Blue Jays accused of sign stealing; sparks debate

Sign-stealing is a baseball tradition and a regular subject of debate that falls under the heading of "It Happens Every Spring" ... and summer ... and fall ... and probably always will.

The latest accusations have prompted Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to address an ESPN story that some opposing players believe Blue Jays hitters have received signs from the Rogers Centre outfield seats about what pitches are coming.

Anthopoulos has denied his team has used "a man in white," as the ESPN story suggests, and Blue Jays have mocked the report, catcher J.P. Arencibia wondering how Detroit's Justin Verlander could have pitched a no-hitter in Toronto and how Arencibia is struggling to keep his batting average over .200.

Major League Baseball said it hasn't received any complaints from visiting teams on a subject that often gets public attention but seldom becomes an issue for discipline.

The Philadelphia Phillies were told last year that bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer could no longer have binoculars in the bullpen after complaints from other teams. But no disciplinary action was taken.

The debate over sign-stealing has several layers.

Team routinely try to get other teams' signs. Some players and coaches have become whizzes at breaking down the signs of opposing third base coaches. Runners at second base will relay catchers' signs to hitters, which is why catchers use multiple signals.

Those practices are accepted to a point -- the point at which managers and players police their own game.

Several years ago, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker explained that if his team realizes opponents are stealing their signs, "We'll tell them, 'We know you're doing it.' "

That warning, Baker says, implies that the opponents have the choice of stopping or facing possible on-field consequences Baker wouldn't specify. But you can be sure knockdown pitches or hard slides are on the list.

The Texas Rangers and New York Yankees had a minor tiff in June when Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba thought Andruw Jones was relaying signs to Yankees teammates.

The next level goes off the field.

It used to be someone in the center field clubhouse at the old Polo Grounds during the 1951 New York Giants miracle finish or accusations of people peering through openings in scoreboards in older stadiums such as Wrigley Field.

With the advent of improved technology, teams have become more paranoid that cameras and other devices are being used.