Clever enough to figure out the signs from second base? Cool. Using electronic devices to steal signs? No, no, no!
Whether you agree with the rule or not, MLB prohibits teams from using electronic devices to steal catchers' signs. The Athletic published a scathing article on Tuesday, alleging that the Astros illegally stole signs in 2017, the year they won the World Series.
There are four people who worked for the Astros, including pitcher Mike Fiers, who spilled the beans on Houston cheating. Former White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar also shared a story of catching the Astros using their system to steal signs against him in a game late in the 2017 season.
There's video to prove it.
But we'd be naive to think that the Astros are the only team to break the rules to get an advantage over their opponents and that brings us to more accusations.
The Rangers and Brewers allegedly used similar tactics as the Astros, illegally stealing signs.
Now is a good time to go over Jose Quintana's 2019 struggles in Milwaukee, but first let's see his numbers against the Brewers in previous seasons.
2017 vs. Brewers at Miller Park
15 IP, 16 K, 4 BB, 0 HR, 7 H, 1.20 ERA
2018 vs. Brewers at Wrigley Field
23.2 IP, 23 K, 4 BB, 3 HR, 17 H, 2.28 ERA
2018 vs. Brewers at Miller Park.
18.2 IP, 14 K, 6 BB, 2 HR, 12 H, 1.93 ERA
Quintana dominated the Brewers since the Cubs traded for him in 2017, and even in 2019, he was good against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field.
2019 vs. Brewers at Wrigley Field
18.1 IP, 14 K, 5 BB, 2 HR, 15 H, 2.45 ERA
But that wasn't the case when Quintana faced the Brewers in Milwaukee this past season.
2019 vs. Brewers at Miller Park
12.2 IP, 11 K, 7 BB, 5 HR, 17 H, 10.66 ERA
And now the Brewers are being accused of illegally stealing signs? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
I wonder where the Brewers could have gotten this idea from...
Time will tell if MLB actually punishes teams for sign stealing after the league concludes its investigation.
