Base Running and Base Stealing
Image by Frank Lauri
Basic to Advanced mechanics for running bases and stealing. Base running tips from pro players.
On this page, you’ll find baseball instruction – technique and tips – for improving your baserunning skills. Also, pro tips for stealing bases.
Click on the red links to get the step-by-step breakdown for each skill, as well as some advanced tips to help you take your game to the next level.
Base Running |
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| 12 Signs of a Good Base Runner | Twelve things that every good base runner does. You can use this as a test to see if you have mastered this skill. |
| Base Running Tips 1: Rules of Thumb | Three “rules of thumb” that every baserunner needs to know. |
| Base Running Tips 2: How to Slide | How to pop up slide, hook slide, sliding head first, and other important sliding fundamentals. |
| BaseRunning Tips 3: Getting to 1st base | Tips for getting to 1st after hitting a ground ball |
| BaseRunning Tips 4: How to Take a Lead at 1st and 2nd Base | How to take leads at 1st and 2nd. Base running tips for taking leads that can greatly enhance your chances of avoiding pickoffs and advancing to the next bag. |
| BaseRunning Tips 5: Reading Batted Balls from second Base | Reading hits when on 2nd can be difficult. Here are some points to help you out. |
Base Stealing |
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| 3 Things to Know before Stealing 2nd Base | Three important things to know before you steal 2nd. If you know these three things, you will know whether you should challenge the pitcher and catcher and go for the steal. |
| How to Steal 2nd off a Righty | Several strategies for reading right handed pitchers, including strategies for reading the pitcher and some common tells that will help you predict the pitcher’s moves and improve your stolen bases. |
| How to Steal 2nd off a Lefty |
How to tell if a pitcher has a pre-determined move or is reading the baserunner, and several strategies for for each when stealing 2nd |
| Stealing 3rd Base |
Pro tips for stealing third base. |
| Advancing on a Wild Pitch | Couple things to help you advance on wild pitches, balls in the dirt, or passed balls. To create havoc and be disruptive on the bases, anticipating pitches thrown in the dirt will allow quality offensive baseball player to take advantage of opportunities and move up to the next bag. |
| What is a Balk? |
This article answers the question “What is a Balk?” and describes how to recognize when it happens. |
Also, Check out this blog post with three keys from Juan Pierre for how to steal bases.
Juan Pierre is leading all of MLB’s active players in stolen bases at 560, and is number 21 on the all time stolen bases list. In this post is 3 tips from Juan on how to steal bases. Even if you are not the fastest guy on your team, these 3 points will really help your offensive game.
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Running and stealing bases are critical offensive skills that can make a big difference in winning games. Running hard and smart can turn back to back singles into a scoring opportunity. A savvy runner often means the difference between single RBI home run and a 2 RBI home run because he doesn’t get picked off or thrown out unnecessarily. Violating common rules of thumb will embarrass you and cost your team runs. It’s important to know how to run bases, take leads, steal, read the pitcher, read batted balls, etc. so you will give yourself and your team the best shot at success.
I hope you have found these articles helpful. If you have a question or topic suggestion, I invite you to leave your feedback in the comment section below. Play hard! – Doug
About the Author: Doug Bernier
Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 11 years. After hitting .361 with the New York Yankees this 2012 spring training where he relieved Derek Jeter at shortstop, Doug spent the 2012 season with the Yankees’ triple A team. Click here to get personal, one-on-one instruction with Doug Bernier
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