Stealing Second
Standards Assessed: 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5
Name __________________
Algebra 2
Directions: On a baseball field, there are 90
feet between each base. The distance from
the pitcher’s mound to home plate is 60 feet 6
inches. How far is it from home plate to
second base?
When a base runner tries to steal second base,
he usually leads off 9 feet and then has to
pause just long enough to make sure the
pitcher isn’t going to throw back to first base.
If the pitcher throws a 95 mile per hour pitch and the catcher throws the ball to second
base at 80 miles per hour, how long does it take the ball to get from the mound to home
to second base (allow 0.4 seconds for the catcher to catch the ball and get the throw to
second base)? Make sure you include an explanation with necessary computations,
sketches, formulas, and notes.
What is the average speed of the base stealer if he has to arrive 0.1 seconds ahead of the
catcher’s throw? (Use the time from the previous question)