Houston Astros accused of using electronic equipment to steal pitching signs

Houston Astros have been plunged into controversy. While Astros have long been suspected by rival teams and industry insiders of using electronic methods to steal opponents’ signs at ir home stadium, Minute Maid Park, Major League Baseball (MLB) is w investigating claims that Houston Astros used electronic equipment to steal pitching signs during ir championship season two years ago.

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During 2017 World Series Championship season,  Houston Astros allegedly used a video feed from a camera stationed in centre field to steal rival catchers’ signs and relay m to ir own hitters. Major League Baseball rules prohibit use of electronic equipment (including cameras) for purpose of stealing signs. Four team sources associated with Houston Astros confirmed existence of sign-stealing system set in place by Astros. 

What is sign stealing?

While flames of controversy may have been fanned already, here's a lowdown on what entails sign stealing. concept of sign stealing involves one team intercepting hand signals of ar team in order to gain a tactical advant over ir opposition. Sign stealing is usually done to decode opposition's signs of catcher signalling which pitch to throw and has always been a part of baseball. Sign stealing was in practice since way back in 1951 when  New York Giants used a telescope from centre field to read signs from opposing catchers. This decoded information was n sent to Giants players from a player in bullpen.

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In a developing world, change is only constant. As such, sign-stealing methods have also evolved with times. With techlogy coming to fore, New York Mets were accused of using a small camera near home plate in Shea Stadium to peek at catchers in 1997. However, Mets denied se allegations and were never punished by league. 

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While Houston Astros did confirm that an investigation was ongoing regarding sign-stealing incident, Astros refused to make any furr comments on same. During 2018 postseason, an ufficial Astros employee was discovered pointing a cellphone camera toward opposition dugouts. Largely as a result of this, MLB drafted new rules to teams regarding electronic sign-stealing before 2019 season. 

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