Question: can you steal a base on a ball

Answer: Yes, Baseball's Rule 8 (The Pitcher) specifies the pitching procedure in detail. For example, in the Set Position, the pitcher must ``com(e) to a complete stop''; thereafter, ``any natural motion associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without alteration or interruption.'' A runner intending to ``steal on the pitcher'' breaks for the next base the moment the pitcher commits to pitch to home plate. The pitcher cannot abort the pitch and try to put the runner out; this is a balk under Rule 8.