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Commander in Thief

southsider2k5

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southsider2k5 Grand Master

southsider2k5

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http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines

 

Asking Scott Podsednik to explain how to steal a base is a little like asking an artist to describe the color blue.

 

He shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders.

 

"I don't want to think about it," the Sox left fielder said.

 

But Podsednik loves the thought of standing on first base and knowing, along with everybody else at U.S. Cellular Field, how badly the Sox need him on second.

 

"I enjoy stealing a base when everyone in the ballpark knows you're going," Podsednik said. "That's what I do. I have to help this team with my legs."

 

Maybe only Giacomo has had a more surprising spring using his legs. Podsednik leads the major leagues with 24 stolen bases and is on pace to break Rudy Law's 22-year-old team record of 77.

 

Reluctantly, between batting practice and a film session three hours before a game earlier this week, Podsednik detailed the directions he follows when he gets on first and the fun begins.

 

1. The preparation

 

Typically after batting practice before each game, Podsednik will sit down and watch videotape of that day's starting pitcher to memorize his delivery motion and move to first base.

 

He compares the images to the data in the scouting report that includes the elapsed time it takes the ball to go from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's glove and then from the catcher to second base. Picking up the slightest tendency--how high the pitcher raises his knee on pickoff attempts--can make the difference between getting in scoring position and going to the dugout.

 

Podsednik: "I know his times, I know if he pays attention to runners, I know if he throws over a lot," he said. "I know all these things before I get to first base just by our scouting reports and film."

 

2. The lead

 

Before leading off, Podsednik peers across the diamond to read the signs from third-base coach Joey Cora, a formality for someone given the green light to steal.

 

He then usually takes the equivalent of three strides off first base, always in the same order: right foot extended, left foot behind, right foot, right foot. It leaves him about 80 feet away from second base--give or take a precious foot or so.

 

Podsednik: "I can't explain to you how far it is off the base because mentally I've done it so many times I just know," he said. "If the guy has a quick move over to first, I might shorten up four, five, six inches. [but] if he has a slow move, I may get out there six inches. I'm going to take whatever he gives me."

 

3. The jump

 

He keeps his hands on his knees until the pitcher, out of the stretch, puts the ball in his glove. The instant Podsednik can be sure the ball is headed to the catcher and not the first baseman, he is off. He knows immediately if it was a good decision.

 

Podsednik: "I'd say 95 percent of the bases I steal, I know if I have them stolen within the first two steps," he said. "A base is stolen in the first two steps."

 

Podsednik believes the good ones steal bases off the pitcher, not the catcher--with one exception. "The only one who will alter whether I run is [ivan] Rodriguez [of the Tigers]," he said. "If he's behind the dish I know I have to be perfect, and I'll probably have to pick an off-speed pitch. If he's not behind the plate, with due respect to all the other catchers in the league, it really doesn't matter who's behind the plate."

 

4. The sprint

 

Based on Podsednik's calculations, on average, pitchers get the ball over the plate 1.25 seconds after committing to the pitch. Most catchers can uncork a throw to second base in 2 seconds. Podsednik consistently gets down the line to second base in 3.28 seconds.

 

That makes a pitcher with a quick delivery and good pickoff move--Podsednik said Chan Ho Park of the Rangers kept tabs of him better than anybody else this season--harder to run on.

 

Podsednik: "If the pitcher's 1.20 or 1.19, I know I have to be perfect to get down there," he said.

 

Once his legs start running, his mind goes blank. "I don't really concentrate on anything," he said. "I guess I look at the base. What's going through my mind is that you might want to pick it up a little bit."

 

5. The slide

 

It takes Podsednik 12 strides to get to second base from his lead at first, and then he slides.

 

Podsednik: "The steps aren't going to be exact, but pretty close," he said. "If I think it's going to be a close play, I'm going in head first. But if I know I have it 100 percent, I go in feet first."

 

In those cases, Podsednik usually pops up, dusts himself off and starts eyeing his next target: third base.

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DBAHO Grand Master

DBAHO

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.387 OBP. :wub: It's almost getting to the stage, where KW could be looking to re-sign him on a long - term deal (will probably happen in the off-season), although IIRC he's got another year left on his deal right?

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