Do You Steal Bases off the Pitcher or Catcher? | Baseball Bits

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Do you steal bases of the pitcher or catcher? That's the question we're trying to answer today. Pitchers have an obligation to control the run game too, ya know. Especially after the MLB 2023 rule changes which increased MLB stolen bases rules. This video will deal a lot with rules, particularly the different between legal MLB pickoff moves and MLB balks.

In this episode of Baseball Bits, a Foolish Baseball production, I'll make the argument that baserunners steal off the pitcher, because pitchers can do more things. Forget catcher pop time, this is about the pitchers. They have pickoff moves, they can speed things up by pitching from the stretch, and they can vary their looks.

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[zacharyliles]

if i were a pitcher i would simply not allow any baserunners

[greggidicsin]

Great video as always Bailey. Another data point you could've used to compare how much more influence pitchers have on stolen bases allowed is the difference in average pop times between the fastest catcher and slowest catcher is about 0.3 seconds. With pitchers, even if only comparing their fastest stretch windups to the plate, it varies way more than 0.3 seconds, hence why the pitcher is a much bigger factor than the catcher in controlling stolen bases.

[ExhaustedElox]

My pitcher in "Road to the Show" never picked over to first. Didn't have to when he had a sub 3 ERA for his career.

[baileysmith]

the graphic for Molina is completely contradictory to your point. a great catcher had significantly less steal attempts than any other catcher (you're still right, but why would you include that?)

[phobiarg]

I wish you brought up the Yankees // Red Sox game earlier this season where the Sox were running at will against Trevino. I dont think that had much to do with the pitchers and just about everything to do with Trevvy not being able to get the ball off.

[TimeNap]

Foolish Julio Foolio Baseball with another great video. RIP Foolio.

[thedenver]

That was a good video because I liked 7:48.

[Jiggz]

Definitely nailed the Bo Bichette impression.

[Tristanisthebest]

Before finishing the video, I'm leaning towards: stealing off of the pitcher. They have the ball in their hands and play doesn't begin until they start their motion. But I could be swayed either way.

[BobSchmidt]

it used to be off the catcher, but these days, in TTO baseball, pitchers don't seem to care about holding runners on. And many catchers are there for their bats, not defense. hopefully more teams will start using this to their advantage and start to steal more bases.

[Baseballboiz]

The Max Fried vs Aaron Nola is not fair because Fried is a lefty and everyone knows it is harder to steal off a lefty

[michaelron]

I’ve been punching my stomach from hunger for days, I’m just gonna watch this video real quick. Hope there’s something in here for me.

[mrorcadood]

"elly, you're ruining my point" cracked me up

[stinkasaurus]

0.2 seconds is a long time? I can't wait to tell my wife!

[pranavarora]

OG Foolish fans already know the answer from the Barajas video.

[tonysimicich]

After "stealing" the base, the base is still there. It's just piracy.

[StarkRavingSports]

When is the Baseball Bits on the efficacy of hitting your tummy to mitigate hunger coming out?

[yukdum]

My favorite thing about Yadier Molina was how he would look straight into the camera and say "It's poppin' time!" before gunning down a would-be base thief.

[EDF]

I'm pretty sure you steal bases on the diamond

[obscurereference]

You wouldn't steal a car
You wouldn't steal a base