Atlanta Braves: 10 indications that your opponent is stealing your signs

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Braves will venture into an area that was dangerous territory for visiting teams in 2017.  These tips may help them this week.

Yes, the Atlanta Braves are facing this Houston Astros in the World Series tonight… the same club that was caught augmenting their 2017 results by drumming on trash cans to find rings.

We are assured that those days are gone… that never again will teams be able to use video technology to get privileged information to their hitters in time to avoid an embarrassing swing and miss.

Well… just in case — and as a public service to all — TomahawkTake is here to provide assistance for all those wanting to be vigilant.  After all… there might still be another scheme yet to be implemented that could lead our team to defeat if they aren’t careful.

Here are those tips… You’re welcome.

10. Multiple pitchers come into the training room complaining of neck stiffness after the repeated whiplash effect of turning quickly to see where batters hit the ball.

Related: pitchers getting winded after running over to back up third base on multiple occasions.

Such a spate of injuries can’t possibly mean that your pitchers aren’t skilled in their craft.  It has to mean that they are being victimized by sign-stealing!

9. Opponents receiving multiple shipments of metal trash cans.

Also possible: shipments of coaching whistles, air horns; possibly vuvuzelas.

Related: you find multiple dented-up trash cans in the dumpsters outside opponents’ stadium.  It is well-known that new metal trash cans exhibit better sound carry than do old and beat-up cans.

At least… that’s what I’ve heard.

8. The strikeout rate of your opponents plumments overnight.

Note: this actually happened.

in 2016, the Astros team K-rate was 27th in baseball at 23.4%. In 2017, they were first at 17.3%… a figure close to 2% better than the third place Braves and a dramatic 6.10% improvement, year-over-year.

Oh, and the year-to-year improvement for Atlanta from 2016 to 2017 was a mere 1.0%.

In general, the strikeout rate for all of the major league teams is trending higher:  in 1990, it was 14.88% per plate appearance.  This season saw 23.18% of batters strike out when they came to the plate.

Between 1990 and 2019, here are the largest positive changes for any team in strikeout rates:

• TEXAS: 2009-2010; improved 4.9%
• SDP: 1991-1992; down 3.40%
• LAA: 2001-2002; down 3.40%
• ARZ:  1998-1999*;  down 4.00%.  Also down 4.20% in 2010-2011  (* – 1998 was their first season ever; in 2010, their K-rate went up by 4%)
• ATL:  2014-15; down 4.30% (a dark year otherwise)
• MIL:  2001-2002; down 4.30% (which followed 2 consecutive seasons in which their K-rate got worse by 3% or more)
• MIA:  2014-15; improved 3.70%

In 2006, The (then) Florida Marlins had their strikeout rate get worse by 5.4%.  The Twins got worse than their prior year by 5.8% in 2013.

That’s it… 8 instances of 3.4% improvement or better in the past 30 seasons (skipping the 2020 aberration).  Only 8… with a maximum of under 5% and most having a reasonable explanation to go with them.

But no team had anything approaching the Astros’ 6.1% improvement in 2017… hmmmm.

7.  When catchers are crossed up by their pitcher due to a sign mis-communication, the batter tells the catcher who messed up.

6.  Rookies are found carrying large amounts of cash thanks to repeatedly successful bets on the 5th inning mascot races.

Yes, if signs are being stolen, knowledge on virtually any aspect of baseball life is at risk… including the Tools race, sausage races, Presidents race… maybe even The Freeze!

5.  On signaled pitchouts, the batter is observed checking his email as the pitcher is winding up.

4.  Your team colors are anything except white, yet receipts are found in the trash from a local dry cleaners with the notation “extra bleach”.

This pops up a lot in baseball history and lore: that there’s “some guy” sitting in centerfield wearing all white who is somehow relaying signs to the hometown hitters.   Binoculars are usually involved, too.

In 2016, the Cardinals thought there was such a man pilfering their signs while in San Diego.  The Padres identified the man as merely a member of their security detail.

This gimmick also forced Alex Anthopoulos to issue a denial at a news conference back when he was the General Manager of the Blue Jays.

Related:  suspicious slots in the scoreboard or Batters’ Eye wall.

3.  A large telescope on a nearby mountain isn’t aimed at the sky… but toward the local stadium instead.

Don’t buy the explanation that the local astronomers are investigating a rare sunset phenomenon.  Too much light can damage the delicate sensors in such devices!

2.  That ‘extra camera position’ in centerfield is being manned by somebody who suspiciously looks like a former team parking attendant.

Better check that guy’s FOX Sports credentials, too.

And finally… the number 1 indication that your signs may be compromised…

1.  Your son is a hitting coach for the other team.

Oops… hopefully Brian Snitker hasn’t been spilling any trade secrets at family get-togethers since son Troy is actually in the employ of the Houston Astros!

So only let’s see the bunting draped over stadium rails and signs directing fans to their seats.  Enjoy the World Series, everyone!