Apple Watch Cheaters in Major League Baseball

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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The New York Times is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have been using Apple watches to steal signals used by the Yankees while on the field. Certainly that picture of Tim Cook in a Red Sox jersey makes the story a bit more fun.

Investigators for Major League Baseball have determined that the Boston Red Sox, who are in first place in the American League East and likely headed to the playoffs, executed a scheme to illicitly steal hand signals from opponents’ catchers in games against the second-place Yankees and other teams, according to several people briefed on the matter.

The video provided to the commissioner’s office by the Yankees was captured during the first two games of the series and included at least three clips. In the clips, the team’s assistant athletic trainer, Jon Jochim, is seen looking at his Apple Watch and then passing information to outfielder Brock Holt and second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who was injured at the time but in uniform. In one instance, Pedroia is then seen passing the information to Young.
 
I thought stealing signals was fine in MLB. Catchers always mix up the signals to make it harder for the other teams.
 
Ocellaris said:
I thought stealing signals was fine in MLB. Catchers always mix up the signals to make it harder for the other teams.
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Stealing signals in baseball isn't fine, but it's very common. It's one of those things everyone knows occurs, and every team does it, but the real issue is getting caught. The Red Sox got caught. Most likely it will be a couple million dollar fine and the loss of a couple draft picks, which is on par of other teams which have been caught stealing signs. But unlike other sports, a high draft pick means next to nothing in MLB.
 
So wait, they are looking at the hand signals that the catcher is making and asking "Hey Siri, what's coming up?" and then DING-DING....<robotic human voice> Let Me Show You What I have On Sign Language..." or someshit?
 
Ocellaris said:
I thought stealing signals was fine in MLB. Catchers always mix up the signals to make it harder for the other teams.
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Stealing signals the old-fashioned way is allowed(though considered by many to be a dick move), but using electronic devices to aid you isn't, I believe.
 
HeadRusch said:
So wait, they are looking at the hand signals that the catcher is making and asking "Hey Siri, what's coming up?" and then DING-DING....<robotic human voice> Let Me Show You What I have On Sign Language..." or someshit?
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I believe the issue is they're using the electronic devices to relay the info from the video room to the dugout.
 
Since when was figuring out baseball signals hard? I remember playing a drinking game where everyone who guessed the wrong pitch for their team had to pull on their beer. After a few innings it wasn't all that hard unless they had a smart catcher/pitcher team, and even then it only took a batter or two each inning. Made watching baseball on TV fun, for a while.

If they were really smart, they would have pitch rotations tailored for each batter (based on success vs various pitches) and forgo the signals all together.
 
Now, I guess the real question I have here is, this comes from the New York Times, which has never really been [H]'s newspaper of choice. And it was reported fairly quickly after the article appeared (much faster than normal). Either someone really hates the Red Sox, or really hates Apple Watches. So, which is it?:D
 
Nytegard said:
Now, I guess the real question I have here is, this comes from the New York Times, which has never really been [H]'s newspaper of choice. And it was reported fairly quickly after the article appeared (much faster than normal). Either someone really hates the Red Sox, or really hates Apple Watches. So, which is it?:D
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I was wondering too. If he watched the video captured from a camera sent to his Samsung phone, that would be OK right? /s
 
I agree using technology during the game is not fine, but when teams complain about stealing signs without use of technology is idiotic. From the sounds of it, it seems like a very long weird game of telephone. You have to be accurate and quick to relay it through like 3 different people.

I would love it if the batting team has a person on second base, they start yelling at their teammate at bat to say "Hey, they are going to pitch a fastball down and away." Another thing I think teams should do is having the pitcher and catcher try to coordinate pitches before batter steps into batter's box. That way, as soon as they see the batter step into the box and the batter doesn't give the 'time' hand signal, pitch as soon as possible to catch batter off-guard. Same thing when they put the batter's arm is up, as soon as the 'timeout' arm is down, pitch and try to catch them offguard.
 
Crimson said:
Typical of a New England team be it baseball or football. Speaking of football, I am sure the Patriots cheated against the Eagles during our Superbowl back in the day.
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You mean the one where your QB puked On the field? :p
 
I'm not sure they did anything wrong....welcome to the future...donyou! :D do what it takes to win...who wouldnt?
 
If anyone posting condemning Boston thinks that every other team in MLB is NOT doing something like this, well, I'll have you sell ice for me in Alaska this Winter.

So they used a fucking watch. Fine them, move on. They were stupid and got caught which is about all that needs to be said. Stealing signs is a part of the game. Don't want your signs stolen? Change them often or disguise them better. My kid started getting into stealing signs on his own (I did not even know about it for awhile, he thought I would be mad) when he was about 10. Typically, he has at least a couple signs down by the end of the game from the other team. It is part of baseball.
 
doz said:
If anyone posting condemning Boston thinks that every other team in MLB is NOT doing something like this, well, I'll have you sell ice for me in Alaska this Winter.

So they used a fucking watch. Fine them, move on. They were stupid and got caught which is about all that needs to be said. Stealing signs is a part of the game. Don't want your signs stolen? Change them often or disguise them better. My kid started getting into stealing signs on his own (I did not even know about it for awhile, he thought I would be mad) when he was about 10. Typically, he has at least a couple signs down by the end of the game from the other team. It is part of baseball.
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Stealing signs when on second base and relaying them back with your own signs is fair game and fair to both teams as it falls into strategy (although purists still whine)... using cameras and texts is not. Only an unbearable boston sports fan would think otherwise... proud of cheating tradition smh
 
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haste. said:
Stealing signs when on second base and relaying them back with your own signs is fair game and fair to both teams as it falls into strategy (although purists still whine)... using cameras and texts is not. Only an unbearable boston sports fan would think otherwise... proud of cheating tradition smh
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Not a Boston fan and even said in my post to fine them and move on. They got caught. They are NOT the only ones using electronics to relay information, they were just the dumbasses who got caught doing it.
 
dewbak75 said:
I believe the issue is they're using the electronic devices to relay the info from the video room to the dugout.
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Ahhhhhh, that whole "on the benches versus on the field" stuff...there's no earpieces in baseball, that kinda thing....gotcha.
 
doz said:
If anyone posting condemning Boston thinks that every other team in MLB is NOT doing something like this, well, I'll have you sell ice for me in Alaska this Winter.

So they used a fucking watch. Fine them, move on. They were stupid and got caught which is about all that needs to be said. Stealing signs is a part of the game. Don't want your signs stolen? Change them often or disguise them better. My kid started getting into stealing signs on his own (I did not even know about it for awhile, he thought I would be mad) when he was about 10. Typically, he has at least a couple signs down by the end of the game from the other team. It is part of baseball.
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stfu d0000sh
 
Hey now, lets be truthful. Nobody's been busted for under inflating any bats. . .yet!
 
doz said:
Not a Boston fan and even said in my post to fine them and move on. They got caught. They are NOT the only ones using electronics to relay information, they were just the dumbasses who got caught doing it.
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Seems like a trend over there in NE with the taping but no one else is getting "caught". Maybe a few people still have integrity in the world and don't live by the mantra if you ain't cheating you ain't trying... they need to do more than just fine them to prove a point.
 
Nytegard said:
Stealing signals in baseball isn't fine, but it's very common. It's one of those things everyone knows occurs, and every team does it, but the real issue is getting caught. The Red Sox got caught. Most likely it will be a couple million dollar fine and the loss of a couple draft picks, which is on par of other teams which have been caught stealing signs. But unlike other sports, a high draft pick means next to nothing in MLB.
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Stealing signals is ok; there is no rule against it. That's why hand signals were made in the first place, to confuse the opposite team and hide the intended signals in a bunch of garbage.

However there is a rule that says you can't use electronic devices to do it, which is the story here.
 
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