A Tip for Base Stealing

Wen it comes to base stealing, while most people talk about the motions at the start of it, the most important factor is, I think, the posture at that moment. As you can see in the photo above, Ichiro always lets his right arm down when he takes a lead-off from first base. This is the secret of good start. 

By putting down the right arm, his torso turns to the first base and it causes his left leg to rotate externally slightly. Since the leg motion with which we kick the ground includes internal rotation, the posture Ichiro shows means being ready for kicking the ground strongly with his left leg. It allows him to turn and accelerate to the second-base direction quickly, kicking the ground strongly.

Notice this sprint runner's right leg and the white print on his right thigh. His right leg is rotating internally to kick the ground. That is an automatic motion accompanied by the brain command for accelerating straight forward. So you don't need to rotate your legs intentionally.

Besides, if a pickoff throw comes, you can get back to the first base with the head-first slide easily because your chest is faced to the first base.

As for the sliding to second base, head-first slide is reasonable because first-base runner reach second base in the acceleration phase of sprinting. So if you are to go to third base after passing second base, then you should use leg-first slide.

Considering all above, Dee Gordon's base stealing in the clip below is excellent. The one starting from 0.15 on that clip is particularly wonderful.