Emotions ran high and benches cleared in this afternoon's game between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers after Chris Sale drilled Victor Martinez. Apparently, he felt that the Tigers had someone set up in center field to steal signs.
Sale may have information that we are not privy to. He may also simply be paranoid. If the latter is true, paranoia is heavily influenced by anger and fear. The paranoid behaviors are an attempt to reestablish control when one feels a lack of power over their current circumstances. Sale chose a dangerous way to try to reestablish his power.
Could the Tigers be stealing signs? If so, how?
I took pride in dominating the eye test in our annual spring training physicals. Since I wasn't nearly as good a baseball player as Prince Fielder, I tried to kick his butt by walking out with an A+ from the ophthalmologist. "20-12, boys. Boo-ya!"
I had eagle eyes in my youth (sniff), but seeing a small object from 100-plus yards away is reserved for actual birds of prey. When I stepped into the batter's box against a pitcher like Randy Johnson, looking for and identifying a hand signal (or anything at all, for that matter) in centerfield while simultaneously preparing to hit 97 with funk was not a well-designed plan. Granted, Victor Martinez is much better equipped to manage all of this more successfully than "eye" (see what I did) was, but think of the complicated steps to make this all come together.
Victor Martinez has a wRC+ of 165 this season, indicating he's significantly better than the average offensive player. Let's face it, at the plate, he's elite. It's possible he has a competitive advantage, but more likely, he's been really good for a really long time. It's unlikely that his success is due to a specialized cheat.
On the other hand, Sale is a beast himself, sporting a career FIP of 3.04. It must be disconcerting to get walloped the way he has by Victor (1.516 career OPS vs Sale, entering today). If I was as dominant as Sale, I'd be scratching my beard, too.
This much is indisputable, however: As a hitter, it's no easy task to have a sign relayed to you from anyone but a teammate or a coach. If technology is being used, it's certainly not widespread. In a court of law, Sale would be found guilty by a jury of his peers of paranoia.
You know what they say, though. It ain't paranoia if it's true.
