Blue Jays stealing signs?

[davearm2]

LOL some of you guys are in such a frenzy to jump on any little thing I say, that you wind up making yourselves look stupid instead. For fans of irony, it's pure gold, and this thread is a prime example.

 

The sign-stealing is a minor story. The White Sox' reaction is a complete and utter non-story.

 

You know how when a guy yells "I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR #$%^&* ASS!!!," he's not literally threatening to assault the other person's gluteus with his Reeboks.

 

And 99% of the time those words are uttered, there's no followthrough at all -- it's just a bunch of macho tough talk meant to intimidate and/or send a message.

 

This is pretty much just like that.

 

The odds that Jose Bautista is going to wear an intentional fastball on his helmet the next time he faces the White Sox is like 0.0001%. Deep down, I think you guys realize that. At least I hope for your sakes you do.

[CubmanPi]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/1862/get-you-own-damn-man-in-white-sign-stealing-the-jays-and-so-called-cheating-in-baseball

This was a pretty good read, thanks. I liked a lot of the stuff he linked to, especially the deduction used to finger the White Sox as the accusers and JP Arencibia's Twitter feed.

 

I wonder who the specific reliever is. It's the only way to know for sure whether he's a lunatic who wants to kill Jose Bautista or just a hard-nosed, blue-collar, plays-the-game-the-right-way-and-sticks-up-for-his-teammates-with-old-school-baseball-justice kind of guy. (ie, Is he white?)

[Tryptamine]

LOL some of you guys are in such a frenzy to jump on any little thing I say, that you wind up making yourselves look stupid instead. For fans of irony, it's pure gold, and this thread is a prime example.

 

The sign-stealing is a minor story. The White Sox' reaction is a complete and utter non-story.

 

You know how when a guy yells "I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR #$%^&* ASS!!!," he's not literally threatening to assault the other person's gluteus with his Reeboks.

 

And 99% of the time those words are uttered, there's no followthrough at all -- it's just a bunch of macho tough talk meant to intimidate and/or send a message.

 

This is pretty much just like that.

 

The odds that Jose Bautista is going to wear an intentional fastball on his helmet the next time he faces the White Sox is like 0.0001%. Deep down, I think you guys realize that. At least I hope for your sakes you do.

 

Yeah, because there isn't a history of pitchers throwing at batters for all kinds of asinine reasons. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they threw at him. Regardless, they don't have to throw at his head for it to be career threatening. What if they hit him in the wrist? Look at DLee's career after his wrist injury. The point is you don't intentionally chuck a baseball at someone.

[davearm2]

The point is you don't intentionally chuck a baseball at someone.

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

[Sammy Sofa]

You don't understand irony, amongst many, many other things.

[MSG T]

The point is you don't intentionally chuck a baseball at someone.

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

 

 

Sorry, many of the games unwritten "rules" ARE idiotic. Therefore if someone is following one of those, like throwing at people intentionally (which does happen), then they are being idiotic. Throwing inside, great go for it, do it all day. Throwing at someone because they hit a HR or you think someone is cheating or showing you up in some way, is moronic. There are much better ways to get back at them for doing that.

[davearm2]

You don't understand irony, amongst many, many other things.

Priceless.

[davearm2]

The point is you don't intentionally chuck a baseball at someone.

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

 

 

Sorry, many of the games unwritten "rules" ARE idiotic. Therefore if someone is following one of those, like throwing at people intentionally (which does happen), then they are being idiotic. Throwing inside, great go for it, do it all day. Throwing at someone because they hit a HR or you think someone is cheating or showing you up in some way, is moronic. There are much better ways to get back at them for doing that.

What did you have in mind that is a better deterrent than a fastball in the ribs?

[MSG T]

The point is you don't intentionally chuck a baseball at someone.

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

 

 

Sorry, many of the games unwritten "rules" ARE idiotic. Therefore if someone is following one of those, like throwing at people intentionally (which does happen), then they are being idiotic. Throwing inside, great go for it, do it all day. Throwing at someone because they hit a HR or you think someone is cheating or showing you up in some way, is moronic. There are much better ways to get back at them for doing that.

What did you have in mind that is a better deterrent than a fastball in the ribs?

 

Striking the guy out? Outs are better than HBP any day of the week. Show the guy you can beat him even if he is cheating. All intentionally hitting a guy does is start an even dumber beanball war. Like I said, just because that's how it's always been done, doesn't mean it isn't stupid.

 

Some football player scores a TD and shows the defense up, does he get a forearm to the head the next series? No, if he did, the player doing it would be suspended, and rightly so. Did anyone jack Tom Brady in the head when the Patriots were caught filming practices? No. They'd be done for the year. This tough man, police our own crap in baseball is stupid. Especially when you're talking about hitting someone intentionally with a 90+ mph fastball.

[Formerly Snayke]

"We know what you're doing," he said, referring to the man in white, according to the player and two witnesses. "If you do it again, I'm going to hit you in the [f------] head."

 

well this player isn't a lunatic or anything.

Yeah since throwing at a batter to settle a grudge would be totally unheard of.

 

I'm confused. What grudge do they have?

[davearm2]

The point is you don't intentionally chuck a baseball at someone.

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

 

 

Sorry, many of the games unwritten "rules" ARE idiotic. Therefore if someone is following one of those, like throwing at people intentionally (which does happen), then they are being idiotic. Throwing inside, great go for it, do it all day. Throwing at someone because they hit a HR or you think someone is cheating or showing you up in some way, is moronic. There are much better ways to get back at them for doing that.

What did you have in mind that is a better deterrent than a fastball in the ribs?

 

Striking the guy out? Outs are better than HBP any day of the week. Show the guy you can beat him even if he is cheating. All intentionally hitting a guy does is start an even dumber beanball war. Like I said, just because that's how it's always been done, doesn't mean it isn't stupid.

The White Sox' intent is to stop the Blue Jays from cheating by stealing signs.

 

And your solution to get them to stop cheating by stealing signs is to strike them out.

 

Seems to me that would have the opposite effect of what was intended. More irony.

[davearm2]

"We know what you're doing," he said, referring to the man in white, according to the player and two witnesses. "If you do it again, I'm going to hit you in the [f------] head."

 

well this player isn't a lunatic or anything.

Yeah since throwing at a batter to settle a grudge would be totally unheard of.

 

I'm confused. What grudge do they have?

Um, they're stealing signs (allegedly).

[Formerly Snayke]

"We know what you're doing," he said, referring to the man in white, according to the player and two witnesses. "If you do it again, I'm going to hit you in the [f------] head."

 

well this player isn't a lunatic or anything.

Yeah since throwing at a batter to settle a grudge would be totally unheard of.

 

I'm confused. What grudge do they have?

Um, they're stealing signs (allegedly).

 

Yes, allegedly. That's what makes the pitcher in question a lunatic. Before popping off about throwing at someone's [expletive] head, you should probably use some common sense.

[MSG T]

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

 

 

Sorry, many of the games unwritten "rules" ARE idiotic. Therefore if someone is following one of those, like throwing at people intentionally (which does happen), then they are being idiotic. Throwing inside, great go for it, do it all day. Throwing at someone because they hit a HR or you think someone is cheating or showing you up in some way, is moronic. There are much better ways to get back at them for doing that.

What did you have in mind that is a better deterrent than a fastball in the ribs?

 

Striking the guy out? Outs are better than HBP any day of the week. Show the guy you can beat him even if he is cheating. All intentionally hitting a guy does is start an even dumber beanball war. Like I said, just because that's how it's always been done, doesn't mean it isn't stupid.

The White Sox' intent is to stop the Blue Jays from cheating by stealing signs.

 

And your solution to get them to stop cheating by stealing signs is to strike them out.

 

Seems to me that would have the opposite effect of what was intended. More irony.

 

 

The White Sox stretegy is definitely ironic, mine...not so much. If I'm a pitcher, I don't care if the cheat against any other teams, I only care if I beat them. The best way to beat them is to get them out, not hit one in the head. It looks like they think the Blue Jays are cheating all the time, what are they going to do, hit every player on the team? All hitting Bautista will do is cause one of their own to get hit in retaliation, which is just as stupid BTW. It won't get them to stop if they are, in fact, cheating. The only thing that will get them to stop is someone getting evidence and turning over to the commisioner's office.

 

Hitting someone with a ball, on purpose, is stupid. I don't care how long it's been going on. It's no different than fighting in hockey, it's an unnecessary, moronic thing to do that accomplishes nothing other than giving some guy a puffed out chest for "taking care of his teammates". Dumb.

[MSG T]

Hate to break it to you, but yeah they (pitchers) do.

 

So let's not go calling guys lunatics or idiotic simply for playing by the game's (unwritten) rules.

 

 

Sorry, many of the games unwritten "rules" ARE idiotic. Therefore if someone is following one of those, like throwing at people intentionally (which does happen), then they are being idiotic. Throwing inside, great go for it, do it all day. Throwing at someone because they hit a HR or you think someone is cheating or showing you up in some way, is moronic. There are much better ways to get back at them for doing that.

What did you have in mind that is a better deterrent than a fastball in the ribs?

 

Striking the guy out? Outs are better than HBP any day of the week. Show the guy you can beat him even if he is cheating. All intentionally hitting a guy does is start an even dumber beanball war. Like I said, just because that's how it's always been done, doesn't mean it isn't stupid.

The White Sox' intent is to stop the Blue Jays from cheating by stealing signs.

 

And your solution to get them to stop cheating by stealing signs is to strike them out.

 

Seems to me that would have the opposite effect of what was intended. More irony.

 

 

The White Sox stretegy is definitely ironic, mine...not so much. If I'm a pitcher, I don't care if the cheat against any other teams, I only care if I beat them. The best way to beat them is to get them out, not hit one in the head. It looks like they think the Blue Jays are cheating all the time, what are they going to do, hit every player on the team? All hitting Bautista will do is cause one of their own to get hit in retaliation, which is just as stupid BTW. It won't get them to stop if they are, in fact, cheating. The only thing that will get them to stop is someone getting evidence and turning over to the commisioner's office.

 

Hitting someone with a ball, on purpose, is stupid. I don't care how long it's been going on. It's no different than fighting in hockey, it's an unnecessary, moronic thing to do that accomplishes nothing other than giving some guy a puffed out chest for "taking care of his teammates". Dumb.

[davearm2]

Um, they're stealing signs (allegedly).

 

Yes, allegedly. That's what makes the pitcher in question a lunatic. Before popping off about throwing at someone's [expletive] head, you should probably use some common sense.

But it's not "allegedly" in the White Sox' mind. They know what they saw and are 100% convinced it's happening.

 

This "lunatic" you speak of confronted the player verbally, and told him to cut it out or else.

 

What would have been the common-sense response?

[CubmanPi]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895.jpg/300px-Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895.jpg

[Formerly Snayke]

Um, they're stealing signs (allegedly).

 

Yes, allegedly. That's what makes the pitcher in question a lunatic. Before popping off about throwing at someone's [expletive] head, you should probably use some common sense.

But it's not "allegedly" in the White Sox' mind. They know what they saw and are 100% convinced it's happening.

 

This "lunatic" you speak of confronted the player verbally, and told him to cut it out or else.

 

What would have been the common-sense response?

 

To not say anything at all. It's beyond ridiculous that a Man In White could pick up the signals from 400 feet away.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hitting someone with a ball, on purpose, is stupid. I don't care how long it's been going on. It's no different than fighting in hockey, it's an unnecessary, moronic thing to do that accomplishes nothing other than giving some guy a puffed out chest for "taking care of his teammates". Dumb.

 

This is an oversimplification, and wrong.

[tfarks]

Awe damn you done brought the hockey folk up in here

[MSG T]

Hitting someone with a ball, on purpose, is stupid. I don't care how long it's been going on. It's no different than fighting in hockey, it's an unnecessary, moronic thing to do that accomplishes nothing other than giving some guy a puffed out chest for "taking care of his teammates". Dumb.

 

This is an oversimplification, and wrong.

 

 

Oversimplification, probably. How is it wrong though? There is nothing good accomplished by drilling people, which was my point.

[Benchwarmer]

Teams have been stealing signs since baseball began. What they object to is someone other than players/coaches stealing signs and relaying them. They use to think the Yankees had people stealing signs and relay them with a red light going on or off on the centerfield scoreboard. There was also the rumor that a person would steal signs at the old Polo Grounds and someone would stand in a particular window, depending on the upcoming pitch. The point is if it's not a player or part of the coaching staff, then teams get upset.

 

Teams are pretty good at self policing, but there remain the unwritten rules. If you're up 10-0 in the 8th and try to steal..someone's gonna get hit. That's the way it is.

 

As far as fighting in hockey, the Blackhawks signed a couple of 'instigators' during the off season to protect Kane, Sharp, Towes, etc.. They are there to deliver the message of not roughing up some of the Hawks.

[MSG T]

Awe damn you done brought the hockey folk up in here

 

 

I love hockey, but the fighting is stupid.

[davearm2]

Um, they're stealing signs (allegedly).

 

Yes, allegedly. That's what makes the pitcher in question a lunatic. Before popping off about throwing at someone's [expletive] head, you should probably use some common sense.

But it's not "allegedly" in the White Sox' mind. They know what they saw and are 100% convinced it's happening.

 

This "lunatic" you speak of confronted the player verbally, and told him to cut it out or else.

 

What would have been the common-sense response?

 

To not say anything at all. It's beyond ridiculous that a Man In White could pick up the signals from 400 feet away.

So your position is that the entire scenario is inconceivable, and the pitcher is a lunatic for imagining things that couldn't possibly be real.

[davearm2]

Awe damn you done brought the hockey folk up in here

 

 

I love hockey, but the fighting is stupid.

The argument has been made that allowing fighting keeps hockey safer. Maybe you knew that.