In baseball, the decision to steal a base comes down to a trade-off between the potential reward and the risk of losing a baserunner. Advancing a runner from First to Second has many rewards, including putting the runner in “scoring position” and reducing the risk of a double play. On the other hand, stealing Third Base provides little reward and carries the risk of losing a runner who is already in scoring position.
A baserunner on Second or Third is considered to be in scoring position because any basic hit will likely result in a run. However, moving a runner from Second to Third is generally not worth the risk, as the runner is already in scoring position. Moreover, stealing Third is only advantageous when the team has one out or none, and the next few batters have good hitting potential.
While Third Base is the easiest base to steal, it is not commonly done because there are few scenarios in which the risk is worth the potential reward. Conversely, stealing Second provides a significant advantage in a much wider range of situations. Ultimately, the decision to steal a base requires careful consideration of the risk and reward for the given situation.