Before moving on to the technique of stealing bases, it is important to discuss what the runner should do when the catcher goes to his knees to block the baseball. The base runner should see the path of the baseball even before the catcher goes to his knees and when the catcher drops, he should steal second base. This skill takes considerable practice but can result in multiple steals a game when he sees the catcher drop to his knees. Players should learn this skill at a young age and begin to take second base with confidence when the catcher drops to his knees. The runner will begin to gain a sixth sense for advancing on a pitch on a downward angle with a catcher dropping to his knees.
Balls in the Dirt