Sign Stealing: Gamesmanship or Cheating?

[crownsy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhWYrmcSDAU&feature=player_embedded


So, i'll put myself out their, i find nothing wrong with what mauer is doing. To me, that's on the catcher to figure out (which to be fair, the tigers catcher does)

Wondering what the general perception of this activity is though, among my fellow sports fans, anything wrong with giving your hitter the heads up?

[Donoghus]

It's gamesmanship.  Its been going on since baseball's inception.

I've always considered it part of the game.  Heck, we used to try and figure out the 3rd base coach's signals in little league. 

You're just trying to gain a little competitive advantage.  It probably could be construed as cheating but the fact its been going on so long and seems to be acceptable makes it hard to get fired up about, IMO.

[nickagneta]

It's part of the game. Always has been, always will be.

[Rondo2287]

I voted its up to the players.  I dont personally have a problem with it, but if you as a player have a problem with it.  Drill the guy the next time hes up. 

[yall hate]

i'm ok with it.  Every team does it, and it is on the pitcher and catcher to deal with it. 

I do have a problem when some teams use camera's placed at various parts of the stadium to help with it (there have been accusations about this...)

[Fan from VT]

If it's against the rules it's cheating. I don't know what the rules say. I am 100% against unwritten rules. Why it's okay to scuff a ball, or why spitballers are fondly remembered for avoiding detection but steroid users are condemned...i don't like the blurry distinction, it smacks of favoritism and non-objectivity.

[LarBrd33]

baseball bores the crap out of me, but I don't think there is anything wrong with this.  I don't follow the sport at all, but logically it seems the catcher could probably figure it out, signal the pitcher in some other way and use it to their advantage... then the hitter is expecting a curve, but gets a fast ball instead. 

[Fafnir]

i'm ok with it.  Every team does it, and it is on the pitcher and catcher to deal with it. 

I do have a problem when some teams use camera's placed at various parts of the stadium to help with it (there have been accusations about this...)

As long as they're not using camera's and other support staff to try and do it I'm fine with it. If you get a player on second he should be trying to help out!

[the_Bird]

i'm ok with it.  Every team does it, and it is on the pitcher and catcher to deal with it. 

I do have a problem when some teams use camera's placed at various parts of the stadium to help with it (there have been accusations about this...)

As long as they're not using camera's and other support staff to try and do it I'm fine with it. If you get a player on second he should be trying to help out!

+1.  If there's someone on second, maybe your signs shouldn't be "1 for a fastball, 2 for a curve."  Guy expects a curve, gets an inside fastball, that'll learn him.  As long as there's no extra equipment being used, no cameras or guys behind centerfield with binoculars, it's all good.