The pitcher Raul Mondesi stole home off of was a lefthander as is the case in nearly every straight steal of home. You have to be pretty good to steal home against a righthander, who would be looking at you when you broke for home.
The adage “The hardest base to steal is 1st base” refers to the fact that you have to actually do something positive to get to first base. There are quite a few one-dimensional speedsters in baseball now, Tom Goodwin, Brian Hunter, Tony Womack, for example, who can steal bases but have abysmal on base percentages.
Interestingly enough, a few days before Mondesi stole home (I believe it was a week from today), Preston Wilson of the Florida Marlins stole home in the manner described above (throw from catcher to pitcher). I don’t know if the pitcher was lefthanded, but IIRC, the catcher in question was Mike Lieberthal of the Phillies.
I believe, but I may be wrong, if so, please correct me, that the batter is entitled to the batters box. I have heard of quick thinking batters who froze when they realized that a third to home steal was being attempted, and the runner slid right between the batters legs, further blocking the Catcher’s access to the runner. Can anyone confirm or deny this?
1995 NCAA Baseball Rules
Rule 7-11-s
With two out, a runner on third base and two strikes on the batter, the runner attempts to steal home plate on a legal pitch and the ball hits the runner in the batter’s strike zone. The umpire shall call “Strike three”; the batter is out, and the run shall not count. With fewer than two outs, the umpire shall call “Strike three”; the ball is dead, and the run counts.
Just to add to dqa’s response, from the MLB rules, the runner is out if (among gobs of other things):
(g) He attempts to score on a play in which the batter interferes with the play at home base before two are out. With two out, the interference puts the batter out and no score counts;
I used to believe the “entitled to the box” thing too, but apparently it ain’t so!
It seems clear to me the batter is entitled to the box (and to attempt to hit) during a pitch, if he can be called on three strikes as mentioned earlier. The interference would apply if it was not base-stealing during a pitch, but some other fielding situation. Even then i’m not sure whether he has to leave the box. Here’s how the NCAA rulebook cites the inteference you mention…notice the batter is at fault for stepping out of the box.
Rule 7-11-f (batter out if…)
The batter intentionally or unintentionally interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders a defensive player’s action at home plate.
I should complete NCAA Rule 7-11-f, which directly corresponds to the rule you (D18) mention.
PENALTY for f. – The runner(s) return to the base occupied at the time of interference;
Exceptions–
(1) If the runner is advancing to home plate and there are fewer than two outs, the runner, instead of the batter, is out.
(2) The batter is not out if any runner attempting to advance is put out, or if the runner trying to score is called out for batter’s interference.
(3) If the batter also should strike out on the play, it is a double play.
My viewpoint, which may not be right, is that the batter can stay in the batter’s box if there is a pitch coming home, but if the pitcher steps off the rubber and becomes a fielder, he may have to get out of the way, but I doubt it would ever come up.
In general, straight steals of home are so rare that the catcher, batter, and umpire are always in such shock that they never seem to know what to do. The batter usually gets out of the way to avoid getting hit by anything.
A wise pitcher, upon seeing a runner breaking for the plate, could opt to hit the batter with the pitch. Assuming the bases aren’t loaded, the runner on third has to go back.
Ever is a long time. I agree about the usual chaos you describe in this situation, but if the rules ARE strictly followed, the NCAA requires (7-1-c) that “the batter must keep at least one foot in the batter’s box throughout the time at bat.” Including between pitches. Exceptions are given where the batter MAY step out, but nowhere is there a requirement.
Regarding the earlier 4 outs discussion, they didn’t anticipate the situation described. However, outs are limited to three when there are multiple appeals over missed bases, etc:
Rule 8-6-b-(7)
If there are two or more appeals during a play, which could make a total of “four outs” in an inning, the defensive team may choose to take any out it desires.
I’ve seen a several steals of home, some on tape, a few live. And like BobT most of the time the catchers seem quite shocked. I think usually the batter knows what happens and tried to block the view of the runner from the catcher and then get safely out of the way so interferance is not called. Now remember, the catcher is behind the plate so he has to catch the ball, move in front of the plate and prepare for a collision with a 200lb guy going very fast. Something that can be a little frightening as I’m sure they know this is going to HURT. So what seems to happen a lot is that the catcher does not completely block out the plate leaving the runner an opportunity to slip a foot in and touch the plate before getting tagged.
The one that I can still see in my mind probably happened a few years ago when I watched every Braves game that was on TV. Anyway it goes like this. The catcher grabs the ball lunges forward and falls to his knees right on top of the plate with the ball in his mitt clutched to his chest. You see as he fell to his knees his arms went involuntarily up. The runner was already sliding and his leg went right through the catcher’s knees and touches the plate before they collide. An alert umpire called him safe.
Note that the rule states “or making any other movement that hinders a defensive player’s action at home plat.” This is a judgment call. Did the batter intentional hinder the catcher, either by moving or standing still (which is a negative movement). If so, whether he is in the box or not, it is a hinder.
The catcher, on the other hand, cannot block the plate unless he has the ball in his hand(s).
Here’s a story about Manny Ramirez getting tagged out trying to (inadvertently) steal first base a few years back.
FYI, stealing 1st base is against MLB rules. Wacky Germany Schaefer was the last to do it, back in 1907, after which the rule was quickly adopted. Check out “The Man Who Stole First Base” by Eric Nadel for other stories of obscure baseball lore. A Google search brought up this link about Schaefer.