for it if there is no player ahead. Even if your batter isn't able to hit a ball, the catcher might not be fast enough throwing the ball to the opponent player defending the base. 

You may want to try stealing a base with a slower runner if you need to give him a head start. In these situations you need to be certain your batter will most likely hit the ball so try using this when you have a batter with good contact. Try bunting instead of swinging if you don't want to risk a catch.

Be mindful when trying to steal a base, your opponent anticipates your move and instead of throwing a pitch tries to tag your runner out.

This is especially true if Jay is your opponent's pitcher. His ability allows him to predict base stealing attempts and pick-off unwary runners. Or if your opponent has Carlos (catcher). 

All of these risks can be mitigated if you improve your line-up and your batting order!

Best base stealers

Fast runners with a good score on their speed stat will usually be the best players to sent out to steal a base.

Fox is a prime candidate for base stealing. Not only is he tremendously fast, but his ability, Perfect Steal, grant's is base stealing attempts a high rate of success. It is not uncommon for him to be able to steal the second and third bases even when your batter concedes a strike.

Phoenix gains +9 speed when stealing a base that adds to her already impressive base speed.

Andy benefits greatly from getting a head start on hits when he has no one in front of him as his OverRun ability makes him faster each time he passes a base.

Christine is very good at stealing third base whether you batter is successful or not. Although her ability gives her additional speed at the third base as well, if the opponent's catcher catches the ball she is done for.

Alexander is also worth considering for a steal attempt if you believe you'll make the hit. In the eventuality your opponent catches the ball in the air and the runner has to return to his base, Alexander's ability Tag Up & Away mitigates this scenario as it might give him enough speed after returning to his base to run to the next one.

Neville is also a good base stealing if you are willing to bet on him. His speed stat is his highest and if he is about to be thrown out his ability grants him a unique sliding power that can make or break a safe.

And of course Ruth, who can evade the catcher.

Failing a base steal

Base stealing is a risky play and it won't always go your away.

Sometimes your opponent will predict your attempt and will pick your runner off. Other times, your opponent is just to fast getting the ball to the base. You might even have the misfortune of trapping one of your runners forcing him to run and be tagged out.

Stealing is a battle of wits between you and your opponent. There are more tips and tricks you can employ to reach home base. If you have tips of your own feel free drop us a line on Facebook.