Let’s talk cheating for a moment.
I don’t doubt for a second that the Rangers – or any other team – would use any edge they could possibly find to win games. That said, I just don’t see how the accusations leveled by Chicago’s Mark Buehrle on Monday can be accurate.
After the Rangers beat the White Sox ace for the first time in his career, Buehrle suggested the club has someone in the outfield or in the office building behind center field stealing signs from catchers and then relaying them to Rangers hitters by using lights.
We’re up for a good conspiracy theory, but we can’t make the logistics of this work, certainly not against Buehrle, who might be the fastest-working pitcher in the league.
Here’s what would have to happen. Somebody using binoculars would have to pick up the signs being flashed by a catcher, then either flash a light or relay the information to somebody else operating the light.
The hitter would have to take his eyes off the pitcher in the brief instance before a pitch is delivered to find the secret code. And then refocus on the pitcher’s hand.
In a sport that relies so heavily on hand-eye coordination, it seems like it’s just too much to ask a hitter to do. It seems like the greater possibility would be that the hitter would foul up his timing rather than hone in on the pitch.
There are a number of faulty logic issues behind the argument. The biggest for me is that the light system couldn’t work as well in the sunlight as it does at night. That said, the Rangers are hitting .284 during the day and only .264 at night. They are scoring 5.98 runs during the day, but just 5.06 at night.
It’s a nice theory and it makes for interesting reading and discussion.
The problem is it just doesn’t seem to make much sense.
I don’t doubt for a second that the Rangers – or any other team – would use any edge they could possibly find to win games. That said, I just don’t see how the accusations leveled by Chicago’s Mark Buehrle on Monday can be accurate.
After the Rangers beat the White Sox ace for the first time in his career, Buehrle suggested the club has someone in the outfield or in the office building behind center field stealing signs from catchers and then relaying them to Rangers hitters by using lights.
We’re up for a good conspiracy theory, but we can’t make the logistics of this work, certainly not against Buehrle, who might be the fastest-working pitcher in the league.
Here’s what would have to happen. Somebody using binoculars would have to pick up the signs being flashed by a catcher, then either flash a light or relay the information to somebody else operating the light.
The hitter would have to take his eyes off the pitcher in the brief instance before a pitch is delivered to find the secret code. And then refocus on the pitcher’s hand.
In a sport that relies so heavily on hand-eye coordination, it seems like it’s just too much to ask a hitter to do. It seems like the greater possibility would be that the hitter would foul up his timing rather than hone in on the pitch.
There are a number of faulty logic issues behind the argument. The biggest for me is that the light system couldn’t work as well in the sunlight as it does at night. That said, the Rangers are hitting .284 during the day and only .264 at night. They are scoring 5.98 runs during the day, but just 5.06 at night.
It’s a nice theory and it makes for interesting reading and discussion.
The problem is it just doesn’t seem to make much sense.
0 Random Thoughts:
Post a Comment