Should You Steal Bases?

If teams are scoring more runs then the required rate for stealing bases being successful goes up, this is because you gain less from being further round the diamond when teams score more runs. So stealing at an 80% rate isn't worth as much in the current game and the add run expectancy for stealing goes down.

When should you not steal a base?

You cannot steal a base on a “dead” or foul ball. Overthrown or passed balls may be stolen on, as long as the ball is still considered to be “live” The base ahead of you must be unoccupied (unless the runner ahead of you also attempts to steal the base in front of them; this is known as a double steal)

Do stolen bases matter?

So from this perspective, a stolen base is very valuable. If you have great odds, take a shot. ... We should measure not just the stolen base alone but add the times the runner moves up on a ball in the dirt, moves up to second from an error, or forces the pitcher to balk.