Video of Mauer tipping pitches

[Patrick425]

Anyone see this?:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-signstealing100109&prov=yhoo&type=lgnshttp://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-signstealing100109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Mauer does appear to be giving signals from 2nd. Sure it happens all the time. Interesting thing is, that without a guy on 3rd, the pitcher would not be going from the wind up. Because of this, Mauer is able to focus on the catchers signals and not worry about any pick-off attempts to 2nd base.

[Buckylovesbeer]

Every team would steal signals if the opposition allows it. Thats why teams change signs and signals. The twins reaction to this video is pretty funny.....basically Mauer and Morneau both said if they were going to be that obvious about it, they deserve to be hit the next time up. Good stuff. PTI had a huge debate over it today as well. Sign stealing is part of the game. I am surprised La Russa has not come out and said how his perfect team would never do such a thing!

[jerichoholicninja]

That's a pretty similar system to the one that the high school team I coach uses. It's funny to watch the kids do it because some are very sneaky and others are so blatant that you can't miss it.

[Team Canada]

I don't understand players that would get bent out of shape about that. It's not cheating, if you're able to figure their signs it's their fault, it's not like someone gave you the scheme before the game.

 

When I caught in H.S. I would always stare down at the 3B coach as I was giving signs to try and pick up the steal sign.

[saxyman1004]

It's not cheating

I believe the term is "gamesmanship".

[pretendastronaut]

When I caught in H.S. I would always stare down at the 3B coach as I was giving signs to try and pick up the steal sign.

 

Stealing the signs from the 3B coach was probably the only real value I ever provided to my HS baseball team, outside of a few comedic slides.

[diener34]

Maybe its just me, but I wonder what the reaction would be if Braun was caught doing this with Fielder up? I really have no problem with it. It's not my kind of thing, I wouldn't do it, and I would probably hit a player I caught doing it but I'm old school.

[pitchleague]

I kind of feel that it's similar to reading the defense in football/basketball/hockey/soccer/etc. If you're smart enough to out-smart your team and figure out their audibles, play calls, etc. more power to you.

 

If you're the team that is pitching and you're not changing your signals up every other inning or so, you're not a smart pitching team.

[pretendastronaut]

I believe the term is "gamesmanship".

 

This is another one of those times when baseball is held to some odd mythical standard. Is it poor gamesmanship in the NFL when an offense audibles out of their formation after they see the how the defense has set up? Or when the defense shifts their coverage based off the audible they just heard?

[Baldkin]

Good for Joe Mauer.

 

Paul Molitor was one of the best ever at this.

 

I don't understand what the hubub is about. Its not like they were using a video camera in CF.

[Invader3K]

Yeah, I remember hearing about how the early '80s Brewers teams were supposedly very good at stealing signs. I don't get what the big deal is.

[Tbadder]

I think sign stealing is great--it's a "game within the game" thing. Kudos for those intelligent enough to do it.

[temke]

Yeah, I remember hearing about how the early '80s Brewers teams were supposedly very good at stealing signs. I don't get what the big deal is.

its because bernie brewer was stealing them from center field

 

http://puttingoutthevibe....s.com/category/baseball/

[Invader3K]

Thanks for posting that link. Lots of cool pictures. I had forgotten how rather lame looking the '93 era Bernie was. That one makes the current costume look like it came from a Hollywood movie studio.

[sbrylski]

That is a tremendous video actually, the captions were great. Shows what is really going on during an AB.

 

And yeah, I've got zero problem with it.

[jjkoestler]

Very cool video. I have no problem with stealing signs or the baseball justice that comes after you get caught stealing them.

[Buckylovesbeer]

I agree with everyone on this topic. Good for Mauer. If its just a guy on second doing it, and not a video camera, then tough luck to the pitcher. Its part of the game. I think all of us who played baseball growing up spent an inning or two trying to figure out the opponents "steal sign" from third base.

[Viva La Grinch]

Its too bad the Brewers don't have a catcher that can get to second base in order to steal the signs.

[pogokat]

I'm the first base coach for a high school fast pitch softball team---like my whole job is to steal signs...

[bigredrobbo]

Its too bad the Brewers don't have a catcher that can get to second base in order to steal the signs.

Or if he had pitches tipped, to be able to hit the pitch he knew was coming!