Cubs stealing signs?

[weis21]

I used to really like Stone, but now he just seems like a bitter jerk.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

This has Mark Beurhle written all over it...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I used to really like Stone, but now he just seems like a bitter jerk.

 

I always assumed Stone was a pompous ass, but bitter jerk might be an appropriate description.

[Jon]

It seems to be the norm for ex-Cubs broadcasters. Not that there aren't exceptions, of course. I don't think Chip ever really turned bitter.

[SouthSideRyan]

This has Mark Beurhle written all over it...

 

He already accused the Rangers of doing it a few years ago.

[bcl412]

I never understood why a coach picking up on a sign was considered cheating. I feel if someone is figuring out your signs then you should get different signs. Hell, I'd think you could take advatage of this by making the other team think they know what is coming and than throwing something else.

 

However, since the origional post is about the Cubs relaying signs from the CF scoreboard, I do think that this is cheating. However I don't think this is what is going on.

[CubbieBum]

you guys here a cow jumped over the moon today

[Ding Dong Johnson]

the stealing theory surfaces with teams like the Cubs more often because of the scoreboard. the belief is that someone in the scoreboard appears in 1 of 2+ openings depending on the pitch (1 for fastball, 2 for curve, add more as necessary). the batter is supposed to know which opening means what

[Tracer Bullet]

the stealing theory surfaces with teams like the Cubs more often because of the scoreboard. the belief is that someone in the scoreboard appears in 1 of 2+ openings depending on the pitch (1 for fastball, 2 for curve, add more as necessary). the batter is supposed to know which opening means what

 

So it's a big game of whack a mole? I think someone else would notice guys' heads popping up and down depending on the pitch.

[salukifudd]

This is [expletive] (sorry to those who have a slow-minded person in their family).

[ConstableRabbit]

I never understood why a coach picking up on a sign was considered cheating. I feel if someone is figuring out your signs then you should get different signs. Hell, I'd think you could take advatage of this by making the other team think they know what is coming and than throwing something else.

 

However, since the origional post is about the Cubs relaying signs from the CF scoreboard, I do think that this is cheating. However I don't think this is what is going on.

I don't think there's anything in the rulebook, but I always saw it as that gray area between trying to get an advantage and being classless. Kind of like when A-Rod yelled "I got it!" while approaching 3rd base against Toronto (I think) last season.

 

It also brings up the age-old debate over playing the game "the right way".

 

That being said, a large part of Spygate was over stealing signs as well. They were videotaped in advance and it's a completely different sport, but it's interesting how it can be so clean-cut in football and not in baseball.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

This has Mark Beurhle written all over it...

 

He already accused the Rangers of doing it a few years ago.

Yeah, that's why this feels like something he'd be involved in. Anyone that can accuse a team of cheating by turning on and off different lights in the stadium, and then turn around and accuse Greg Maddux of cheating seriously has some conspiracy issue theories.

[Omar]

What should we call this? Scoreboardgate? Signgate?

[sneakypower]

So someone with binoculars in the scoreboard is reading the catchers sign and then relaying it to the batter in the 2 seconds between the time the sign is given and the ball is pitched. And the batter is able to pick up this sign from some 400-500 feet without the aid to his eyesight, but NO ONE else in the entire stadium has picked up on it?

not to mention translate it to japanese so Kosuke can OBP .476

[Roast]

I heard ozzie was carrying a knife on sunday.

[TruffleShuffle]

I heard ozzie was carrying a knife on sunday.

 

nah, that was jerry manuel

[bcl412]

I never understood why a coach picking up on a sign was considered cheating. I feel if someone is figuring out your signs then you should get different signs. Hell, I'd think you could take advatage of this by making the other team think they know what is coming and than throwing something else.

 

However, since the origional post is about the Cubs relaying signs from the CF scoreboard, I do think that this is cheating. However I don't think this is what is going on.

I don't think there's anything in the rulebook, but I always saw it as that gray area between trying to get an advantage and being classless. Kind of like when A-Rod yelled "I got it!" while approaching 3rd base against Toronto (I think) last season.

 

It also brings up the age-old debate over playing the game "the right way".

 

That being said, a large part of Spygate was over stealing signs as well. They were videotaped in advance and it's a completely different sport, but it's interesting how it can be so clean-cut in football and not in baseball.

 

I guess I understand this. I guess I just think that the signs are used to disguise and if you aren't diguising well enough you should have to pay by having the other team know what your going to do.

[jersey cubs fan]

I never understood why a coach picking up on a sign was considered cheating. I feel if someone is figuring out your signs then you should get different signs. Hell, I'd think you could take advatage of this by making the other team think they know what is coming and than throwing something else.

 

However, since the origional post is about the Cubs relaying signs from the CF scoreboard, I do think that this is cheating. However I don't think this is what is going on.

I don't think there's anything in the rulebook, but I always saw it as that gray area between trying to get an advantage and being classless. Kind of like when A-Rod yelled "I got it!" while approaching 3rd base against Toronto (I think) last season.

 

It also brings up the age-old debate over playing the game "the right way".

 

That being said, a large part of Spygate was over stealing signs as well. They were videotaped in advance and it's a completely different sport, but it's interesting how it can be so clean-cut in football and not in baseball.

 

I guess I understand this. I guess I just think that the signs are used to disguise and if you aren't diguising well enough you should have to pay by having the other team know what your going to do.

 

The only clear-cut thing about in football was the rule against using recording equipment to film the signs. There's no clear-cut rule against stealing signs though.

[CubbieBum]

I never understood why a coach picking up on a sign was considered cheating. I feel if someone is figuring out your signs then you should get different signs. Hell, I'd think you could take advatage of this by making the other team think they know what is coming and than throwing something else.

 

However, since the origional post is about the Cubs relaying signs from the CF scoreboard, I do think that this is cheating. However I don't think this is what is going on.

I don't think there's anything in the rulebook, but I always saw it as that gray area between trying to get an advantage and being classless. Kind of like when A-Rod yelled "I got it!" while approaching 3rd base against Toronto (I think) last season.

 

It also brings up the age-old debate over playing the game "the right way".

 

That being said, a large part of Spygate was over stealing signs as well. They were videotaped in advance and it's a completely different sport, but it's interesting how it can be so clean-cut in football and not in baseball.

 

I guess I understand this. I guess I just think that the signs are used to disguise and if you aren't diguising well enough you should have to pay by having the other team know what your going to do.

 

The only clear-cut thing about in football was the rule against using recording equipment to film the signs. There's no clear-cut rule against stealing signs though.

 

 

Yes there is. You can steal signs all you want in the NFL. That's why head coaches hide their mouths and all that stuff. You just can't tape and then use the tape to figure them out. It' virtually impossible to figure out the signs in one game but if you can by just using your eyes the NFL allows it.

[Tracer Bullet]

I never understood why a coach picking up on a sign was considered cheating. I feel if someone is figuring out your signs then you should get different signs. Hell, I'd think you could take advatage of this by making the other team think they know what is coming and than throwing something else.

 

However, since the origional post is about the Cubs relaying signs from the CF scoreboard, I do think that this is cheating. However I don't think this is what is going on.

I don't think there's anything in the rulebook, but I always saw it as that gray area between trying to get an advantage and being classless. Kind of like when A-Rod yelled "I got it!" while approaching 3rd base against Toronto (I think) last season.

 

It also brings up the age-old debate over playing the game "the right way".

 

That being said, a large part of Spygate was over stealing signs as well. They were videotaped in advance and it's a completely different sport, but it's interesting how it can be so clean-cut in football and not in baseball.

 

I guess I understand this. I guess I just think that the signs are used to disguise and if you aren't diguising well enough you should have to pay by having the other team know what your going to do.

 

The only clear-cut thing about in football was the rule against using recording equipment to film the signs. There's no clear-cut rule against stealing signs though.

 

 

Yes there is. You can steal signs all you want in the NFL. That's why head coaches hide their mouths and all that stuff. You just can't tape and then use the tape to figure them out. It' virtually impossible to figure out the signs in one game but if you can by just using your eyes the NFL allows it.

 

You lost me there

[Fro]

the stealing theory surfaces with teams like the Cubs more often because of the scoreboard. the belief is that someone in the scoreboard appears in 1 of 2+ openings depending on the pitch (1 for fastball, 2 for curve, add more as necessary). the batter is supposed to know which opening means what

 

So it's a big game of whack a mole? I think someone else would notice guys' heads popping up and down depending on the pitch.

 

Actually, it's not impossible. The dugout is angled so it's really hard to look at the game and the scoreboard at the same time (and you can't see the catcher's signs in the first place). So unless the manager/pitching coach are feeding signs to the catcher (which seems rare these days), they're not going to know what pitch is coming.

 

All the members of the other team except the catcher are facing home plate. The catcher has to watch for the ball coming from the pitcher (ditto the ump). The crowd is focused on 1) the infield diamond and 2) talking to each other. If they are looking at the outfield scoreboard it'd be the ball/strike count.

 

If you want to go even more "crackpot" conspiracy theory, since the Cubs own WGN and CSN, they could tip off the production crew not to film the scoreboard during the at-bats.

[jersey cubs fan]

the stealing theory surfaces with teams like the Cubs more often because of the scoreboard. the belief is that someone in the scoreboard appears in 1 of 2+ openings depending on the pitch (1 for fastball, 2 for curve, add more as necessary). the batter is supposed to know which opening means what

 

So it's a big game of whack a mole? I think someone else would notice guys' heads popping up and down depending on the pitch.

 

Actually, it's not impossible. The dugout is angled so it's really hard to look at the game and the scoreboard at the same time (and you can't see the catcher's signs in the first place). So unless the manager/pitching coach are feeding signs to the catcher (which seems rare these days), they're not going to know what pitch is coming.

 

All the members of the other team except the catcher are facing home plate. The catcher has to watch for the ball coming from the pitcher (ditto the ump). The crowd is focused on 1) the infield diamond and 2) talking to each other. If they are looking at the outfield scoreboard it'd be the ball/strike count.

 

If you want to go even more "crackpot" conspiracy theory, since the Cubs own WGN and CSN, they could tip off the production crew not to film the scoreboard during the at-bats.

 

Well there's a half dozen or so guys in the bullpen and another dozen or so in the dugout. It would be incredibly easy for them to track a guy moving in the scoreboard on every pitch. You take 2 guys in the dugout, 1 of them notes what the operators are doing, the other tracks the pitch. If they are standing still during consecutive fastballs then moving when it goes fastball, offspeed, breaking pitch, you can start theorizing.

 

Plus, doesn't the opposing teams production staff have access to whatever camera angles they want?

[Wolfgangbucks]

Baseball people?? You mean like these guys.......................

 

 

 

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q304/shaujeff/all-star285small.jpg

[cbbryan]

I think the only plausible way to test this is take the scoreboard on the road with us. :D

[champaignchris]

The accusation is at least as old as Leo Durocher, and if it were true and actually gave the Cubs a competitive advantage, you'd think they'd have won a World Series by now.