Glossary
Delayed steal
A delayed steal is a type of steal used primarily in softball. It is a steal of second or third in which the runner waits a beat after the pitch before breaking, timed to the moment the catcher or infield relaxes.
On a delayed steal the runner takes a normal lead, does not break with the pitch and runs only when the ball is on its way back to the pitcher or the catcher has thrown it back without looking. The defense expects a runner who is going on the pitch, so a runner who goes late finds the middle infielders with their weight on their heels and nobody covering the base.
It works best against a team that throws the ball around the infield after a pitch, or against a catcher who lobs the ball back to the pitcher. It fails against a catcher who holds the ball or an infielder who stays at the base, so the runner has to read the defense for a pitch or two before the call.
Because the runner decides when to go, the sign mostly sets up the idea: the coach or the wristband tells the runner a delayed steal is on and the runner picks the moment. It is also used with a runner on third and a runner on first, where the first runner draws the throw.
When to call it
- A catcher who throws the ball back to the pitcher without checking the runner.
- A middle infielder who drifts away from second base after the pitch.
- A runner who is not fast enough to steal on the pitch but reads the defense well.
Put it on a card: Baseball and softball signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides when the runner goes on a delayed steal?
The runner does. The coach calls the play and the runner times the break to the defense, so the runner needs to have watched how the catcher and infield react to a pitch.
What is the difference between a delayed steal and a regular steal?
On a regular steal the runner goes on the pitch. On a delayed steal the runner waits until the defense relaxes.
More in the glossary
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