Atlanta Braves “Learning From Leo” Mazzone Series Finale: Scandals

Legendary Atlanta Braves pitching coach laments on the steroid era, recent sign-stealing scandals, and the insignificance of pitch counts in the series finale of “Learning From Leo.”

Famed Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone fondly recalls when sign stealing was fun.

In the closing episode of the three-part “Learning From Leo” series, Mazzone finds himself scrutinizing the current state of baseball in a rather relentless fashion, along with the quality deficits the game has encountered over the past two decades.

Along the way, he reveals a secret or two.

He vividly recalls the glory days when players analyzed the sign-giving rhythms of opposing third base coaches, trying to pinpoint an exact break in cadence to determine if a steal or a hit-and-run was in place. He also opines on the periods when a runner at second simply was spying on the catcher’s setup to establish pitch location.

But it’s his assessment of potential malfeasances during the 1991 World Series that might be the most alarming revelation for Braves fans unfamiliar with the story.

"“Rumor has it when we were playing the Twins in the Metrodome, when we were hitting, the flags were blowing in from the air conditioner,” Mazzone said. “Then when (the Twins) were hitting, (the flags) were straight down. I saw the replay, and, G*******, it was. But you know what? That’s baseball.”"

The illuminating series conclusion, presented by FlatGround Founder and CEO Rob Freidman (@PitchingNinja) and college baseball scout and FlatGround Content Provider Josh Rudd (@JRudd_Scout), is an unblemished follow up to episodes one and two, where Mazzone, joined by mentee Kaleb Davis (former pitching coach of the recently eliminated Furman University baseball program), dives into present issues facing the sport.