Fire Mike Hargrove!

[Jack of Arcades]

It obviously depends on a lot of factors. A double steal puts a second guy in scoring position, and it allows the guy on third to score on a passed ball, wild pitch, error, balk, etc. When you're only down one run, putting that second guy in scoring position can mean the difference between tying and winning the game.

With Raul Ibanez and Richie Sexson you of course don't want to do this unless you have a pretty good contact hitter at the plate.

[WayAbvPar]

There are times when it is an appropriate play. In the bottom of the 5th inning of a 1 run game with your cleanup hitter at the plate for a team that couldn't score in a woman's prison with a pocketful of pardons does not count as appropriate IMHO.

[bernie]

[ QUOTE ]
Between Hargrove and the front office, this team is never going to get any better.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unless they need stadium renovations...

b

[goofball]

[ QUOTE ]
With Raul Ibanez and Richie Sexson you of course don't want to do this unless you have a pretty good contact hitter at the plate.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure Richie Sexson is the true definition of "not a good contact hitter"

[Jack of Arcades]

[ QUOTE ]
There are times when it is an appropriate play. In the bottom of the 5th inning of a 1 run game with your cleanup hitter at the plate for a team that couldn't score in a woman's prison with a pocketful of pardons does not count as appropriate IMHO.

[/ QUOTE ]

When, in your estimation, is a good time for a double steal?

[WayAbvPar]

There are quite a few times when it might be appropriate- a couple of good baserunners on with a weak hitter at the plate is probably the most obvious. Being aggressive on the basepaths is a keenly sharp double edged sword- it needs to be used with extreme caution. Running just to show that you are awake on the bench to justify your existence doesn't qualify.

[Jack of Arcades]

Actually, the double steal is something that should be used more often. The break even point for it succeeding is lower than the regular steal.