In baseball, a stolen base most often occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics, stolen bases are denoted by “SB”.
If the defense makes no attempt to put the baserunner out (for example, if the catcher doesn't even look his way), the play is scored as defensive indifference (also called fielder's indifference), and no stolen base is credited to the runner. Defensive indifference is generally only scored instead of a stolen base when the game is in a late inning and the team with the stealing baserunner is down by more than one run. MLB Rule 10.07(g) covers defensive indifference.
Successful base-stealing requires not only simple running speed but also good base-running instincts and split-second timing. The scoring and criteria for awarding a stolen base to a runner are covered by rule 10.07 of the Major League Baseball rule book.
Read more about Stolen Base: Background, Technique and Strategy, Measuring Success, Evolution of Rules and Scoring, Stealing First
Famous quotes containing the words stolen and/or base:
“You lovers of knowledge! So what have you done out of your love of knowledge up to now? Have you already stolen and murdered so as to know how a thief and a murderer feels?”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“I have always heard, Sancho, that doing good to base fellows is like throwing water into the sea.”
—Miguel De Cervantes (1547–1616)