Kid Steals Home - inattentive catcher/pitcher during LLWS 2016

During the Maine vs Rhode Island Little League World Series 2016 regional game, the catcher and pitcher are caught off guard and a run scores by stealing home.
We've uploaded several base running videos advocating aggressive base running. Often we field comments claiming that such base running isn't "real baseball" as if a base runner should not take a base that the defense is not defending.
Affiliate Links to products we used while coaching baseball:
6-8 Year Old - PowerClose glove - amzn.to/3bmkQ8T
9-11 Year Old - Youth PowerClose glove - amzn.to/3Efw791
Youth PowerClose CATCHER’S glove - amzn.to/3S51dFX
Mizuno MVP Prime: Intermediate CATCHER’S glove - amzn.to/3Kcusoo
Total Control Heavy Balls - amzn.to/2On8nZA
Total Control Heavy Wiffle - amzn.to/3v6qp33
Tanner Tee - amzn.to/3l8KJMr
Bownet commander large catcher bag - amzn.to/3EgPIFK

[@ouyrwq]

It is cheap when your team is up by more than 9 runs. It could be argued that you will see "cheap" bases less frequently at higher levels because the dumb players do not make it through playoffs. Personally, in a game where one run decides the winner versus loser, I love manufactured runs. Creates excitement and wins.

[@sherryfaron8486]

the unwritten rule of shutting it down up by 9 after 7 innings is foolish, there are countless times that a team has come back to win from being down alot

[@Nickvec]

@Sherry Faron I agree that there have been great comebacks in many competitions, but in youth baseball games you usually have a game after your game and cannot let the game go over by hours. I coached one team of fast kids that stole almost at will and were good hitters. Without the 'mercy rule', the score could easily have been 45 to 3. I actually told the kids to stop stealing. This let the other team still play and practice, and also kept them from being humiliated. Also, in a playoff situation, you don't want your best pitchers to exceed the allowable pitch count over several games.

[@Eheasnhshgshshs27]

I agree it does not matter people should still be aggressive and you should still be an aggressive base runner

[@nickd.8614]

I agree it’s really cheap the coaches only do this because they care about winning more than having a fun time playing little league

[@Eheasnhshgshshs27]

@@nickd.8614 it’s the catchers fault because they weren’t paying attention

[@joemomma2517]

Can't even count how many times when I got walked and ended up just jogging to first then just sprint to second. Never got thrown out

[@gametalks8279]

Yup. Happens all the time in our league. Especially with a runner on third. If he throws to second, run scores

[@krisaustin1343]

😂 that’s awesome

[@largeturtle2325]

That’s got to be 12u or younger though

[@craigmooring2091]

You are dead-on, man. Those who call this cheap baseball are ones I would assert are not real baseball lovers. It is precisely this sort of heads-up, wily, athletic play that I find most exciting. One such daring, alert move is far more interesting and exciting than 98% of all home runs in the same circumstances.

[@skiunit7050]

it's not cheap baseball everybody on the field needs to be aware of the runners and as a runner needs to be alert on what's going on around the person

[@brycemarr5340]

nick slibowski you don't see it in the majors is because paying attention

[@wisdog]

The only people calling it cheap are the losing coaches, who are butt hurt.

[@justyourlocalbernana1823]

Yup xD

[@loganlarson1241]

Exactly I would tell my coaches go cry about it if they did that to me but they don't they encourage it and because of that we win more games

[@michaeloconnell3532]

Whenever runners are on base, you must keep an eye on them no matter what. This is a great video. People who say it is cheap baseball are just mad that they got caught being either stupid, inattentive, or lazy. Once again, this video is great.

[@adamleblanc5294]

I 100% agree with you. Being aggressive on the bases is important at all levels. At younger levels it teaches the runners how to look for openings, and teaches the D that you have to be alert. I've seen it happen in many higher level games, where the D just went to sleep, and a runner took advantage. This is part of the game.

[@nanaisvibing8432]

stealing bases is apart of the game

[@DrunkSamurai]

+Zbj productions Not anymore apparently.

[@guff1702]

DrunkSamurai yeah it sucks now it's all about homeruns

[@DrunkSamurai]

+GD XxGeoGod41xX RBIs too. Stealing should be brought back.

[@thedoc77777]

Not in little league lol. Their rules are stupid.

[@saucyincredijon1572]

Can u tell your words apart

[@ChiefLarue]

Agree with you. The dissenters have no idea how to prepare kids for the higher level. They are teaching that "everyone is a winner".

[@matthewcepeda4351]

Jon Larue its true mate

[@thedoc77777]

So basically the people who wrote all the dumb softball rules into little league "baseball"?

[@strippschoe]

In a broader sense you're teaching young players to be aware, look for opportunities and/or tendencies. These may seem fairly obvious on a youth baseball level, but as they face steeper competition, it's more of a level playing field. Therefore, Practicing to keep on the lookout for any small advantages could come in handy.

[@briandrum1]

Back when I coached my son in little league we were facing an undefeated team halfway through the season. We were playing at home, my son was on third, it was the bottom of the 6th, the game was tied and I was coaching third. I noticed that the pitcher nor the catcher weren't paying any attention to my son after the pitch. I whispered to my son "next pitch steal home". He looked at me like I was crazy and I told him to just try it. There as only 1 out so we didn't have much to lose. Needless to say, my son got the game ball that game as we handed the undefeated team the only loss of the season that year!

[@TheSeanocasey]

I played organized baseball for most of my childhood and on into my 20s. We were taught base stealing. We were taught to study the playing habits of the other team. Stealing bases is totally good heads up baseball. If there is a coach that would sit a kid for aggressive base running he is an idiot and needs to be replaced. He doesn't know the game.

[@DelbertStinkfester]

LOL...I coached Little League and tournament baseball for around 10 years and I had the boys running those bases like wild horses....We scored so many freaking runs that way and the boys just absolutely loved doing it.....I did get a lot of crap from the other coaches and parents who were getting schooled.....I loved it even more when they tried to pull the same crap on my team....When I taught the boys how to run those bases I also taught the defense how to defend against it....Man that was such a great time in my life....Don't regret a single moment of it.

[@chalupabatman311]

You sound just like my old coach.. lol i love it

[@TheIrishAmish]

To borrow a line from you, “Aggressive base running WINS the game”.

[@h1989w7373]

I've been umpiring LLB for 9 years,as an umpire I love aggressive baseball,when tournaments starts you see first hand the teams that are really good,it's usually the teams that love CHEAP baseball.

[@krinnphindalin6803]

h1989w7373 My Team was never the cheap team. I was the guy on the team who would still try picking everyone off and stealing second on a walk.

[@MarcoGarcia-kh3bv]

h1989w7373 yeah my little leage team made it to sectionals this year but we won the first 2 and lost the second 2

[@PeterOkeefe54]

Had the same comments back in the 90's when I coached 12 under..other coaches didnt like 10 stolen home plates during the season until in the playoffs another coach did his homework and caught us..best years of my life

[@seanrenon747]

Don't let anyone tell you this is cheap - this is part of the game. Part of baseball is knowing when you can sneak another base - just like you can trick runners into taking extra bases and then picking them off, the more these kids learn when they're younger - the better they'll be as they grow up.

[@nathanielsocash1258]

It isn't cheap baseball, it's SMART baseball!! I would award a kid that is smart on the base path

[@mysticwanderer4787]

Moral to the story, ignore stupid comments from people with no clue. This is the way the game should be played. I guess some folks just want to sit in the stands and see participation prizes handed out.

[@theburnetts]

The other reason it is more difficult at higher levels is because of the increased distance between bases. In Little League the bases are only 60 feet apart. And a fast player can cover that distance pretty quickly. When you factor in the reaction time for a pitcher/catcher to realize what is happening it becomes difficult to throw out a surprise stealer. At higher levels the reaction time for the pitcher/catcher is the same, but the distance to cover for the base runner is much longer. So it is harder to catch a pitcher/catcher by surprise.

[@sococomfort22s34]

True to a certain degree. I was able to take 2nd and 3rd on passed balls on my HS field growing up bc the backstop was so far back. We legit had some space behind the umpire, than our track and than some more space before the backstop. I was also our catcher and learned quick that if I block everything we have a huge home advantage

[@McGuire2778]

Great video man. Oh how i loved Aggresive base running as a kid. I didn't have the speed to pull a steel like this off. But i did have that fast start so i would take a very tempting lead that just begged the pitcher to try to pick me off. My fast start always got me back to the bag in time. But usually after about 2-3 attempts, they would be trying so hard to get me they would end up over throwing the ball and I'd take the next base. Sometimes on some fields, even two bases. Man that was so much fun. Now I'm a paraplegic (thanks to a motorcycle accident) but I'm just as Aggresive on the bases in Wheelchair softball as i was as a little leaguer. Once getting a team to pickle me between 1st-2nd while the bases were loaded. Once all the runners ahead of me had scored, i took second. So much damn fun. I didn't always get away with it, but i did get away with it about 80-90% of the time.

[@DZegers13]

The only way that stealing a base is “cheap baseball” is if the game is lopsided and you continue to run up the score. My rule of thumb is that if a league has a mercy rule it’s fair game to play hard until you’re ahead by that amount of runs, then you back off the aggressiveness.

[@ThatGuyOnYoutube2]

I am the same way. I get to 10 and I call off the dogs.

[@OldAndGettingOlder]

Aggressive base running is fun to do and to watch. Get to the next base at any opportunity.

[@Soggyspy007]

It's smart baseball, I once did that in a game and it caught the pitcher off guard by a mile.

[@brianhammer8968]

Prove it

[@TyliteTony]

doesnt everone in travel baseball do that? thats basics

[@mikebaker1650]

SoggySpy 007 did this many times in travel ball. Close at plate but it works.

[@coryCuc]

@@brianhammer8968 He just did by saying it happened. Are you one of those guys who needs proof if I tell you I have 10 fingers and 10 toes? Or perhaps if I tell you I have brown hair? lol. That's as idiotic as your stupid comment.

[@brianhammer8968]

@@coryCuc lol get trolled

[@samrodriguez7912]

Everybody is a winner “if your on the winning team”

[@carrymurphy1032]

👍🏾 at a-boy

[@donaldthomas7070]

*you're

[@jared1804]

You’re. Not your.

[@shpaget1]

You want your kids to be alert, and look for the opportunities, but you also want to be strategic about when you take those opportunities. Doing it in an early season game where you're winning or losing 8-1 isn't the time to do it. Remember the tendencies of the team and take advantage when the run has meaning, and surprise. What you don't want to do is teach an opposing team their shortcomings in a meaningless game so that they learn the lesson and don't repeat it.

[@MJHBaseball]

I agree. We will wait for two outs or hold off if we don't need it for that very reason. In this game, the stakes are very high and you may not have your good runner in place again, so take a run when they are giving it. As it turned out, the next play was the hit to center field and a double up out on the kid who was on second, so it ended up being the right move in the end.

[@Candylicker4]

You need to be at high alert in baseball it's not a lazy game, it can very well be a fast pace game, but I do agree with shpaget1 no reason should you be doing this if you are up or down by a ridiculous amount, this is more of a move to do when you are tied and or down by one to hopefully give your team the lead or win in an important game.

[@scottbannon7751]

Seems like this team did that perfectly. It is baseball at its finest.

[@jhanks2012]

shpaget1 - but on the other hand doing it when the opportunity arises when it's 8-1 is good practice. After all you don't want to try it for the first time ever when everything is on the line in a tight game.

[@Canteenboy117]

jhanks2012 wrong, to do it when up by a lot of runs is bad sportsmanship, and it may lead to the losing team getting back at yours by hitting batters or something similar.

[@dirusj4006]

Is it cheap to bunt to third base when the third basemen is out of place/sleeping? What about outfield moving in or out based on a batters previous at bats? What about when a person making an attempt at second and the fielders forget about the guy standing on third? Is it cheap when he scores because the other team was sleeping?

[@madjayhawk]

Snowflake Baseball means that the score ends in a tie and that no one feels bad after the game. Stealing, strikeouts, and bunting are not allowed in Snowflake Baseball. It will hurt someone's feelings.

[@guff1702]

It's not cheap to bunt when there's no one on the left side of the field or when it's a sac bunt that's just strategy

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

God, everything's politics.

[@birddoug8297]

show no mercy

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

only if it is the last inning and the pitcher is tossing a No No and your team is down 7 runs

[@rebekahh1450]

In high school, the baseball and softball coaches told us if you go for the steal, you better be fast enough to have it.

[@wacco54]

As I'm running to second I can hear Coach yelling no,no,no. As I slide in safely I hear Coach yell YES!

[@johnrandle3335]

People say that this won’t happen at a higher level but I’m playing high level baseball and I do this all the time. It’s smart baseball and taking advantage of what you got

[@violetfresh1790]

My LL coach permanently benched me for refusing to stop stealing bases/home. Not when we were winning, either; we lost almost every game in an effort to show good sportsmanship. I stopped playing baseball.

[@ThatGuyOnYoutube2]

That coach is a loser and now I hate him too.

[@1234Peacekeeper]

Love how you called out the haters!

[@benwilliams8488]

Whoever said that this wouldn't work in bigger levels, look at all the videos of major leaguers taking advantage unattentive pitchers and catchers

[@squiffyg]

how is stealing a base "cheap" baseball? its part of the game... if the pitcher/catcher isnt ready, who cares?

[@jacksondill11]

2:20 incorrect, it is because the bases are 90 feet in higher level baseball. Also that kid would have got him out if it weren't for his extra step and hesitation.

[@bananastan714]

You have to watch till the end of the video. Similar situation happened to K-rod a while back. The extra 30ft helps, but the clip at the end really does prove what the uploader says. You cant have your head in the clouds when you have the ball is in your hands.

[@markmiller2901]

I agree. The pitcher took too much time to make the throw.

[@1234Peacekeeper]

Gunther then explain the clip of it happening IN MLB????????? Guess you commented without watching the whole f'ing thing.

[@JohnWWDavis]

I think it is cheap baseball at the 7-9 age range when kids are just learning to pitch, catch and learn situations. It's very frustrating to watch a 7-8 year old game that ends up with time limit being called in the 2nd inning and the teams are scoring 10+ runs by primarily just stealing bases. Kids at this age are just trying to learn the fundamentals. However 10+ I say it's perfectly fine.

[@MJHBaseball]

That is why leagues have special rules at that age preventing stealing home or stealing on throw backs to the pitcher, etc... I totally agree at the younger age, but at the 9-10 year old level they need to learn this stuff before they get to Little League Majors because leagues at that level can't make rules preventing this type of thing. Or, if kids are playing Travel ball, by 10U, they need to get this stuff figured out because at 11U, they will walk all over teams that can't stop the running game.

[@taylorthiebeau9072]

John Davis there twelve - fourteen BRUH....

[@scottbannon7751]

It's best to learn it at an early age. I can almost guarantee this players will never let that happen again. They may make other mistakes. But I am confident they won't make that one again.

[@chadmeyer9500]

Then you don't know a hell of a lot about kids. Or even humans.

[@bigwill00013]

John Davis this isn't 7 or 8

[@beakt]

Great find at the end. It was exactly, with 90 foot bases, the same play you showed earlier with 60 foot bases.

[@bradellison1345]

baseball is a game meant to be fun and for entertainment. Aggressive base running is fun (if you can get away with it) and it certainly is entertaining.

[@simp1303]

It doesn't happen often at higher levels because of larger base paths. The Myers clip is extremely rare.

[@eaberrydc]

i think the nature of the league makes a difference. if it is a recreational league, this sort of thing *is* cheap because in such a league the technical skills of throwing and catching are modest. If it is a competitive league, however, all bets are off.

[@thewayiseeit4778]

It's baseball period... learn how to play, if this bothers you

[@walterkoziol3822]

And if it bothers you..........DON'T PLAY!!!!!

[@michaelodonnell1885]

Who ever complained about aggressive base running was probably a participation trophy winner. My coach would have me running laps if we sidnt

[@ryancrazy1]

had a kid I played with in little league that, when walked, would routinely run to first and go right around and straight to second.

[@blindstein8335]

Paying attention is as fundamental as it gets. Being creative with fundamentals can be difficult to teach sometimes, without this kind of visual aid. Thanks.

[@davidmimm4]

Im 17 and coached 11-12 year olds and we ten run ruled every team we played this season cause of aggressive base running

[@bookemdanno5596]

Please name the idiots that said they would bench their kids for doing this, said upper leaguers never do this, and called it "cheap baseball" so we can be sure never to let our kids play for their teams. They are utterly wrong on all three counts and should not be teaching the game if they feel this way. I'd love to see them argue with Ty Cobb, Pete Rose, or Ricky Henderson that you shouldn't take advantage of lazy or inattentive fielders.

[@wvuneers74]

1:01 Watch the first two pitches, first pitch in left hand batter's box, rightfully called a ball. Second shown pitch, which appears to be 3rd pitch in the at bat, shown from overhead, is in the left hand batter's box as well and is called a strike. I know that is OT from the intent of the video, but that ump is bad.

[@jdotoz]

It was my first game of the first year they let you steal and my dad was coaching first when I drew a walk. I trotted to first, my dad stood in the box with his arms folded watching the defense, and he held up two fingers. I hit the bag running and didn't stop until I was safe on second. That's how I was taught and it's how everyone should be taught.

[@jonbiedermann79]

The issue I see is in the youth levels where- in bases loaded situations- R1 and R2 are practically 2/3's to their next base. It's all with the goal to catch the defense to make a mistake, and disappears as soon as you get to 90 foot bases. Why coaches teach this is incredulous, as is the same reason it mystifies me why coaches will spend 2 hours of a practice going through defensive signals and schemes with runners on 1st and 3rd, all with the hope to 'catch' the runner at 3rd making a mistake. Here's the breakdown based on seeing this 100's of times: 10 out of 20 times, R1 takes second base anyway. 8 out of 20 times, the defense screws up and R3 scores. 1 out of 20 times, both runners score! and 1 out of 20 times, the defense gets an extra out. Why coaches insist on teaching this at the youth level when by 90 foot bases you just let them have second base is perplexing! The time would have been so much better spent focusing on fundamentals.

[@jll5568]

Great commentary. videos are well done.

[@DavidEmerling79]

People call it "cheap baseball" because they don't see this type of base running at higher levels. But the REASON they don't see it at higher levels is that the defense is always alert and they have antidotes for base running gimmicks. If the fielders are not alert nor have been trained to defuse some of these base running gimmicks - they will continue to fall victim to them. Once they demonstrate that they are not easily fooled, the gimmicks stop. Classic example: In youth baseball, with runners on 1st and 3rd, it is a very common "trick" to have the runner on 1st leave early while the pitcher is still in the set position. Of course, their obvious intent is to distract the defense enough to allow the runner from 3rd to score. It often works. But why is this almost never done at higher levels? It's because those fielders are alert enough and have the arm strength to zip the ball anywhere they it need to be in an instant. They may even get BOTH runners out. Runners don't pull these stunts at the MLB level because they are trying to avoid playing "Bush League" baseball. They don't do it because they don't work at that level. Believe me, if those stunts typically worked, they'd do it, too.

[@gracegoodwin673]

If he is stealing bases the person holding him on yells runner so the pitcher can focus on strikes and the catcher can focus on framing after the player yells runner the catcher can throw down it's not always the pitcher and catchers fault

[@keithouderkirk7493]

this reminds me of when i was in little league. one thing my coach was always yelling at us was never throw the ball to first. one time i was playing right field and our coach yells at us a reminder to never throw to first. batter hit kind of a short line drive right at me. there was a runner on first and he went halfway between first and second incase i dropped the ball. i didn't. rather i quickly fired the ball to first and would have gotten the runner if the first baseman hadn't been asleep on the play. after the game i found out from my mom that the coach turned around and told the guys on the bench "okay, thats the only time you throw it to first." he never admitted to me what i did was the right play, but never said it was the wrong one either.

[@bushputz]

Not cheap baseball at all. When I played, I was a catcher, and always tried to keep my head in the game. If there were runners on base, I always looked for flaws in their game in order to get a pickoff. If a runner found a weak spot in my game or in the pitcher and took advantage of it, that runner earned a little more respect from me.

[@ryanwofford8413]

In Tennessee middle school based are now 90 feet and pitching is 60. Its crazy far for middle school

[@rossdow4419]

um look at the shortest guy in the MLB, he steals bases like crazy.

[@mgoddard1127]

steals more than bases

[@1thess523]

I was the fastest kid on my team and stole bases all the time and not once did my coach get mad! That coach that said he would bench his player is full of it 😄

[@harlemhornet]

there's NOTHING wrong with that.. if anything this is a GREAT lesson for the players.. ALWAYS keep your eye on what's going on.. watch your runners, make clean throws.. AND ASK YOURSELF.. What will I do if the ball comes to me? AND What will I do if the ball DOESN'T come to me? This is heads up running by the baserunner.. and sloppy play by the pitcher/catcher. They got to comfortable, instead of being ready N on their toes. I can remember baserunners on first taking a lead, pretending to slip on the dirt to force a throw from the catcher, in hopes that the catcher would make a bad/rushed throw to first . Allowing the baserunner to advance to second or third. Baseball is a game of creativity.. nothing wrong with throwing some curveballs into the routine.. so to speak.

[@danger170388]

Don't forget the 2015 MLB playoffs when Daniel Murphy noticed nobody covering 3rd and took off

[@derrickmax1633]

It's not against the rules so why is it Cheap

[@1952stleco]

Cause you are only too participate not win. I mean this sarcastically.

[@dreamrsix5366]

cheap and cheat are two different words.

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

@@dreamrsix5366 and neither applies to aggressive base running

[@dreamrsix5366]

@@2AForever-wi8yj Did I say it did? I pointed out that "cheap" doesnt mean its agaisnt rules. That would be "cheating".

[@dreamrsix5366]

@Ulysses432 when the OP said "its not against the rules so why is it cheap" im pointing out that if it were against the rules it would be 'cheat' then. It isnt that hard to understand

[@MikeBaxterABC]

When I payed Baseball as a pre teen our school ruled! ... when I got a first base only hit ... I routinely stole ALL the bases and got home ... sometimes I'd get first base and just calmly walk to second as the pitcher was setting up for the next batter.

[@erichaskell]

In little league; minors, majors and juniors we taught our young men to run, run, run. Very effective.

[@gabestorm7916]

I love this. Cheap baseball? No such thing! Ha! Just kidding. Stealing and aggressive base running IS youth baseball. My 14U team is painfully aware of how to pay attention always, but especially between 3rd and home. They also watch for the pitcher and catcher who are not looking down third or who have too much routine. It's a risky move and there is a fine line between aggressive and risky. :)

[@Sp33dyBeanz]

they arent even allowed to steal bases they have to wait till the ball crosses home plate. with this disadvantage in mind this is definitely good base running the defense has nothing to worry about if they in fact are paying attention. especially from teams that are good enough to compete in the LLWS

[@nickjaggi7113]

That kid who stole home is Colin Lemieux. I’m from the same town as that RI team, Warwick.

[@Dickpuffnstuff]

Great Little League player/coach insight! Unfortunately Little League isn't real baseball. None of this bs gets pulled in real baseball because you simply can't do it with 90 ft bases. Little League WS is fun to watch but kids that size should not be playing on a field that size.

[@ryanglenn2745]

Love your videos, keep them coming.

[@yamahagenos8089]

I once slid into first base on a force out in high school and then managed to get myself in a rundown between 1st and second on the very next pitch so that the batter could reach 1st and the run could score.

[@bigpapi2658]

I coached a travel team. I stole home a lot, at least once a game. 9u-12u. It worked each level. I would send my runners just before the pitcher started his wind up. They were great at timing it. I would have the batter swing and miss so the catcher had to stay to catch the ball. The runners would go for the front of the plate where batters gave them room but still blocked catcher some. We were 80% successful. We also stole home from a first and third situation because we knew they were expecting first to steal. We knew they had a play to throw to SS or catcher fake throw to try to catch runner at third off the bag. Everyone has that play. We also knew, a steal home would not be expected so it could cause a mistake, and it did. Either the pictcher would freak out and balk, The catcher would freak out and interfere with our batter swing or we straight up just made it. In all the confusion at the plate, the catcher always forgot about the kid who stole second and while he is checking with the empire to see if he got the tag down in time, the other baserunner stole third. So when the kid stole second he didn’t even slow down he went straight to third. Now the catcher jumps up and tries to make the throw to third, sometimes he overthrows it and we score but either way now everyone’s freaking out. The coaches, parents, and players. If the catcher did not overthrow it, then we would steal home again on the very next pitch. We knew the players are all shook up and freaking out. After we executed that steal, the other team just folded.

[@bigpapi2658]

If we played a team twice and they fell victim to our baserunning. It was easy for us to get in the pictchers, defense and coaches head. While we’re at third base, all the defensive players, including the outfield, dugout, coaches and opposing team parents, are all staring at the runner on third waiting to yell, “runner”!! So we had our batter crowd the plate. The pitcher was so focused on the runner that he had a hard time throwing strikes. I would tell the baserunner he was going to steal home this at bat. I would say it loud enough so the third baseman could hear me, and he would warn his team. But I took my hat off, which was the sign to do the opposite of what I say. The runner knew his job was to make it look like he was going to steal. We would read the situation. If it was 0-3 or 1-3, The baserunner would take off like he stealing home, everyone would yell “runner”. Pitcher would see him out of his peripheral vision and usually throw ball 4. Meanwhile the runner stop halfway turns around and quickly runs back to third base. We were hoping the catcher would try to throw down and get him going back to third. This will sometimes cause an overthrow and we could score and have a guy, that walked, at second base. Sometimes I would yell back when I saw the catcher throw down to third so the runner can reverse and take off home. Most of the time, in youth baseball, the catchers can’t throw to third and get the throw back home in time with a very fast runner.

[@bigpapi2658]

9u we won 7 of 11 tournaments. 10u we won 10 of 13 tournaments. 11u we won 8 of 13 tournaments. 12u we won 5 of 12 tournaments but went to the championship game in 9 of the 12 tournaments.

[@roguishpaladin]

And, the frustrating thing about people who criticize it is that this sort of tactic is actually one of the great levelers of the playing field. There's always going to be a disparity in natural talent - that's just how things are. EVERY kid can learn to be alert and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the other team, however. I'd rather see a smart- well-trained team win than one who happened to get lucky in the genetic lottery.

[@Kevinintheback]

in my opinion, this is EXACTLY when you should teach this kind of base running. because when they get to high school, it will yield results. too often do young players have little to no base running skills. same holds true for other baseball fundamentals... like bunting. I think you are right... let them be aggressive young.

[@silverback1518]

" Cheap baseball " sounds like bad coaching. Seeing, and taking advantage of opportunities is what makes baseball fun to watch and fun to play.

[@user-hs1pw3cs5k]

What the poster misses is that the competitiveness of a baseball game depends on the offensive and defensive being more or less balanced. E.g., if you have major leaguers playing little leaguers, the majors always win, and the game is no longer interesting. With major leaguers, the offensive and the defensive--basically hitting and running vs. pitching and fielding--are close to balanced: hitters can get hits, but it's not easy, and most innings end without scores--but not so many that the games are so low scoring as to be boring. It's just a fact, proved by experience, that kids are better hitters and runners than they are fielders; their ability to hit the ball and run fast both develop faster than their ability to throw very accurately and catch reliably when fielding. Hence, contrary to what the poster says, it's NOT just a matter of the pitcher, catcher, etc. not playing attention to base runners; even if they paid all the attention in the world to the runners, the runners could steal very successfully on even the best little league catchers because very few of them can throw a ball from home plate to second base like Johnny Bench--i.e., very fast to knee level right over the bag, and very few of them can reliably catch the ball thrown that fast and make the tag. Imagine a major league pitcher and a little league pitcher each attempt to pick off a runner on first; do you really think the chances of the ball getting loose are the same in both cases? Of course, not. The little leaguers are much more likely to throw it away. But given that the ball gets away, the chances of the runner, either little leaguer or big leaguer, getting to second are about the same. Why? Because the gap between adult ability and kid ability is much bigger in fielding skills than in running skills. Kids aren't adults, and their ability levels don't track adult ability levels. Hence, it doesn't make sense that kids play the game with the same rules. If you allow stealing in little league under the same rules used in the majors, you get situations where any above average runner who gets to first will be on third in three or four pitches, and that just unbalances the game in favor of the offensive. That's why it makes sense to prohibit or limit stealing in little league.

[@ReVVeDLeveLs]

it's a part of the game and if you don't want it to happen then you have less chance of winning. One time (on the big field) i was able to steal 3rd because the guy had his glove off and the pitcher was looking right at me. knowing all aspects of the game is important

[@todd_on_bikes]

My problem with this type of base running is when it’s done at the lower levels and it’s really just taking advantage of kids who can’t play catch, and my real problem is that it teaches bad base running. I have kids who play 9u and 13u and some 9u team’s whole strategy is to win by engaging in ridiculously aggressive base running that would get them thrown out over and over and over again if they tried it at the13u level. It works at 9u b/c a lot of the kids are slow baseball thinkers and simply can’t play catch. It’s a different situation altogether when this type of thing is done at higher levels.

[@MJHBaseball]

And how are the 9U players going to get better on defense if they are not challenged? When a 10U team I coached played a much better team, they ran on us like crazy. Beat us 32-2. That was a watershed game for that team! They not only learned in one game how to stop the run game, they also learned to take advantage of lazy defenses. Obviously by 13U every team has had this experience and it rarely works anymore, but that's all part of learning the game as you get older. At some point a team needs to do this to your boys so they can learn.

[@KnickKnack07]

That kid needs to learn how to SLIDE. He started to slide like half a foot from home plate.

[@KnickKnack07]

Laser Show515 Starting his slide about 8 inches from the plate for one. Great way to get hurt.

[@clashofclanswithdrewandthe1186]

knickknack07 he probably thought he was gonna be safe then realized we'll I slide just in case

[@jgreeter78]

It's very possible on 90 feet bases. My coaches have us, in particularly me, take third and occasionally home on the exact same plays, against some very good 16u travel teams. (I think I get the sign a lot because I'm tall and a good head first slider and I take an especially aggressive lead off second) But it's not cheap, makes me pay attention when I'm on the mound a lot more, it's part of the game. Also it's very nerve wrecking to do cause you don''t know if A: they'll even notice B: Get you out or C: if it'll be close, it's just a full sprint to that base.

[@thomasbowling7458]

Whatever coach told you he would break that kids probably one of those last place coaches that never wins games and he's just happy to be out there and give the kiss participation trophy

[@tylernovellino2053]

it's not cheap baseball! Baseball is a game that uses ur head. Its not only a physical game, but it requires mental abilities also. Saying not to steal when the defense isn't paying attention is like saying not to throw to first to get an out if it's a slow batter, or saying that if the defense makes an error, not to advance to the next base.

[@offstreetedits8243]

The more aggressive team in any sport usually wins. In basketball you'll get more foul calls in the paint. Baseball you'll move runners and score more often. Of course you'll pay the price at times but its always worth it. Especially at lower levels.

[@tompeake8583]

the Myers video only wprks cause the pitcher completely zones out... if that kid had to run another 5, 10, 20 or 30 feet, he was about by a mile... the pitcher needs to be completely out of it for that to work

[@MJHBaseball]

I do believe that is the whole point of the video.

[@tompeake8583]

MJH-Baseball right I just mean that its not really effective beginning at a high level. it works in little league but its extremely rare (needs next level zone-out) to work in full sized field games

[@codybowland1898]

I play just like this I steal every pitch lol

[@ThatGuyOnYoutube2]

Anyone calling it "cheap" is just mad their kids cant do it lol.

[@tl7975]

Cheap baseball is Aluminum bats and the designated hitter. And don’t get me started on the three point line in basketball and palming on the cross- over

[@velocity6306]

People have not played baseball at a high level or have no will to win if they believe that is cheap baseball. You will not advance in your career as a player if you are not constantly aggressive and wanting to preform. This is not "cheap" it is what happens when you challenge cleverness with laziness and someone being complacent. This is what you call getting "out hustled".

[@Heritagepostfarms]

i stole home once in 90ft baseball. The pitcher/catcher didnt care at all that i was on third. So i led off halfway to home and took off as soon as the catcher threw it back

[@DarianCaplinger]

Good vid as usual, bro. :)

[@stevedandy973]

Too many coaches and fans believe that once the ball is back to the pitcher on the MOUND, baserunners cannot advance. Wrong. Once a pitcher disengages from the pitcher's plate, HE IS NOW AN INFIELDER. He becomes a PITCHER when he ENGAGES the pitcher's plate with the ball in his possession. READ THE RULES.

[@nickblack9470]

Nope, I play at a high school level, and I do this all the time. Not necessarily home, but almost every game I am taking a bag when the pitcher or who ever has the ball is being inattentive.

[@IL-sn9zo]

From 10+ they need to be aggressive not at age 7,8 or 9 you are absolutely right the players need to learn to be aggressive on base and be alert in the field. I would tell my players to steal often if given the chance if I was a coach. I do steal quite often because players just are not alert

[@griffinmcdonald5503]

Please tell me if this is cheap. FYI I play 13u AA ball in Canada. My team had the bases loaded, 1 out. The other team had a meeting on the mound and gave the the ball to the short stop. When my teams runner at second took his lead the ss tagged him. The team who did this was up by 5 runs also.

[@jonsauer5678]

that's the pitcher's fault not aggressive base running or stealing our coach would have told use to go when the catcher was away from the base and the pitcher turned his back

[@MegaGator39]

there's no such thing as "cheap baseball"...the team that scores the most runs wins

[@hollistern2]

Never mind the controversial stealing, how is that a strike at 1:10? Framing is one thing, I get that (catcher for years) but that was way too far for that to be called a strike..

[@subwaygoblin1325]

Daniel Murphy also did that in the 2015 NLDS game 5

[@Gillysaurxx]

Its part of the game baby. Adapt and overcome

[@mmahota]

On our Little League teams, four balls was a... 'RUN!!' Always go for two :)

[@weesebowski8651]

Was the other way around for me...we had great base runners however they were complacent on stealing with good throwers and even greater catchers. Still it was our own errors that allowed the visitors to win.

[@cdfinleyjr4507]

It's actually happened in the MLB before. Look up Elvis Andrus stealing home.

[@xdrandomdudelol]

I wouldn't call this "cheap" but it's way different in youth baseball because the bases are so close. In order for it to happen in the MLB, someone needs to be paying absolutely no attention for an extended period of time. Runners should take the free bases if they are there, but you can't ignore the fact that the bases make this way easier. In the MLB you can get away with not paying attention for a couple of seconds. In youth baseball they're at the next base in a couple of seconds.

[@thenukeman3657]

2:13-2:14 OOH HE NEED SOME MILK

[@dontuse4977]

TheNukeMan thank you so much for pointing that out 😂

[@thenukeman3657]

Megan Large Np