Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Mike Piazza Disgusted with Astros Sign Stealing Scandal

We have received soundbites from numerous sources in and around baseball in regards to the recent news and punishment of the Houston Astros for electronically stealing signs, namely in the 2017 World Series against the Dodgers. One former Dodger and Major League Baseball legend is fed up and that someone is catcher Mike Piazza.

In a recent column for the New York Post, Kevin Kernan discusses the scandal with the Hall of Fame catcher. The two words that best characterize Piazza’s thoughts on the situation are ‘sadness’ and ‘disgust’. He expresses his distaste at a recent ceremony for the New York Mets and playfully said his team would not be using electronic advantages in the World Baseball Classic. Piazza is the manager of Team Italy:

“I’m excited about it and I know there have been a lot of changes in the game. We won’t be using any cameras, but we will have a lot of pasta and coffee in the dugout. No cameras.’’

As many have said,

“I think it is very sad, a very sad episode for the game.”

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Piazza acknowledges that there is a correct way to steal signs and that that is a skill that not everyone possesses. He stated that old Dodgers coach Joe Amalfitano was the best at it that he had ever seen:

“He was right 95 percent on pitch outs when I was catching. It would be uncanny. He had their signs when they were going to steal or hit or run and he would call a pitchout and he would just watch them and pick off the sign.”

As Piazza alludes to, many Astros players have targets on their heads:

“Could you imagine if Nolan Ryan knew that you were relaying his signs? You’d probably be missing a head. Unfortunately, it’s an unintended consequence of the digital age and all this information. I hope and pray that it is behind the game. Obviously there are punishments being dished out. There is no excuse for that.”

It’s just an all-around bad situation for everyone involved, most notably the entity of Major League Baseball as a brand.

NEXT: Jose Altuve Sensitive After Buzzer Scandal

Daniel Preciado

My name is Daniel Preciado and I am 19 years old. I am a sophomore Sport Analytics major and Cognitive Science and Economics dual minor at Syracuse University. When I am not in New York, I live in Whittier, California --- not too far from Chavez Ravine. I am pretty old-school for being an analytics guy and I will always embrace debate. Also, Chase Utley did absolutely nothing wrong.

5 Comments

    1. I’m with Piazza on this one. It’s only when you use artificial means, like high tech video, or steroids that’s a problem. But there is nothing wrong with being observant which includes picking up pitcher tell signs or opposing player or coach signs. And I see nothing wrong with a runner on second trying to pick up and relay catcher signs. They may be illegal by the letter of the rules, but that’s baseball. But cameras, cell phones, and steroids are not part of baseball, and have no place in the game.

  1. Young people don’t understand old time sign stealing. They think only in terms of todays iPhone world. Too stupid to or ignorant to recall a time past when you had to use your brain power and detective skills in baseball.
    The Asinine Astros relied on Cameras and Buzzers (yeah I don’t buy they didn’t have them under their jerseys). Signs like swipe the bill of your cap twice and touch your team logo to “Hit and Run”. That was sign stealing, if you could spot it. Got that dummies from today. Not, Hey, Jose Altuve, buzz buzz a Fastball is coming so you can hit a home run. WOW isn’t he the Bomb!

    1. What are you? 200 years old? Do you think only us old timers know about the intricacies of baseball? It is possible to share knowledge without ridiculing.

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