- Posts: 339
- Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:04 am
Before we continue to clutch our pearls, sign stealing has always been part of the game. Yes, I understand this was a 21st century scheme.
I don't agree that it's nearly impossible to mitigate. Difficult, sure. But it has been going on long before cameras, and not just in baseball. The Nationals cracked the code--they shut down that offense. On a small scale, we had rolling signs in my younger days. Switched the shift every inning. Like manual encryption.
On the other hand, it is indeed IMPOSSIBLE to defend against intentional game-throwing. That is a lot different than advanced sign stealing.
I am not saying the punishment couldn't/shouldn't be more extreme, but the MLBPA would have a say...it would get ugly...and baseball is a business. If I were a competing manager/GM, I would be working on measures to go on offense against such a scheme. I would not have my grown men who play a game for $xM per year, to bellyache to me about "fairness." I'd skin em if I heard that.