Paranoia about sign stealing was more rampant than ever during the MLB playoffs this year, and the league is trying to find ways to cut down on that heading into 2019.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Major League Baseball is in the process of trying to implement rules and regulations that would make it more difficult for teams to use technology to steal signs.
Source: #MLB considering multiple avenues to discourage technology-aided pitch sign stealing, including limitations on club video room access to real-time center-field camera feeds. League is still gathering information/input but teams are supportive of the concept. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 6, 2018
While the concept of stealing signs sounds illegal, there’s nothing wrong with a runner on second picking up signals and relaying them to a hitter. That has been going on for years, and it’s on the pitcher and catcher to prevent it from happening.
However, technological advances have led to accusations that teams are using video feeds in the clubhouse during games to help them decode an opponent’s signs. The Brewers believed they caught the Dodgers doing just that during the NLCS, and the Red Sox were bagged using a smart watch to help them steal signs last year.
Espionage is a part of baseball, and we saw the Astros try some shady antics that didn’t involve the use of technology during the playoffs this year. Still, limiting the avenues for teams to use cameras and video feeds is something that you can understand MLB wanting to look into.
