Hat-tip to fischean who found this posted on Deadspin. Here's the video itself: Joe Mauer is tipping pitches quite blatantly. Of course there's nothing unusual about this and it happens all the time, but it will be interesting to see if the mainstream media picks this up and runs with it. Watch for the New York media specifically, to see if they try to use it as a reason to NOT vote for Joe as the AL MVP. Because that's the exact kind of thing they'd desperately latch onto.
about 1 month ago
Jesse
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part of the game
every team does this, that’s why you see catchers going to the mound and changing the set of signs they are going to use. I don’t think it is a character issue at all.
by WITwinsfan on Oct 1, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd say that makes him even MORE of an MVP.
I dont know how catchers keep it all straight anyway, and then to have the presence of mind to be a baserunner as well and tipping pitches… good on him. If Laird was worried about it, he needs to have more complicated signs.
I agree, fair game. He’s showing signals between his legs after all.
by Neil on Oct 1, 2009 7:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nose=FB, ear=curve
And he didn’t do it on every pitch, so it was not obvious to the Tigers. But he puts a lot of effort into trying to prevent this from other teams, so he’s a master at doing it himself. I agree with the others, every team does this. If he didn’t do it, I’d be upset.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Oct 1, 2009 8:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
Nice move by Mauer.
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 1, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and it's not cheating
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Oct 1, 2009 8:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This ^
Really, the Tigers fan who posted this on YouTube (I thought it was pretty obvious it was a bitter Tiger fan) needs to save their ire for something that isn’t simply common practice. Are they also going to complain when Joe picks up the third baseman’s steal sign?
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Oct 1, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, there's nothing in the rule book prohibiting sign stealing
It’s one of the fun parts of the game, to out think the opponent, or to confuse the enemy, as they used to say when they hoisted strange colors during sea battles.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Oct 1, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually doubt its a bitter Tigers fan
It was just analysis, not demonstrative condemning of the practice. In fact at the end of the video, he actually calls Mauer the MVP.. though it’s hard to tell “snarky” from nonverbal typing.
by Neil on Oct 1, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All Tigers fans know Mauer is the MVP
But the video seemed to be recorded on a television getting the Twins broadcast. Which obviously doesn’t rule out a Tigers fan, but who knows.
by rcpratt on Oct 1, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm a Tigers fan
and I think Mauer is the MVP. Over at BYB most of us are rooting for him, knowing full well they’ll probably give it to Jeter (Power of the Pinstripes, and all)
I love the video, though. It’s all part of the game. Though Joe needs to be less obvious!!
by NCDee on Oct 1, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good point.
do you think it pains him to keep a secret?
Let us all hope that the Twins whoop up on your Tigers today and keep the competition going. If you retain the lead, the ‘playoff-like’ atmosphere will help your younger players to prepare for Yankee Stadium.
by montanatwinsfan on Oct 1, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd rather have Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello get more rest.
But good luck, all the same. Kind of ;)
by rcpratt on Oct 1, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm in NY
And I got the Twins broadcast via MLB Network. It could be from anywhere… Anywhere but Detroit, I guess.
by Neil on Oct 1, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like I said, that obviously doesn’t prove anything. Anyways, doesn’t really matter.
by rcpratt on Oct 1, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right.
And I don’t think intelligent baseball fans are going to five two shits that Mauer was relaying signals, other than to be amused that he was so obvious about it.
by Jesse on Oct 1, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Channeling your inner 70's disco/alternative rock there by inadvertantly referencing Chicago?
“Twenty five two shits to fou-ou-or!”
by montanatwinsfan on Oct 1, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just assumed, I guess
As I mentioned below, when the video was originally posted (and when I commented), it was called “Tipping Pitches (Cheating)” (emphasis mine). I figured only Tigers fans looking for a reason to get mad at the Twins would get that mad about it.
Apologies to Tigers fans for my attempt to project bitterness on them.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Oct 1, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We used to do this in high school
If the cather-pitcher was stupid enough to show us the signs, we’d figure out a signal in the dugout as a team and us it the next time we were up to bat. This isn’t any different than football teams trying to figure out offensive signals from the other team during the game. It’s called capitalizing on an opportunity. Every team does it; or would, if given the opportunity.
by TC Mooch on Oct 1, 2009 8:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really don't think it's cheating
and I think it should be obvious that a lot of players do it. Just because Joe was a bit more blatant about it doesn’t mean much.
NY media picking up on this could be bad, but I’m sure you could go back and find Tex, Jeter, A-Rod, et al, doing something quite similar.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 1, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mauer is so blatant
because he is lazy.
Morneau is even worse, he would probably just shout out what the pitch is going to be
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Oct 1, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
double decker sarcasm? we've reached new heights.
the idea of Morneau just yelling what the pitch is going to be is actually kind of funny…those Canadians, so little tact.
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 1, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Morneau:
“Slider”
“Aw shucks I meant Fastball”
“Damn”
by Neil on Oct 1, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're doing it wrong.
“Slider, eh!”
“Aw, shucks, eh…I meant fastball!”
“Damn, eh.”
by Jesse on Oct 1, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He might be more subtle
Fastball = “Slapshot, eh”
Curveball = “Wrister eh?”
Change-up = “Backhand eh?”
Slider = “Snapshot eh?”
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Oct 1, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting...
Did the title of the video change? I could’ve sworn that when I first saw it this morning, it said “Joe Mauer Tipping Pitches (Cheating)”, and now it says “Joe Mauer Stealing Signs (Not Cheating)”.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Oct 1, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think some people in the youtube comments were getting on the poster about how tipping pitches isn’t cheating, and he changed it.
by rcpratt on Oct 1, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, when I posted it last night
it definitely said he was “cheating”. Guess someone realized their error. :)
"Baseball doesn't owe me a thing. I owe my whole life to baseball." -Kirby Puckett
by fischean on Oct 1, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blogger backlash...
Bloggers are universally taking Mauer’s side on this one…
Including at least one in Detroit:
http://detroit4lyfe.com/articles/detroit-tigers/joe-mauer-tipping-pitches.html
That’s why catchers have those crazy signs with a runner on 2nd… they know he can see.
by DavidRF on Oct 1, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think its awesome to see it in action, as a fan I’ve always wondered what it looks like. I love it Mauer!! You gotta make it happen vs. Verlander.
by sox1844 on Oct 1, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Funny quote from Morneau
Justin Morneau, Mauer’s injured teammate, called the charges that Mauer had stolen signs "a joke" and "pretty funny."
"I’ve hit behind Joe for five years and I’ve never gotten a sign from him yet," Morneau told reporters. "I’m still waiting."
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/joe-mauer-and-tipping-pitches/
by DavidRF on Oct 1, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I looked at that video
I see no signs of tipped pitches. Mauer touches himself all over, all the time, at every base. And the Tigers were using a series of signals.
Anyone can construct a scenario where they think they see something happening that is just a series of personal tics.
The whole reason every team in baseball uses different signs with a runner on second is to prevent sign stealing. Just because the guy puts up suggesitve assertions on the YouTube clip does not make it true.
That said, if Mauer were stealing signs and relaying them, I would think that a valid part of the game. I just don’t believe this clip shows that.
by Old Twins Cap on Oct 1, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see a parody of this using video of Scott Ulger
The CC could read:
When he swipes his chest, that means “new set of signs”
Now look at him peer into the dugout and watch Gardenhire touch his cap and his chin
Now watch Ulger touch is forearm, his belt, his opposite shoulder and his nose…..
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Oct 1, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
2nd day in a row that the Twins make the national media
about something other than what happened in the box score!
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-twins100109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
by caluofmn on Oct 2, 2009 6:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I watched for this during last nights game 10/2
He was touching his earhole and his face and acting fidgety during the same pitch. I can’t say if he was tipping pitches or just amped up to possibly score a run.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is!" -John "Bluto" Blutarsky
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Oct 3, 2009 1:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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