While one of his pitchers hurls (historically-founded!) accusations at his NLDS opponent, White Sox manager Tony La Russa is offering his thoughts on how to prevent sign-stealing.
This is un-parody-able:
Re sign stealing: Tony's idea to the league was to require the runner on second base turn towards CF when the sign is given to the catcher. Then turn back.
The idea was ignored
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 11, 2021
Tony La Russa’s idea (which MLB hasn’t shown interest in) to keep runners at second base from picking up signs is to have the runner face center field while the catcher puts down signs. Then the ump can tell him when to turn around.
“It hasn’t gotten past my recommendation.”— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) October 11, 2021
Setting aside the fact that a baserunner using his eyes to steal signs is widely accepted as just part of the game, I am dying thinking about a guy at second having to constantly turn around – no peeking!!! – and an umpiring giving him permission to turn back around. As I said, I don’t even know how to parody that.
Besides, the Astros would just install mirrors on their shoes or whatever and derail the whole plan.
If you *actually* want to do away with sign-stealing – which is probably a decent idea for pace of play, because then you don’t have endless arrays of signs – it’s not complicated in 2021. You just use a device. The pitcher receives beeps on his wrist from the catcher, and that tells him what pitch to throw. Done. Easy. No one even has to turn their back around and be a good boy.