1. The pitcher:
delivery to the catcher's mitt takes about 0.45 seconds for a fast ball;
add 0.03 seconds if the pitch is a slider (give the base runner an extra foot!);
add 0.13 for a curve ball, and give that runner four feet!
a. With a runner on base, the pitcher is throwing from the stretch. We calculate the pitcher's throwing motion from the point where he can no longer stop, at about 0.8 seconds. This makes the time from stretch to catcher about 1.3 seconds. At best! Some pitchers are as much as 0.2 seconds slower....giving the runner six running feet!
2.The Steal:
If the catcher has a great gun, 100 mph initial velocity, the ball will cover the 128 feet to second base about 1.0 second after release. But add to this the throwing time the catcher needs.
a. So...pitcher throws a fast ball to catcher, catcher to second baseman, low and on the first base side of the bag,1.3 + 2.0 = 3.3 seconds. Prefect play! Runner out!
The Runner needs almost 3.9 seconds to steal second!
3. But...fast runner, plus a good start (worth about 0.2 seconds)...and no one can catch him!
But....last night:
4. Inside the park homerun!!!!
10/27/2015 First game of KC/Mets World Series....first pitch by the Mets Matt Harvey to Royal's Alcides Escobar, an inside the part home run: 15.09 seconds to round the bases!!
