Settings

We need a setting set up that reads steal second on every pitch. I have my team set for aggressive for steal and very for every hit and run and bunt. They don't. It is killing me as I don't want to set steal very aggressive as they try to steal home. How can I get my team to do anything I want it to do.

Just a rant here as I know HAL just does what he wants and small ball is not one of them. Too bad for me as I am building my first small ball team from top to bottom and well I don't think I have a snowballs chance.

I'm pretty new so my advice is probably not worth much, but I find I get too many people thrown out on aggressive settings--my beef is more with running as I get a lot of runners thrown out trying to take extra bases on hits--but I wouldn't go above normal on stealing (I find conservative more to my liking), on running it depends on your team speed and offense in general--but I have had no luck trying to get a low scoring faster team more aggressive on bases, just seems to get me more outs at third and home.

I don't mind so much getting thrown out at the plate, but I just HATE getting thrown out at 3b. It's just stupid

Is it possible that the computer is trying to bunt or hit & run all the time INSTEAD of stealing? I can't think of any other reason why you shouldn't have a ton of SB attempts.
I agree with miller.randall though... My guys were getting thrown out way too often on "aggressive"... Now I set it on "normal", with my best base stealers set on "steal more", and it works out fine. (Sadly, I'm going against Pudge Rodriguez tonight... So my entire team is set on "don't steal" ...But tomorrow we'll be off and running again!)

Yes, to get a maximum number of steals, you really have to NOT bunt or H&R very often. Here's an example of a team set to "very aggressive" every game, and almost every player set to "steal more" . I have some older teams that stole more, but this one has all the newer stats, so it's more interesting to look at. As you can see, only 17 attempts to steal home (and it was actually successful over 50% of the time!) I also set baserunning to conservative because I would have rather been caught stealing than gunned down trying to go for the extra base.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/sim/810096

As you can see, with the right players, very aggressive isn't all that bad, as this team was successful over 75% of the time.

527 sb's! I think that is one of the most impressive things I have ever seen!

I just adjust my base stealing from series to series. I look at the opposing pitching matchups hold rating, as well as the catchers throwing arm and make my adjustments accordingly.

I also adjust my baserunning settings by looking at my oppents outfield throwing arms.

Over 500 stolen bases is quite impressive. It is also a bit easier with the 1986 set. I used to set my base stealing for "aggressive" but I was seeing too many attempts to steal 3rd base, and I like having a higher percentage of successful SBs. So I set it for "normal" and my fast batters to "steal more". I think changing it from series to series is smart but other factors should be taken in besides just the catcher's arm. If you are facing a great pitching staff in a pitcher's park you might want to steal, bunt, and hit and run more to create runs and if you are facing lousy pitchers in a bomber park you might want your hitters to swing away.