Comments on: Umpires Don’t Make Law, Players Do.

By: Stealing signs and breaking the law | Think Law

Stealing signs and breaking the law | Think Law — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:18:34 +0000

[...] Hoffman at Concurring Opinions offers some thoughts about players stealing signs and what it tells us about the rule of law. The video of the latest [...]

By: Jeffrey Standen

Jeffrey Standen — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:40:19 +0000

Of course it’s cheating, although not actually prohibited by a rule. Even if it were, no matter: players routinely and intentionally violate explicit rules (no holding in football) if they can get away with it. It’s part of the game. There is no moral element to sports, at least not one that should matter to non-participants.

By: P.S. Ruckman, Jr.

P.S. Ruckman, Jr. — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:53:01 +0000

“… There’s no rule against it, and so the answer is: it depends on the players’ perceptions of the situation …”

I think this sentence ended wrong. There is no rule against it, so it is not cheating. It is no different than a fake pick-off throw to third, a drag bunt, or a shortstop distracting a runner with footwork.

By: DCLawyer

DCLawyer — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:36:56 +0000

Sign stealing only violates the rules to the extent that a player utilizes a mechanical device. I’d say the post’s characterization (something we accept that happens but is bad form to admit actually doing) characterizes the baseball ethos surrounding it.

By: Howard Wasserman

Howard Wasserman — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:31:28 +0000

There also was a sense that Mauer was being too obvious about it, which is the kind of thing that might get the next batter hit, had the pitcher been aware of it.

By: waldo

waldo — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:27:31 +0000

Legality & morality aren’t always congruent. What’s legal may be immoral. What’s moral may be illegal; see Three Felonies a Day.