Catching base stealers

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

What do you guys think is the best way to throw out base runners at second?  Pressing A and up arrow at same time seems to work, but there was a time where I was pressing A and down (in effect throwing to home plate) and the ball would roll to second and the runner wouldn't slide.  Recently it seems that method isn't that effective.  What is the conventional wisdom on this topic?

[ultimate7]

I like A and down, but I don't always remember to do it.

[JoeDirt]

I think it's pretty much agreed upon here that most people prefer down + A.

[BDawk]

Talking about throwing out baserunners is so five minutes ago.

[fknmclane]

Definitely down and A.  I used to use the up and A and throw a bullet, but the hard grounder from the catcher seems to work much better.

The problem that I have is I rarely remember until a split second later.  By that time, dipshit is safe.

[Gantry]

Daily FAQ link:

http://dee-nee.com/rbi/faq.shtml#FASTBASE

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

I thought of this because I was looking at FAQ yesterday.  I swear I saw that it said up and A at same time was best way to do it.  Maybe it's like the Berenguer thing- my mind is mush.

I agree with those who say that down+A is best way, but you have to do ti right away.  If you take a second to consciously do it, then he is safe.  That's why I don't use it.

[JoeDirt]

Yeah, you have to erase the past 15 years of up + A and allow down + A to become instinct...not an easy transition.

[Gantry]

Especially since you typically aren't expecting a SB most of the time.  Gotta stay on your toes...

[BeeJay]

Lately I've only been playing against heaven/hell, so I don't even bother throwing.

[Big Apple RBI Champ]

who are heaven/ hell?

[BeeJay]

Playing God
Armageddon
Heaven/Hell watch
games

[hdunlo]

i feel like down + A is actually a more natural/quicker button combination to press. maybe i'm in the minority though.

also, in regards to not expecting the basestealing, i thought there were only 6 - 8 guys actually capable of being a threat. coleman, ozzie, dykstra, raines, and gibson are the only people i ever really go for a base with.

so if one of those guys (or someone else in a leadoff spot who may be fast) is on base against me, i just stay on my toes.

[Nails]

Davey Lopes off Houston's bench is a threat as well.

I still haven't mastered the Down+A.  Haven't had enough practice at it.

[ultimate7]

Here's the list of everyone that is at least as fast as Gibson

NAME   SPEED
Colman   148
Raines   146
Lopes   146
OSmith   144
Gwynn   142
EDavis   142
Hatchr   142
Dykstr   142
McGee   140
Pettis   140
Franco   140
Gladdn   140
Burks   140
K.Bass   138
J.Cruz   138
Gibson   138
Wilson   138
Strwby   138
Tramml   138

[hdunlo]

of the guys on that list, i know that the 138's can be thrown out.

but i'm pretty sure that anyone with at least 142 who gets a good jump in unable to be thrown out. i play against new york basically daily, and i think i threw out dykstra maybe twice last semester.

[ultimate7]

142s you should throw out most of the time, Coleman is tough, Smith you can catch.

[BeefMaster]

I mostly play against the computer, so I unfortunately don't have a really good perspective.  I will say that if you get the maximum jump (holding up+B before the pitch starts) you can steal a base against the computer with about anyone who has 130 or better speed.  The computer almost never makes a fast throw on a SB attempt, though.

In RBI 2/3, I've noticed that anyone listed in the manual as having 10 or better speed (132 is the actual value; 11 translates to 134, and so on) can steal second pretty much every time against the computer.

This may require some experimentation during my lunch break - I'll have to walk Lenny and/or Ozzie and see if I can catch them.  Anybody know how the computer decides when to steal?  Is it purely based on speed?

[ultimate7]

Anybody know how the computer decides when to steal? Is it purely based on speed?

In my experience, it is all based on speed, my guess is that there is some minimum requirement (like 138), then the higher the speed the more likely they are to go.

[TβG]

but i wonder WHEN they decide to steal too, becuase it's not on every single pitch.