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Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA
Then I would have to believe the players are either not very smart, not very athletic or both.
I think the stealing adds a bundle to the game. It keeps a player in the catching position. It keeps the pitcher and catcher in the game because they can no longer think about the beer after the game  .
It keeps the umpire on their toes, also.
This year in our states of all levels, the steal was a big part of the game including delayed steals of home.
It is so well liked by the "college" players, that every level wants it. |
Actually, the only year it was used in any of our city leagues, it was used in the Open League (the top league in the city), which consists of the best players in the city. Many of these guys are former college athletes, including a few former Division I football and baseball players. Every team had a hell of an arm put behind the plate when the stealing rule was in effect to the point noone could even steal at all. I guess that wasn't the only reason they took it out of the league rules.
Other reason was those umpires who were not used to working the Open League weren't too sharp with the base stealing rule, either misapplying the ball location at home plate or not being on top of the play when it was at 2nd base. I had a couple of those nights. One I remember vividly because I was home plate and the pitch landed behind the plate clearly, and it was a called strike. It jumped up a little so the catcher had to reach for it and he was a little slow with the throw. Runner was on his way, and I hear "time" in the field. Partner on the bases told the runner to go back. I asked him why he did that. His answer (and to this day, I still groan when I think about it): the catcher was able to control it, it didn't go past the catcher.
