Steals were introduced in the John Hill for the Thrill Extravaganza, and were met with a lot of excitement. 5 were allowed per team per game in the laid back atmosphere. For use in league play the rules will obviously be amended and tightened up. Nevertheless, I think it was successful as a test of using steals, and we should strongly consider implementing them into WSEM league play.
First, a refresh of how a steal is attempted and plays out in catcher-less Wiffleball. The baserunner must shout "steal" while the pitcher is in their wind-up; leaving the base is optional. The pitcher cannot stop his motion and must throw the ball home. If the pitch hits the board, the runner is OUT. If the pitch misses the board, the runner is SAFE. The batter may swing, of course, either to protect the board (preventing an out) or just to swing away. If he swings and misses on a ball off the board, the strike DOES NOT mean the runner is out - only a ball that hits the board is considered caught stealing. A tip into the board, therefore, is both a strike and a caught stealing out. More on if the batter makes contact a little later.
Second, how many attempted steals should we allow per game? Due to the ratio of balls-to-strikes in Wiffleball a limit must be set, or else steals would come to dominate the game. When looking at the number of attempted steals per game in the MLB we see that the highest any team averaged in 2012 was 1.24, and the highest over the years represented there was 1.57 in 2009. Based on these numbers (ignore the inning difference), it seems as though we should allow 2 attempted steals per team per game. That low number may seem inconsequential, but used strategically just 2 can still be used to manufacture a run or influence situations in game - I.E. having a steal in your pocket with runners in scoring position late in the game could keep the other team from intentionally walking* a big bat.
Thiiirrrd, back to the batter swinging and making contact. At For the Thrill it was considered one of a team's attempted steal whether the batter fouled the ball off or put it in play. For league play it is proposed that if a batter fouls off the pitch it WILL NOT count as one of your attempts. This allows the batter to spoil pitches and protect the runner. It will also make the 2 attempts play larger, as well. On the other hand, if the ball is put in play on an attempted steal, it WILL count as one of your team's two attempts. As mentioned above leaving the base is optional on an attempt, but this situation may show it smart to do so.
Fourth, dealing with double steals (and triple steals). Originally, every player that yelled steal counted as one of the team's attempts; so, a double steal = two attempts, triple steal = 3 attempts. We could use that protocol in league play, but a double steal would expend a team's entire supply. Another option would be to consider a double steal as only 1 attempt, but if the pitch strikes the board BOTH runners will be called out - keeping the risk/reward factor high.
View the adopted rules for steals in the 2013 season (under 'For the Pitcher' and 'For the Runner' sections).
Basic Rundown:
1. Pitcher starts his motion
2. Runners yell "STEAL!"
3a. Ball hits board = OUT, caught stealing
3b. Ball misses board = SAFE
3c. Foul = No attempt used
3d. Ball in play = live ball , attempt used
* Pitches MUST BE THROWN on an intentional walk.
First, a refresh of how a steal is attempted and plays out in catcher-less Wiffleball. The baserunner must shout "steal" while the pitcher is in their wind-up; leaving the base is optional. The pitcher cannot stop his motion and must throw the ball home. If the pitch hits the board, the runner is OUT. If the pitch misses the board, the runner is SAFE. The batter may swing, of course, either to protect the board (preventing an out) or just to swing away. If he swings and misses on a ball off the board, the strike DOES NOT mean the runner is out - only a ball that hits the board is considered caught stealing. A tip into the board, therefore, is both a strike and a caught stealing out. More on if the batter makes contact a little later.
Second, how many attempted steals should we allow per game? Due to the ratio of balls-to-strikes in Wiffleball a limit must be set, or else steals would come to dominate the game. When looking at the number of attempted steals per game in the MLB we see that the highest any team averaged in 2012 was 1.24, and the highest over the years represented there was 1.57 in 2009. Based on these numbers (ignore the inning difference), it seems as though we should allow 2 attempted steals per team per game. That low number may seem inconsequential, but used strategically just 2 can still be used to manufacture a run or influence situations in game - I.E. having a steal in your pocket with runners in scoring position late in the game could keep the other team from intentionally walking* a big bat.
Thiiirrrd, back to the batter swinging and making contact. At For the Thrill it was considered one of a team's attempted steal whether the batter fouled the ball off or put it in play. For league play it is proposed that if a batter fouls off the pitch it WILL NOT count as one of your attempts. This allows the batter to spoil pitches and protect the runner. It will also make the 2 attempts play larger, as well. On the other hand, if the ball is put in play on an attempted steal, it WILL count as one of your team's two attempts. As mentioned above leaving the base is optional on an attempt, but this situation may show it smart to do so.
View the adopted rules for steals in the 2013 season (under 'For the Pitcher' and 'For the Runner' sections).
Basic Rundown:
1. Pitcher starts his motion
2. Runners yell "STEAL!"
3a. Ball hits board = OUT, caught stealing
3b. Ball misses board = SAFE
3c. Foul = No attempt used
3d. Ball in play = live ball , attempt used
* Pitches MUST BE THROWN on an intentional walk.
