Proof the Brewers are stealing signs, again

[Chuck Norris Fears Javy B]

Longtime reader, first time poster, but am compelled to act due to the lack of attention over the Brewers egregious sign-stealing in the Cubs series.

 

Consider the attached video of Caleb Durbin on 2b from game 2. I can confirm that the pitcher was not looking at him when he flashed this obvious sign regarding the forthcoming pitch to the batter. What happened on the next pitch? Home run, and from the hamstrung Jackson Chourio, no less. Of course, when you know what is coming you don't need as much from your legs.... The idea that Durbin was making a show of reducing his lead off of second is preposterous, as his effort is so half-hearted and the idea of stealing third in that situation such poor strategy.

 

And what happened before Vaughn's home run? Yes, I am referring to that same Vaughan who slugged a mere. .314 with the White Sox this year, but a stellar .493 after being traded to the Brewers. A Cub fan friend I know who attended the game said Contreras - the catcher, certainly no base-stealing threat - did something similarly unusual with his arms just prior to the successfully stolen homer. 

 

Frankly, what's easier to believe? That the Brewers have some sort of pixie dust that they sprinkle only at the most opportune times of the game, coming through with the timeliest of hits, and which has been commented upon by veteran analysts in wonder for months? That a lineup filled with rookies and never-weres have collectively found the ability to hit like the steeliest and savviest of veterans? Or that - like in 2019 - the Brewers are once again stealing signs?

 

It certainly would explain this year's power resurgence of Christian Yelich, no? It would certainly explain their history-tying record in the first inning of game 1, where they battered an all-star pitcher like - you guessed it - they knew what was coming. 

 

I demand the Commissioner immediately investigate these allegations now! So we can nab them in the act, as we have so obviously nabbed Durbin here, release the 2nd base camera footage! Begin with nothing else but the footage of Contreras before the Andrew "the Brewers cheating turned me into Arky" Vaughan" home run. The commissioner must not wait until such a shamelessly obvious example of cheating gets its inevitable, mocking, game-degrading admission a few years down the line.

 

The Brewers, we all know, are shameless. After all, their mascot is effectively a dealer of a legal drug. Could we imagine the "Miami Coke Dealers"? Of course not. The long winters, the obvious results of generations of inbreeding, the reduced mental capacity evinced by the overweight sufferers of chronic sleep apnea, the fact that Milwaukee is the most racially segregated city in our fine nation - Wisconsinites are shameless, and I simply won't argue facts any further. They were certain sign-stealers in 2019, and now they are obviously stealing again. 

 

There's many reasons to be ashamed if you are a Brewers fan. Here is another one. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

You're aware that it's 100% legal for a runner at second to steal and communicate signs, right?

If a runner at second is stealing signs, get better at using signs. That's the solution.

[gflore34]

Vaughn HR was on a meatball, terrible location by Shota, even Matt Shaw would have put that ball in play.  Lower and inside it's probably a strikeout.

[Chuck Norris Fears Javy B]

I am aware. What I am obviously implying is that Brewers baserunners are being given electronic assistance - most likely only in their home ballpark - which they then relay to the batter via methods such as Durbin's arrogantly obvious gestures. 

A pitcher and catcher must work assiduously to employ methods to disguise the coming pitch - of course. That is how the game is designed. But the Brewers long history of using extra-diamond means to acquire illegal advantages is why I must insist the 2nd base footage be released!

And unredacted, I feel I must add - for the McCarthyite Wisconsinites who may have followed the notoriously bad example of "Tailgunner Joe", and who now hazily discover that - as should have been expected - their mental skills have been reduced after attending so many tailgates. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 minutes ago, Chuck Norris Fears Javy B said:

I am aware. What I am obviously implying is that Brewers baserunners are being given electronic assistance - most likely only in their home ballpark - which they then relay to the batter via methods such as Durbin's arrogantly obvious gestures. 

And you have no actual evidence of this.

[Jason Ross]

2 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Vaughn HR was on a meatball, terrible location by Shota, even Matt Shaw would have put that ball in play.  Lower and inside it's probably a strikeout.

I'm going to disagree a little here. Vaughn's home run was on a sweeper in and off the plate. It wasn't a strike. It was middle-middle, but sweepers off the plate there are not 

Here is a spray chart of sweepers, in the same hitting zone from LHP to RHH since 2021. It's not pretty. Credit to Vaughn. 

 

[Brian707]

3 minutes ago, Chuck Norris Fears Javy B said:

I am aware. What I am obviously implying is that Brewers baserunners are being given electronic assistance - most likely only in their home ballpark - which they then relay to the batter via methods such as Durbin's arrogantly obvious gestures. 

A pitcher and catcher must work assiduously to employ methods to disguise the coming pitch - of course. That is how the game is designed. But the Brewers long history of using extra-diamond means to acquire illegal advantages is why I must insist the 2nd base footage be released!

And unredacted, I feel I must add - for the McCarthyite Wisconsinites who may have followed the notoriously bad example of "Tailgunner Joe", and who now hazily discover that - as should have been expected - their mental skills have been reduced after attending so many tailgates. 

[gflore34]

5 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

I'm going to disagree a little here. Vaughn's home run was on a sweeper in and off the plate. It wasn't a strike. It was middle-middle, but sweepers off the plate there are not 

Here is a spray chart of sweepers, in the same hitting zone from LHP to RHH since 2021. It's not pretty. Credit to Vaughn. 

 

My mistake, I thought it was middle-middle and a strike.  And I retract my statement about Shaw he would have struck out.

[Chuck Norris Fears Javy B]

I will neither confirm nor deny if I have actual evidence to anyone but the Commissioner himself or - preferably - an assembled Congress. 

I have listed a litany of the most questionable circumstantial evidences, as well as a video of basepath behavior of the most unexplainable sort and I have called upon the Commissioner to release the second base camera footage of one of the most notoriously shameless teams. I feel I have done a small service for Cubdom, at least on this day, and I hope my example encourages others to come forward, and with a reminder that bravery is not only attributed to the first man over the foxhole but to all soldiers in the fight for justice, honor and the preservation of the integrity our almost-sacred institutions. 

I do not expect that Wisconsinites will understand those last sentiments, but I do ask them to please stop casting insults towards my person, and also kindly ask the moderator to please punish those who have already committed offenses: This is a forum for discussion - not some fraternity tailgate in Madison at 7:15 am. 

[Jason Ross]

26 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

My mistake, I thought it was middle-middle and a strike.  And I retract my statement about Shaw he would have struck out.

You're good! I want to defend Shota where and when I can. His pitch to Contreras was much worse.

[Jason Ross]

17 minutes ago, Chuck Norris Fears Javy B said:

I will neither confirm nor deny if I have actual evidence to anyone but the Commissioner himself or - preferably - an assembled Congress. 

I have listed a litany of the most questionable circumstantial evidences, as well as a video of basepath behavior of the most unexplainable sort and I have called upon the Commissioner to release the second base camera footage of one of the most notoriously shameless teams. I feel I have done a small service for Cubdom, at least on this day, and I hope my example encourages others to come forward, and with a reminder that bravery is not only attributed to the first man over the foxhole but to all soldiers in the fight for justice, honor and the preservation of the integrity our almost-sacred institutions. 

I do not expect that Wisconsinites will understand those last sentiments, but I do ask them to please stop casting insults towards my person, and also kindly ask the moderator to please punish those who have already committed offenses: This is a forum for discussion - not some fraternity tailgate in Madison at 7:15 am. 

One of those people is he who owns the site, so I'm not sure much help will be coming to you in this regards, my friend. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, gflore34 said:

Vaughn HR was on a meatball, terrible location by Shota, even Matt Shaw would have put that ball in play.  Lower and inside it's probably a strikeout.

Vaughn's HR was off the plate inside. That is most definitely not what a meatball is.

[Chuck Norris Fears Javy B]

Mr. Ross, I was referring to the poster named Brian707, who - rather than refuting my obvious proofs - rudely questioned my mental stability. I feel confident in assuming that such a poorly-raised person could never succeed in enough in life to own such a fine website. 

I must add, Mr. Ross, that simply because Shota made a bad pitch - this is not some sort of proof that the batter was not previously tipped off via illegal means?

As you surely a regular and current practitioner of our nation's finest sporting art, as I am - although in far from professional circumstances, and with quite humbling results! - hitting a baseball is hard. A pitch down the middle is no certain home run - not in any league where the pitcher and batter are equally matched in talent. Simply watch any batting practice for proof of this fact. 

As you astutely and comprehensively detailed: Shota's pitch was not terrible, and Vaughn has historically had poor results with such a pitch. Thus, this is - any objective observer would agree - yet another circumstantial evidence which points towards the Brewers longtime practice of cheating.

I - and Cubs nation - send thanks! We will get to the bottom of this corrupt practice, assuredly! 

[Bertz]

 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Brewers had a higher wRC+ on the road than at home this year, so I don't see any macro trends that would point to them having a home field centric cheating scheme.

 

That said, in Boyd's inning in Game 1 in particular there were a couple pitches where something was not right.  Maybe he was tipping, and I definitely would believe that the Brewers are on the leading edge of trying to get and relay tells like that.  But in particular there was a 2-2 changeup that missed a little low, and the hitter ignored it out of his hand like he was doing a 3-0 auto-take.  So I'm at least a little bit raising an eyebrow, and part of me expect the Brewers offense to go to sleep the next 2 games.

[Jason Ross]

3 minutes ago, Chuck Norris Fears Javy B said:

Mr. Ross, I was referring to the poster named Brian707, who - rather than refuting my obvious proofs - rudely questioned my mental stability. I feel confident in assuming that such a poorly-raised person could never succeed in enough in life to own such a fine website. 

I must add, Mr. Ross, that simply because Shota made a bad pitch - this is not some sort of proof that the batter was not previously tipped off via illegal means?

As you surely a regular and current practitioner of our nation's finest sporting art, as I am - although in far from professional circumstances, and with quite humbling results! - hitting a baseball is hard. A pitch down the middle is no certain home run - not in any league where the pitcher and batter are equally matched in talent. Simply watch any batting practice for proof of this fact. 

As you astutely and comprehensively detailed: Shota's pitch was not terrible, and Vaughn has historically had poor results with such a pitch. Thus, this is - any objective observer would agree - yet another circumstantial evidence which points towards the Brewers longtime practice of cheating.

I - and Cubs nation - send thanks! We will get to the bottom of this corrupt practice, assuredly! 

Ah, my bad. I was going to say - Brock is kind of the dude here haha. Probably wouldn't get much help.

I'll admit, I don't think there's any cheating occurring. I think the Cubs are just not playing well. But hey, I'm here for the gumption.

[mul21]

14 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

The Brewers had a higher wRC+ on the road than at home this year, so I don't see any macro trends that would point to them having a home field centric cheating scheme.

 

That said, in Boyd's inning in Game 1 in particular there were a couple pitches where something was not right.  Maybe he was tipping, and I definitely would believe that the Brewers are on the leading edge of trying to get and relay tells like that.  But in particular there was a 2-2 changeup that missed a little low, and the hitter ignored it out of his hand like he was doing a 3-0 auto-take.  So I'm at least a little bit raising an eyebrow, and part of me expect the Brewers offense to go to sleep the next 2 games.

Yeah, I have no hard evidence but it's just too much of a coincidence and when you couple that with the accusations against Yelich from his MVPish years, there's enough circumstantial evidence to think something untoward may be going on.  

[Brian707]

27 minutes ago, Chuck Norris Fears Javy B said:

Mr. Ross, I was referring to the poster named Brian707, who - rather than refuting my obvious proofs - rudely questioned my mental stability.

Or for horsefeathers sake

 

Edited October 8, 2025 by Brian707

[ILMindState]

I'm sure they are, but we literally employ the same manager they had during Yelich's MVP season. We should either be better at preventing it from happening or be doing it to them as well.

[sneakypower]

i mean it's already known that they're very good at detecting pitch tipping so why wouldn't they be adept at sign stealing

When asked which teams excel at this art form, players pointed to the clubs with both the deepest pockets and the keenest eyes: The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies were all mentioned, as were the Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers.

[Andy]

1 hour ago, Chuck Norris Fears Javy B said:

I will neither confirm nor deny if I have actual evidence to anyone but the Commissioner himself or - preferably - an assembled Congress. 

I have listed a litany of the most questionable circumstantial evidences, as well as a video of basepath behavior of the most unexplainable sort and I have called upon the Commissioner to release the second base camera footage of one of the most notoriously shameless teams. I feel I have done a small service for Cubdom, at least on this day, and I hope my example encourages others to come forward, and with a reminder that bravery is not only attributed to the first man over the foxhole but to all soldiers in the fight for justice, honor and the preservation of the integrity our almost-sacred institutions. 

Do you think you're talking to some higher authority than a forum of unconnected baseball fans?

[Chuck Norris Fears Javy B]

Voila, Mul21 - I salute your astuteness. A history of cheating + unexplainably and historically good results + dubious behavior on the base paths? If the Brewers are offended by our suspicions - well, they have only themselves to blame: future behavior can be anticipated by past behavior, and their past behavior has been to denigrate the game we necessarily hold to precious standards. 

 

As to the poster, Bertz, who posted not just rude but an even vulgar response (and on a website frequented by children!): I would never stoop to your level. In fact, I extend my sympathy to you and all those adults who wrestle with the complications of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome - I assume you are one of those rare Cub fans who hail from a city in Wisconsin?

Assuming that is the case, the onus would be on you to prove that you are not from one of our great nation's most alcoholic cities... but you could not, as 10 out of country's 20 most alcoholic cities are from Wisconsin, which is to say that all of Wisconsin's cities are a drain on the spirit and vitality of this country. If you are from a village in Wisconsin - assuming alcoholism is not an assumption but a repeatable fact. I add this message of tolerance and forbearance - things never practiced in Wisconsin! - for your pitiable plight, and that of those children unlucky enough to be born in Wisconsin, so that other pro-Brewers posters may restrain themselves (for once) from messages of benighted intellect on the level of cow manure.  

[squally1313]

I just spent 15 unsuccessful minutes looking for the video I saw while half-asleep doom scrolling last night, but there was a decent breakdown about Contreras pretty egregiously leaning to his left while leading off on second to get a look at Shota's grip in his glove right before the home run. Again, not illegal, do better, but I think the assorted internet chatter isn't some electronic wire conspiracy, more just the type of behavior that (back in the day) would get a pitch thrown behind you. Coming from policing-the-bat-flips Contreras is especially rich, but any anger I have towards it is mostly just because we're down 2-0. 

[Jason Ross]

35 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

I just spent 15 unsuccessful minutes looking for the video I saw while half-asleep doom scrolling last night, but there was a decent breakdown about Contreras pretty egregiously leaning to his left while leading off on second to get a look at Shota's grip in his glove right before the home run. Again, not illegal, do better, but I think the assorted internet chatter isn't some electronic wire conspiracy, more just the type of behavior that (back in the day) would get a pitch thrown behind you. Coming from policing-the-bat-flips Contreras is especially rich, but any anger I have towards it is mostly just because we're down 2-0. 

Some of this would check out; the pitch Vaughn hit has terrible data over the last four years. It is not a pitch hitters do well on (location, pitch, handedness...). I found a single instance of a RHH hitting a HR on a LHH sweeper in that spot. 

I still don't think they're cheating illegally. Them gaining that advantage? Yeah I'd buy that. 

[imb]

i have information that will lead to the arrest of jackson chourio