Hold the runner on third.

Recently two players stole home in bold fashion: bases loaded, two outs, their teams leading.  I have long wondered about this.  Why don't teams have the third baseman hold the runner on third as they have first baseman hold the runner on first?  If they don't hold the runner on first, the runner can steal second.  If they don't hold the runner on third, the runner can steal home.  If you were deciding which of these two defenses makes the most sense, it would probably be to hold the runner on third.

In Boston's Fenway Park on April 26 2009 Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury stole home with the bases loaded, two outs and left-handed-hitting outfielder J.D. Drew at the plate.  Yankee third baseman Angel Berroa was playing very wide of the bag.  Ellsbury broke as Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte went into his full windup.  Red Sox were already leading 3-1 and won 4-1.

You would think teams would be more alert after that.

In Philadelphia on May 12 2009 Phillie Jayson Werth stole second, third and home in one inning, the 49th MLB player to do it.  The Dodgers pitcher Ronald Belisario was not alert even after the first two steals.  Worse, was the lack of awareness by his catcher, Russell Martin, who carelessly tossed a pitch back to the pitcher, prompting Werth to take off and beat a quick return throw from Belisario.  Phillies were already leading 4-2 and won 5-3.

Here are the details of Werth's steals:

Werth singled with one out in 7th.

Ryan Howard struck out swinging.  Two out.

Jimmy Rollins bats and Werth steals second.

Pitcher Will Ohman intentionally walks Rollins.

Raul Ibanez bats.  Werth and Rollins both steal.

Ibanez walks loading the bases.

Ronald Belisario replaces Ohman pitching.

Pedro Felix, a righty batter, bats and Werth steals home.

Dodger  coach visits pitcher.

Feliz walks re-loading the bases.

Carlos Ruiz grounds to Dodger third baseman Casey Blake who forces out Ibanez at third.  Three out.

Neither of these humiliating steals of home would have occurred if the defense had been holding the runner on third base as they do almost mindlessly with a runner on first.  Perhaps even more bizarre are times when the defense is concerned about a squeeze play, i.e., the batter bunting with a runner on third, especially if the defense suspects a suicide squeeze in which the runner bolts for home even before the batter bunts.  Sometimes the defense pitches out to determine what the offense intends or to trap the runner off third.  Never, have I seen a defense hold the runner on third by placing a fielder at third.  Leaving third base without a fielder precludes the pitcher from throwing to third to pick off the runner or to at least keep the runner close.

I guess somewhere during the long history of MLB an orthodoxy developed that the odds did not justify holding the runner on third.  Maybe that should be re-examined.