Thought Provoking Conversation

Thanks for the comments on the double steal.. I hoped that others would see it as I do. I think this play is totally wrong and unethical.
I hope that as a coach I can teach my players that hard work pays off, that it is never good to take dishones shortcuts. It will catch you in the end, because even if you win on the field, your players sooner or later will realize that shortcuts do not build character.

ABout stealing signs... I do not attempt to do this, but over time I will get a feel for what an opposing coach will do in a certain situation, but you also have to change your signs so they will not get stolen.

Is stealing signs looked at any differently than the other situations?

AGAIN... THANKS FOR YOUR INTEGRITY!!

 

i personally don't think stealing signs from second is wrong. however peaking at signs from the catcher is. why is there a difference????????? i don't know just my opinion. any comments??

 

For each crime (runner at 2nd flashing signs to the hitter), there is a punishment. I have seen the runner at 2nd base take a ball in the butt on a pick-off move for flashing signs to the hitter.

The interesting thing is that most batters think that a runner at 2nd flashing signs is a distraction and would prefer that he wouldn't do it. It disrupts their concentration.

It's easy for a pitcher/catcher to throw off a "sign stealer" at 2nd base by going to multiple signals or an alternate sign. As poorly lit as a lot of HS fields are, alternate signs (touching a part of the chest protector for example), while still "flashing the fingers" happens more often than you think.

 

I agree that there is a punishment for the "crime" of strealing signs at second...

What about stealing the 3rd base coach's signs?

 

This is where I differ....

Figuring out the signs that a coach is flashing from the dugout on calling pitches or figuring out the signs that a thirdbase coach is using is a great mental exercise.

We have always encouraged our bench players to watch and try to figure these out. It helps keep their head in the game. It's also good for them to understand strategy and how a particular team pitches in particular situations.

We don't relay them to the players on the field or at bat. It can also be very disconcerting to the other team if your third baseman watches the 3B coach intently and then, occasionally nods his head after watching the signs being giving (even if he has NO IDEA of what's happening).

 

I think an alert ballplayer on the basepaths would look at everything he could to gain an advantage or anticipate the next play or pitch. I dont see anything wrong with that. And I agree with NC - it is mighty distracting to most hitters when the runner is flashing signs.

At the plate - I wouldnt want the pitcher to see me peeking backwards though. I dont think pitchers care for that too much LOL

One example of stealing signs that I dont think is consistent with fair play is when you have folks not actually on the field relaying signs. A good example would be the Bobby Thompson home run many years ago - the Giants had a player behind the centerfield fence relaying pitches into the hitter. That doesnt seem right to me.

 

"Peaking" back to see the sign flashed the image of a scene in the movie "Field of Dreams".

"The last two have been high and tight, look low and away, but watch out for in your ear".

 

As a player I never found a simple relay of signs from a runner a distraction. I see absolutely nothing wrong with doing it and I agree that catchers and pitchers can take care of the problem if they are good enough. I agree that stealing signs from coaches is a great way to stay in the game. Whether you relay them or not is up to you. I once heard Robbie Alomar and Paul Molitor say the year the Jays won the World Series they stole signs all the time, and that is coming from two hall of famers. To me it is one of the great "games within a game" that baseball offers. However, I think that there is a right and a wrong way to do it. As long as players and coaches are lazy about giving signs they will continue to get exploited. I also agree that there is always a possible punishment if you do something like that, especially for peaking.

 

My son who is a pitcher has pitched when signs are being stolen by both the batter at the plate and by a base runner relaying the information to the hitter. He recognizes it, does not appreciate it, and will take action of various kinds to stop it.

 

How true hsbbfan! No one ever told my son to throw at a player, but he has, does and will. He's thrown at them, over their heads, behind them and between the shoulder blades. My 89 yr.old father has probably forgotten more baseball than I'll ever learn, but one thing he stresses, "don't do the crime (steal signs), if you can't take the punishment!"