is the sign stealing really a big deal?

[Pancho and Lefty]

I've seen some arguments of "lots of teams are doing it, it's part of the game, mix your signs up better, etc". To me if the runner on second figures out your sign, that's part of the game. Using cameras from the outfield, totally crossing the line.

How many catchers are truly calling the game nowadays anyhow? I am assuming some of the teams are calling pitches from the dugout? If so, teams that are calling pitches from the dugout could go to an earpiece for the pitcher and catcher?

 

[3Rfan]

I've seen some arguments of "lots of teams are doing it, it's part of the game, mix your signs up better, etc". To me if the runner on second figures out your sign, that's part of the game. Using cameras from the outfield, totally crossing the line.

How many catchers are truly calling the game nowadays anyhow? I am assuming some of the teams are calling pitches from the dugout? If so, teams that are calling pitches from the dugout could go to an earpiece for the pitcher and catcher?

They give signs to the catcher from the dugout about throwing to 1st base, step off or a pitch out, I haven't heard of any that tell the catcher what pitch to call. This tech crap has ruined football, basketball and now baseball, leave it out!! The last 2 minutes of a basketball game takes forever now and in the post season it's even worse. IF they insist on going to replay for every other call they should make the players stand across the floor from their bench, not give them free timeouts when players are tired and allow them to rest and let the coach talk to them.

 

[Duck_walk]

Brad Thompson on 101FM today was talking about what a huge part of the game stealing signs is and the gamesmanship involved with trying to hide your signals and/or fool your opponent. This was true long before hi-Tech cheating started.

Can’t they just play the damn game and the best man wins? The answer is obvious. 3R will whine and cry but the answer to prevent all this is a simple ear piece for each defensive player. The coach in the dugout can say “cutter outside” or call a pickoff play and fielders know what to expect, the catcher and pitcher don’t have to waste time with a series of signals and shaking a pitch off, etc.
Pitches can happen so fast the offense can’t steal anything.

It will allow the game to be played faster and more fair. And it hurts nothing.

 

[3Rfan]

Brad Thompson on 101FM today was talking about what a huge part of the game stealing signs is and the gamesmanship involved with trying to hide your signals and/or fool your opponent. This was true long before hi-Tech cheating started.

Can’t they just play the damn game and the best man wins? The answer is obvious. 3R will whine and cry but the answer to prevent all this is a simple ear piece for each defensive player. The coach in the dugout can say “cutter outside” or call a pickoff play and fielders know what to expect, the catcher and pitcher don’t have to waste time with a series of signals and shaking a pitch off, etc.
Pitches can happen so fast the offense can’t steal anything.

It will allow the game to be played faster and more fair. And it hurts nothing.

Might as well just build robots to take the field then. Why don't you want players to have to think for themselves a little and react to whatever happens. That's supposed to be the difference between MLB guys and everybody else!

 

[Duck_walk]

Might as well just build robots to take the field then. Why don't you want players to have to think for themselves a little and react to whatever happens. That's supposed to be the difference between MLB guys and everybody else!

Do you call them robots now? How do you think it works? A coach signals in from the dugout and calls the pitches on almost every mlb team dude. Why do you think Yadi looks over at the dugout frequently? And he is one of the catchers who still gets to make a lot of decisions.

Do you think the fielders just guess where the ball will be hit? And use their instincts?
A coach tells the outfielders where to shift to. A coach tells the infielders where to play or they have a card in their back pocket. That’s real efficient.

I like 2 hours and 30 minute games. I assume you love to fall asleep between pitches.

 

[3Rfan]

Do you call them robots now? How do you think it works? A coach signals in from the dugout and calls the pitches on almost every mlb team dude. Why do you think Yadi looks over at the dugout frequently? And he is one of the catchers who still gets to make a lot of decisions.

Do you think the fielders just guess where the ball will be hit? And use their instincts?
A coach tells the outfielders where to shift to. A coach tells the infielders where to play or they have a card in their back pocket. That’s real efficient.

I like 2 hours and 30 minute games. I assume you love to fall asleep between pitches.

The dugout does not call pitches from anything I've heard. They call step off, pitchouts but not pitches. I don't care where the pitch is they still have to see the ball and react. Have you not seen guys pull and outside pitch or take an inside pitch the other way? EVERYBODY on the field has to react to what actually happens not what they think SHOULD happen on a certain pitch. I want to see real players play the game and not have all this electronic crap get in the way. How many times did you see the replay guys in NY get a call wrong after several minutes of review AND they never have to explain why they made the call they made like NFL officials do when they look at replays. They probably miss as many as the live umps do and the games move much faster without replay.

 

[Duck_walk]

The dugout does not call pitches from anything I've heard. They call step off, pitchouts but not pitches. I don't care where the pitch is they still have to see the ball and react. Have you not seen guys pull and outside pitch or take an inside pitch the other way? EVERYBODY on the field has to react to what actually happens not what they think SHOULD happen on a certain pitch. I want to see real players play the game and not have all this electronic crap get in the way. How many times did you see the replay guys in NY get a call wrong after several minutes of review AND they never have to explain why they made the call they made like NFL officials do when they look at replays. They probably miss as many as the live umps do and the games move much faster without replay.

You are mixing apples and oranges. We aren’t talking about replay. That has nothing to do with signals and stealing them. Try to stay on topic. And if you think the dugout isn’t calling some of the pitches you are still living in the 1980s.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

The dugout does not call pitches from anything I've heard.

Zero credibility in the argument after this. Unreal how hard-headed you are.

 

[3Rfan]

Zero credibility in the argument after this. Unreal how hard-headed you are.

We were talking about technology and pace of game. All that crap slows the game down and does NOT make it better! I have NEVER heard a Cardinal announcer say pitches are called from the bench. I have heard them say when Yadi looks to the dugout it's NOT for pitch selection but for the manager to control the running game.

 

[Duck_walk]

Jack McDowell, who pitched in the big leagues for 12 seasons, alleges that Tony LaRussa was using a camera at old Comiskey Park in the 1980s to steal signs and alerted batters by using a light in a Gatorade sign in the outfield

 

[Neutron Monster]

Hot take: no.

But if they want it to go away, all they have to go is give the catcher and pitcher ear pieces and have someone call the game from the dugout.

 

[Pancho and Lefty]

We were talking about technology and pace of game. All that crap slows the game down and does NOT make it better! I have NEVER heard a Cardinal announcer say pitches are called from the bench. I have heard them say when Yadi looks to the dugout it's NOT for pitch selection but for the manager to control the running game.

I’m just guessing but I would say at least half the teams are calling pitches from the dugouts now. A guy like Yadi is prob more knowledgeable than most pitching coaches and prob has a lot of free reign.

You go to a “select” baseball or softball game now in the summer, and prob 80% of high school ball, and nobody lets the catcher just call the game. I think it’s all ego FWIW.

 

[3Rfan]

I’m just guessing but I would say at least half the teams are calling pitches from the dugouts now. A guy like Yadi is prob more knowledgeable than most pitching coaches and prob has a lot of free reign.

You go to a “select” baseball or softball game now in the summer, and prob 80% of high school ball, and nobody lets the catcher just call the game. I think it’s all ego FWIW.

Yeah they're really teaching the kids how to be successful.

 

[Pancho and Lefty]

I’m just guessing but I would say at least half the teams are calling pitches from the dugouts now. A guy like Yadi is prob more knowledgeable that most pitching coaches and prob has a lot of free reign.

You go to a “select” baseball or softball game now in the summer, and prob 80% of high school ball, and nobody lets the catcher just call the game. I think it’s all ego FWIW.

Yeah they're really teaching the kids how to be successful.

It’s disgusting what summer ball has turned into.

 

[Duck_walk]

It’s disgusting what summer ball has turned into.

Wasn’t there a coach at Windsor who use to whistle in signals? After watching them play one time I had to go see my therapist.

 

[Pancho and Lefty]

Wasn’t there a coach at Windsor who use to whistle in signals? After watching them play one time I had to go see my therapist.

I know when I played summer ball our coaches were high tech. Belt for bunt, swipe shirt for steal, man on second went to the second sign for the pitch (which was fastball, curveball, or change). Had several coaches who smoked a cigarette while coaching third. Played about 25 games a summer, somehow we survived.