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Thread: Red Sox Sign Stealing

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    Default Red Sox Sign Stealing

    So there's a report by MLB that the Red Sox used Apple Watches to steal signs from the Yankees and other teams.

    Very limited information about this from the Score at this point, so I'm not sure if it's valid or how official the report is, but my main question is:

    Does anyone know if this is illegal? Or just frowned upon? Is there a course of action for MLB to take in punishing them? And would it really be anything substantial? Any thoughts?

    EDIT:
    ESPN link below. I get the impression that it is relatively widespread in some form or another.
    http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2...w-york-yankees

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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    1) are apple watches that much more sophisticated that they can see things that the human eye cannot?

    2) how are apple watches able to decipher the signs and know what it means. Teams are always changing their signs every so often to prevent people from catching on. Are the watches more sophisticated?

    In regards to your questions I would say it is not legal to use devices that help in any way, shape or form.

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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    Another New England cheating team. Shocking. LOL!

    A lot of teams try and do it. Some get away with it, some get caught.
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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    Quote Originally Posted by eyemissgilmour View Post
    IF teams are stealing signs, then the defending team needs to come up with better signs. Simple as that.
    ^^ Absolutely

    I remember being 12 and trying to steal signs in minor ball. I don't think we ever managed to do it successfully but we still tried. It is part of the game. The game within the game.
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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    A New England sports team is winning games so they must cheating.


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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    The issue wasn’t the stealing of signs, it’s how they did it. Technology isn’t allowed for this stuff. They would watch replays on their watches and see that a sign with 2 was a slider lets say. It wasn’t that the players were figuring it out, they used replay.

    Also, they were caught earlier in the yr I think for using a laser pointer to position their OF mid game, which again, is a no-no (technology).

    Stealing signs by players mid game is great, but using technology when the rule is to not is giving an unfair advantage to the cheating team. If technology was allowed, I’d say good on Boston, but it’s illegal and the teams they were facing had a disadvantage because of this.

    The league hates adopting technology, but to increase game pace they should allow pitchers/catchers/managers/CF to have like a headset kinda like QBs. No more ridiculous signs, and no more “sign stealing”.

    But stealing signs via electronic devices (or with any other help like binoculars) is illegal. And BS committed an illegal act. The Jays were accused of doing this with “The Man in White”. He used binoculars to peak at what the signs were, then would radio them into the dugout.

    EDIT: What the Jays were accused of doing:http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_...-rogers-centre Technology was involved, but nothing was admitted i think
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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    Quote Originally Posted by PenguinHunter View Post
    1) are apple watches that much more sophisticated that they can see things that the human eye cannot?

    2) how are apple watches able to decipher the signs and know what it means. Teams are always changing their signs every so often to prevent people from catching on. Are the watches more sophisticated?

    In regards to your questions I would say it is not legal to use devices that help in any way, shape or form.
    As I understand the allegations:The watch was not used for the "stealing" but for the communication. I.e. The Red Sox had video techs watching replays and decoding the signs. With no runners on this is fairly straight forward 1 = fastball, 2 = curve etc. With runners on they would break down the series of signs and figure out the pitch. Again the watch wasn't being used to steal signs the techs were decoding the signs and determining the next pitch. Once they knew what pitch was called the tech would send that info to the assistant trainer in the Red Sox dugout who would somehow signal the batter the next pitch.

    MLB has rules against using technology to steal signs. There's nothing wrong with a runner on 2nd looking in and relaying information to the batter, that's as old as baseball itself but when the team is using video review to break code and then is relaying the information electronically the league has an issue.

    As far as what MLB will do if they confirm there was a violation that's anyone's guess. First, they'll likely put the Red Sox on notice to stop it and could possibly levy a fine and dock a draft pick or two.
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    Default Re: Red Sox Sign Stealing

    Quote Originally Posted by eyemissgilmour View Post
    IF teams are stealing signs, then the defending team needs to come up with better signs. Simple as that.
    They just need to pretend it's opposite day.
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