Editing Stolen base (section)

==Plays involving baserunning==
In the ''[[hit and run (baseball)|hit-and-run play]]'', coaches coordinate the actions of runner and batter.  The runner tries to steal and the batter swings at almost any pitch, if only to distract the catcher.  If the batter makes contact, the runner has a greater chance of reaching the next base; if the batter gets a base hit, the runner will likely be able to take an extra base.  If the batter fails to hit the ball, the hit-and-run becomes a pure steal attempt.

The less common cousin to the hit and run is the "run and hit" play. In the run and hit, the base runner attempts to advance when the pitcher commits the pitch to home plate, but the batter is instead directed to exercise his judgement as to whether or not to swing at the pitch. If the batter feels it is not advantageous to swing, AND he believes the base runner is very likely to succeed in the steal attempt, he does not swing. This play is typically utilized with elite base stealers and skilled batters only, wherein a highly experienced batsman is trusted to decide whether or not to "protect" the base runner. If the batter chooses not to swing, it becomes a pure steal attempt.

In the ''delayed steal'', the runner does not take advantage of the pitcher's duty to complete a pitch, but relies on surprise and takes advantage of any complacency by the fielders.  The runner gives the impression he is not trying to steal, and does not break for the next base until the ball crosses the plate.  It is rare for Major League defenses to be fooled, but the play is used effectively at the college level. The first delayed steal on record was performed by [[Miller Huggins]] in 1903.<ref name=cincy>{{cite news|title=Huggins cornerstone to Yankees|newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Post]]|first=Lonnie|last=Wheeler|date=June 3, 2003}}</ref> The delayed steal was famously practiced by [[Eddie Stanky]] of the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Team that Forever Changed Baseball and America: The 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers|last=Spatz|first=Lyle|publisher=Jewish Publication Society|year=2012|isbn=9780803239920|pages=155}}</ref>
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 | footer = A [[Loyola Marymount Lions baseball|Loyola Marymount]] baserunner attempts to steal home during a 2011 [[college baseball]] game in [[Los Angeles]].
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[[Second base]] is the base most often stolen, because once a runner is on second base he is considered to be in ''scoring position'', meaning that he is expected to be able to run home and score on most routine singles hit into the outfield.<ref name="mahony1"/> Second base is also the easiest to steal, as it is farthest from home plate and thus a longer throw from the catcher is required to prevent it.  [[Third base]] is a shorter throw for the catcher, but the runner is able to take a longer lead off second base and can leave for third base earlier against a left-handed pitcher. A steal of [[home plate]] is the riskiest, as the catcher only needs to tag out the runner after receiving the ball from the pitcher. It is difficult for the runner to cover the distance between the bases before the ball arrives home. [[Ty Cobb]] holds the records for most steals of home in a single season (8) as well as for a career (54).<ref name=BBAlm>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stbah.shtml |title=Stealing Home Base Records |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=2014-04-22}}</ref>  Steals of home are not officially recorded statistics, and must be researched through individual game accounts.  Thus Cobb's totals may be even greater than is recorded.<ref name=BBAlm /> [[Jackie Robinson]] famously stole home in Game 1 of the [[1955 World Series]]. Thirty-five games have ended with a runner stealing home, but only two have occurred since 1980.<ref>Larson, J. "Stolen Victories." Baseball Research Journal #36, p. 116–119. 2007.</ref> In a variation on the steal of home, the batter is signaled to simultaneously execute a [[sacrifice bunt]], which results in the ''[[Squeeze play (baseball)|squeeze play]].'' The ''suicide squeeze'' is a squeeze in which the runner on third begins to steal home without seeing the outcome of the bunt; it is so named because if the batter fails to bunt, the runner will surely be out. In contrast, when the runner on third does not commit until seeing that the ball is bunted advantageously, it is called a ''safety squeeze.''

In more recent years, most steals of home involve a ''delayed double steal'', in which a runner on first attempts to steal second, while the runner on third breaks for home as soon as the catcher throws to second base. If it is important to prevent the run from scoring, the catcher may hold on to the ball (conceding the steal of second) or may throw to the pitcher; this may deceive the runner at third and the pitcher may throw back to the catcher for the out.