Esteban German is looking for a sign. Not one of a divine nature, but something — anything from the movement of a shoulder to the shifting of weight — that can serve as his cue to leave the safe haven of first base and make a mad dash to second.
Finally, the pitcher delivers, and German takes off, given only a few precious seconds to traverse 90 feet. He slides in just before the tag, safe, another base stolen, another notch in his belt in this game-within-the-game.
Stealing bases is one of the Seibu Lions infielder's strengths, and he's among NPB's best. He spends hours studying pitchers' motions and unraveling tendencies, all to better know when the throw is going home, or when a pitcher will try to pick him off.