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The game of baseball begins with signs; specific planned motions designed to relay messages to players without revealing your team's intentions. This method of communication is vital to game play and strategy. If signs are easily decipherable, then your opponent will know what to expect which is an unnecessary and dangerous advantage. However, if your team's signs are too complex they will confuse your teammates and slow down the pace of the game. Relaying signs can be done in various methods. There can be an indicator, or a "hot" sign the precedes any activation of a play, there can be a hot zone that, depending on how many times it is touched, can activate plays, and many other methods have been and are used. Knowing an opponent’s signs gives your team a significant advantage. Knowing what pitch to expect, when a base runner will attempt to steal, or when the other team will lay a bunt down allows your team to be prepared for this situation and pre-plan how they will respond; usually to great effect. Therefore, signs are a closely guarded club secret that only few are privileged to. So, when a team is observed attempting to steal signs, action is quickly taken to discontinue their efforts. This is usually done in two methods: changing your signs to a backup option, or by delivering a direct message to the would-be sign stealers in the form of a fastball to the ribs.
Official Major League Baseball - Close-up Shot by
Jason Michael is licensed under a
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