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Stealing Signs

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by CalThunder » Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:19 am

Hacker wrote:High School coach tells his team that if an opposing base runner steals a pitch location and relays it to the batter, he's going to have his pitcher, when the ball is thrown back to her, turn and fire the ball at that base runner, hopefully pegging her for her indiscretion.
Is stealing pitches/locations considered just part of the game? Is the reaction of throwing the ball at the pitch stealer just part of the game? Or is it bush league/poor sportsmanship? And, if they're stealing your signs/locations, isn't this an indication that your signs stink and need to be improved?

Stealing signs is part of the game and retaliation is as well, however, retaliation should be discreet. You can't just peg someone. Hit her in the rib cage with a pitch.
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by jonriv » Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:42 am

CalThunder wrote:
Hacker wrote:High School coach tells his team that if an opposing base runner steals a pitch location and relays it to the batter, he's going to have his pitcher, when the ball is thrown back to her, turn and fire the ball at that base runner, hopefully pegging her for her indiscretion.
Is stealing pitches/locations considered just part of the game? Is the reaction of throwing the ball at the pitch stealer just part of the game? Or is it bush league/poor sportsmanship? And, if they're stealing your signs/locations, isn't this an indication that your signs stink and need to be improved?

Stealing signs is part of the game and retaliation is as well, however, retaliation should be discreet. You can't just peg someone. Hit her in the rib cage with a pitch.



Retaliation is NOT part of the game. It is somewhat tolerated in the baseball world, in the softball world-especially when it comes to school based sports- it is not nor should it be tolerated. That coach should if caught should be thrown out of the game and if the practice is continued- banned,
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by eclipse09 » Fri Mar 27, 2015 11:17 am

CalThunder wrote:
Hacker wrote:High School coach tells his team that if an opposing base runner steals a pitch location and relays it to the batter, he's going to have his pitcher, when the ball is thrown back to her, turn and fire the ball at that base runner, hopefully pegging her for her indiscretion.
Is stealing pitches/locations considered just part of the game? Is the reaction of throwing the ball at the pitch stealer just part of the game? Or is it bush league/poor sportsmanship? And, if they're stealing your signs/locations, isn't this an indication that your signs stink and need to be improved?

Stealing signs is part of the game and retaliation is as well, however, retaliation should be discreet. You can't just peg someone. Hit her in the rib cage with a pitch.


Hey CT, are you also saying retaliating is ok? What is next? Retaliating against umps if they squeeze your pitcher? I think time spent teaching discretion should be spent mixing up signs.
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by Sam » Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:00 pm

I agree with CT if it is regards to a coach stealing signs and being obvious about relaying pitches. The players will take care of themselves and do what they believe needs to be done. I coached college girls who would hit opponents simply for looking at them wrong.

The coach has no business relaying pitches based upon grips....that isn't correctable by changing signs. If he/she chooses to do that, their players are placed in peril because the pitcher has no other choice than to send a message that it needs to stop.
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by jtat32 » Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:28 pm

So, what are the best ways to disguise:

- Pitch/location signs from coach to catcher?

- Pitch/location signs from catcher to pitcher?

And, what is the best way for catcher and pitcher to communicate when they are trying to fool runner on second who is trying to signal in location?
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by Sam » Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:45 pm

jtat32 wrote:So, what are the best ways to disguise:

- Pitch/location signs from coach to catcher?

- Pitch/location signs from catcher to pitcher?

And, what is the best way for catcher and pitcher to communicate when they are trying to fool runner on second who is trying to signal in location?



Make your signs so complicated that the Pitcher nor the catcher has a clue as to what is coming.....
Run your mouth when I'm not around
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You cry to weak friends that sympathize
- Pantera, Walk
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by PDad » Fri Mar 27, 2015 2:21 pm

jtat32 wrote:So, what are the best ways to disguise:

- Pitch/location signs from coach to catcher?

- Pitch/location signs from catcher to pitcher?

And, what is the best way for catcher and pitcher to communicate when they are trying to fool runner on second who is trying to signal in location?

Signs from catcher to pitcher aren't usually an issue as long as the catcher isn't making them visible to people behind her or to the side. Having the catcher call pitches avoids the coach-to-catcher signs. More and more teams are using a wristband system for signs from a coach because it's easily understood by your players and nearly impossible to crack if done correctly.

Catchers can usually avoid location issues by not setting up early.
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by PDad » Fri Mar 27, 2015 2:26 pm

IMO, retaliating for stealing signs/locations is a neanderthal response by people not smart enough to play/coach properly. You should thank them for being obvious about it so you fix the real problem. The better teams won't let on they're stealing signs.

Pitchers need to be doing everything possible to conceal their grips and also not tip their pitches before anyone thinks about retaliating.
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by jonriv » Fri Mar 27, 2015 2:34 pm

PDad wrote:IMO, retaliating for stealing signs/locations is a neanderthal response by people not smart enough to play/coach properly. You should thank them for being obvious about it so you fix the real problem. The better teams won't let on they're stealing signs.

Pitchers need to be doing everything possible to conceal their grips and also not tip their pitches before anyone thinks about retaliating.



Perfect response!!!!!
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by Sam » Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:15 pm

jonriv wrote:
PDad wrote:IMO, retaliating for stealing signs/locations is a neanderthal response by people not smart enough to play/coach properly. You should thank them for being obvious about it so you fix the real problem. The better teams won't let on they're stealing signs.

Pitchers need to be doing everything possible to conceal their grips and also not tip their pitches before anyone thinks about retaliating.


E
Perfect response!!!!!


Not really. The pitcher needs to hide their grips brom the BATTER. The 3B coach gets to see a RH pitcher take the ball out of the glove and make a 540 degree revolution with the pitch, allowing some coaches to send verbal signals to the batter. It's clearly a bullshit move by the coach taking advantage of a situation that can't be controlled by the pitcher. The 1B coach is normally not savvy enough to do the same with LH pitchers. I have no issues with a pitcher sending the opponent a message when this is happening.
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