Thoughts on Preventing Cheating

[eligrba]

10 hours ago, Stradling said:

So I have read some ideas and had a couple of thoughts that might help deter this wave of cheating.  

The obvious answer is have MLB employees that work each game that are in the dugout/clubhouse for each and every game.  This person can go from dugout to dugout depending who is up to bat.  Pay each of these guys $1 million a year, and have 15-20 of them just to make sure you have alternates for illness and what not.  If by chance this person is sick and they can’t get an alternative for that game then no computers are allowed in the clubhouse for that game and both teams replay coach (whatever that person is called) will work in the same workspace to ensure the other isn’t cheating.  The reason for the $1 million salary is simple, to help prevent bribes.  Now here is my way to fund this $15-20 million.  The team that gets caught cheating must fund this, until the next team is caught cheating, then they are on the hook.  So if this plan was in place right now, Houston would be on the hook.  If no one else is caught cheating for the next 20 years, then Houston continues to pay that cost.  What are your thoughts.  

Where do I apply?

[eligrba]

8 hours ago, GregAlso said:

The problem with wireless earpieces is the catcher’s talking to the pitcher will be heard by the batter. They are just too close for the batter to not hear.

I think replacing the major league rubber on the mound with one that has lights embedded in it is a possibility but there are other complications with that. I prefer the digital devices on the wrist the pitcher and catcher that the catcher can send messages to the pitcher on. That seems like a better silent solution. 

Give the catcher and pitcher earbuds and call each pitch from the dugout. 

[Stradling]

2 minutes ago, eligrba said:

Where do I apply?

www.MLB.AstrosCheated/employment.gov

[nate]

I think there is a simpler way.

Any players or coaches involved in cheating or are aware of it that do not report it face a 1 year ban first time and a life time ban second time.

Snitches will be all over the place.

[yk9001]

10 hours ago, RBM said:

Lifetime bans for the management team implicated - GM, Manager, Bench Coach, Front Office Personnel. There is no union to get in the way. Whoever was part of it is toast.

If the MLB handles e-cheating like they have handled gambling for the past century then Problem solved. 

And now add the players.  Good post. 

[yk9001]

Just now, nate said:

Any players or coaches involved in cheating or are aware of it that do not report it face a 1 year ban first time and a life time ban second time.

THIS WEEK IS THE FIRST STRIKE

 

Lifetime ban from here on

[Lou]

10 hours ago, Kevinb said:

10 million a game to sit in a dugout. Just give it to random fans. I love the idea.

By any chance, did you go to Hofstra?

[Stradling]

2 minutes ago, Lou said:

By any chance, did you go to Hofstra?

Yea I let that one slideb 

[Junkballer]

1 hour ago, gotbeer said:

How to prevent cheating is simple.  Stop micromanaging the game.

When the batter steps into the batters box.  Throw the damn ball.  Not wait 1 minute exchanging signs between the bench, catcher, to the pitcher.  Then have the pitcher do a 30 second staredown trying to psych out the batter.  

The slower the pace, the greater the chance to cheat.  

Other benefits, would be the game wouldn't be 3+ hours long.  

There is a lot to be said for trending towards rules that force simplicity, even if it isn't related to minimizing cheating.  

[Claude]

Any MLB team that gets caught cheating should automatically serve a 3 year postseason ban including players, coaches or managers that try to move on to other teams. No All Star game appearances and no postseason awards should be given during that same timeframe to any of the players or managers involved. 

[yk9001]

1 minute ago, RBM said:

That is unnecessary and would require dealing with the MLBPA.

I get it.  It also looks bad enough that the commissioner just may have to get their hands dirty and deal with the MLBPA.

Those of us with long enough memories recall that the PA was at one time against ANY drug testing.  Player's rights, yadda yadda.  When public sentiment turned, the PA turned as well.

[Jeff Fletcher]

How about catchers give signals that the other team can’t decipher. Like they already do with a runner at 2nd and like managers and 3B coaches literally do every single time they give a sign. 

[19HALO71]

All video feeds that are allowed in the venue go through an MLB video truck on site.

Go Halos!!!

[T.G.]

11 hours ago, Tank said:

Tough day at work, grich?

Alex Cora had a tough day. AJ HInch and Jeff Lunhow had tough days too.

I'm not in that place.

[T.G.]

11 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

He's a stay at home dad. So yes.

Actually, I'm working on a plan for world peace.

[T.G.]

1 hour ago, eligrba said:

Where do I apply?

Have you completed sniper school?

[floplag]

2 hours ago, arch stanton said:

The majority of the current slow down is the number of pitches thrown

Or more accurately, the number of pitches taken.
No one is going up there to be aggressive and hit anymore, they are going up there to take pitches and try to get on base.

[floplag]

1 hour ago, yk9001 said:

And now add the players.  Good post. 

THIS
Im sorry but this is as close to Black Sox scandal as weve seen since that time.  This makes Pete rose smell like roses FFS.
Systematic organization wide cheating... and not a single player punished.

[stormngt]

11 hours ago, GregAlso said:

The problem with wireless earpieces is the catcher’s talking to the pitcher will be heard by the batter. They are just too close for the batter to not hear.

I think replacing the major league rubber on the mound with one that has lights embedded in it is a possibility but there are other complications with that. I prefer the digital devices on the wrist the pitcher and catcher that the catcher can send messages to the pitcher on. That seems like a better silent solution. 

Ear peaces could also be hacked

[Tank]

2 hours ago, RBM said:

That is unnecessary and would require dealing with the MLBPA.

Management controls in game dugout activities. This type of e-cheating can only happen if they set it up and/or condone it. 

at some point the players, the ones who actually do the cheating on the field, have to be held accountable. if that means going to war with the MLBPA, then so be it. the players should not be allowed to cheat and then just walk away unscathed.

[eligrba]

1 hour ago, True Grich said:

Have you completed sniper school?

Recently?

[eligrba]

18 minutes ago, stormngt said:

Ear peaces could also be hacked

Hell with it,  have the pitcher throw at the manager in the dugout if the team is suspected of cheating.

[Dtwncbad]

13 hours ago, Stradling said:

None of it is our money.  $20 million a year for a league that brings in almost $10 BILLION a season is chump change. 

In before someone says the $20 million should be measured in relation to the operating budget and real cash expense, separate from the luxury tax.

[grogdevil]

Hire the TSA

[floplag]

38 minutes ago, RBM said:

The reality is this is simply not true. Actually,  the opposite is true. Players are walking at the same range but are striking out and hitting HR's at new all-time highs.

Last year there was an average of 3.3 BB9.

For the last 20 years, from 2000 to 2019, the range has been from 2.9 BB9 to 3.8 BB9.

Last year there was an average of 8.9 SO9. It was the highest SO9 in the history of baseball.

For the last 20 years, from 2000 to 2019, the range has been from 6.4 SO9 to 8.9 SO9. And the SO9 has gone up every year since 2005.

While correct, were not talking about the same thing.  Youre looking at results, im talking about pitches per game, time of game, # of pitchers used in a game, raw data, not the result sets. 
Not to mention batting averages, stolen bases, and everything else that moneyball killed about the game.  
If these things were problematic we wouldnt be constantly talking about pace of game and time of game like we are.