9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

[Kruza]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Interesting video posted last night of Joe Mauer stealing signs while on second base helping teammate Jason Kubel at the plate against Justin Verlander. Not surprised that this occured right around the time the Twins suddenly got a rally going on Verlander midway through the 5th inning after struggling mightily against him early on. Gerald Laird has to notice this stuff going on quicker whenever a baserunner from the opposing team reaches second base.

Joe Mauer Stealing Signs

Kruza

[Psyblast]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

LOL "Stealing Signs (Not Cheating)".

[Marino]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

LOL "Stealing Signs (Not Cheating)".

It's only cheating if you get caught. :wink:

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

With the loss last night the Orioles clinched at least the #3 pick in the draft

[Chaos81]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

I don't think I'm changing the channel for another 9 hours or so. MLB Network rocks.

[Sandman42]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Not exactly surprising. Runners at 2nd base stealing signs happens a lot. That's why pitchers and catchers switch up signs, especially with a runner on 2nd.

Imagine the field day the media would have with this if it was Arod instead of Mauer.

[Kruza]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Boy, I can't wait until the day Nate Robertson is traded or released from this team.

Kruza

[Wet Bandit]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

I like Morneau's response to the whole 'stealing signs' idiocy:

"I've hit behind Joe for five years and I've never gotten a sign from him yet. I'm still waiting."

Here's the full article with the Twins' responses:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4522901

That video that was posted is a complete joke. On the 0-1 count, as the catcher put his hand down to start the signs, Mauer completely turns his head away. That's pretty odd behavior from someone who's looking to steal signs.

When Verlander does throw the curve, it's a hanging curve right down the middle of the plate that's sitting belt high. And what does Kubel do, since he knows this curve is coming and this curve is a juicy pitch to hit? He lets it go, running the count to 0-2, a terrible hitter's count. Ridiculous.

On the 2-2 count, Mauer supposedly manages to tip off the pitch before the catcher even starts his signs. And if you'll notice, he "tipped" the pitch by touching his earhole and touching his face, which according to the Youtube poster are the signs for a curveball and a fastball. Not sure why Mauer would tip off both on one pitch, unless he had a hunch it'd be a fast curveball?

My favorite is how each time Mauer doesn't do anything, the Youtube guy says it's because the Tigers change their signs. But then the Tigers apparently go back to the old signs they supposedly know that Mauer is stealing, since Mauer is able to steal signs again.

The video is ridiculous, and it's almost as ridiculous if anyone believes any of it.

[av7]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

And here we go, Game 3 vs Brewers.

I was tempted to go to the game but talked myself out of it

[Wet Bandit]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Imagine the field day the media would have with this if it was Arod instead of Mauer.

I'm sure it would be quite the issue if it was A-Rod, considering A-Rod is a known cheater, whereas no one has ever accused Mauer of doing anything even remotely wrong regarding baseball.

[av7]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Nice to see the offense early, 1-0 Rockies in Bottom 1st

[Kruza]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Well, this game is a wrap. No way the Tigers are coming back from a 7-1 deficit thanks to Orlando Cabrera's bases-clearing double in the 8th inning. It was good to see the Tigers at least end up with a split in this series though. The team will have to take care of the White Sox this weekend.

Edit: Make it an 8-1 deficit.

Kruza

[Wet Bandit]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Well, the Twins will get the split, but they really needed to win the series. The Tigers magic number is now 2. It's only 1 to at least force a tiebreaker, and the Twins will have to face Greinke. It's unlikely the Twins can even force the tiebreaker, but hell, it was unlikely for a long time that these final series would even matter, so who knows?

And it should be noted how much credence the Tigers gave to Mauer stealing signs. He was up five times today, and he got hit exactly zero times. They even intentionally walked him once, which would have been a perfect time to hit him, and in the 8th when the game got out of hand, Mauer was up with two outs and they gave him three hittable pitches.

[av7]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Cook got walked with bases loaded, 4-0 Rockies

- 5-0 now

[Chaos81]

Re: 9/28-10/4 MLB Discussion

Ouch.