It has slowly dawned on me over this baseball season that a ritual component of the game has gone the way of barehanded fielders. What’s missing? The pitcher shaking off signs from the catcher on which pitch to throw.
PitchCom, the secure way for hurlers to get instructions on the next pitch from the catcher or a coach, has been in use in Major League Baseball games since 2002. It’s a fixture at college games, too.
I well recognized that the encrypted system to prevent sign stealing meant catchers no longer stick their fingers down to call fastball or curve, but I hadn’t realized I haven’t been seeing pitchers shake off pitches.
Until recent seasons, part of the game was a pitcher leaning over and peering toward his battery mate, nodding to agree to the pitch call or shaking his head to say, “Not that.” A scowling Bob Gibson or an ornery Gaylord Perry might shake off two or three pitches before getting the one he wanted.
Those days are gone. Now, pitchers receive the instructions audibly through their caps and glance quickly at a wristband display before winding up or coming set. The photo leading this post shows Princeton’s James Beasley checking the wrist unit yesterday when readying to pitch against a batter from Siena University.
Beasely pitched well, scattering five hits over six innings without allowing a run. The Tigers won 5-1 over over Siena, whose head coach is former Princeton assistant coach Alex Jurczynski. It was great to see him again at Clarke Field.
One of the highlights of the game was watching Princeton pitcher Ethan Hsu, who has played sparingly, lock up the victory in the ninth inning. His teammates were cheering mightily for the 6-foot-4 senior, and he delivered, giving up only a walk with one strikeout in the scoreless frame.
Well done, Ethan. 🧢
The Ball Caps Blog 
Isn’t the glove one of the symbols of baseball, which is nothing like cricket, of course…
True dat!
Well, you’ll have to come to a middle school or Rec/Travel ballgame. Our pitchers still shake off a sign (not usually though because the catchers are looking over at the head coach to get what pitch the pitchers should through. So, shaking it off would be akin to saying no to the coach). Another thing about the ABS…pitchers, like Glavin and Maddux, who were most effective when they were “painting the corners” probably wouldn’t get that call now. Batters would challenge and that pitch would probably be a ball. It’s really going to change the whole strategy of pitching, as well as when a challenge should be called.
It will be fascinating to where it all leads.
well thought out argument against pitchcom…i agree with you on this one – loved the sign language between pitcher and catcher and love the example of Perry and Gibson, legends for different reasons but both 300 game winners I think. I’ll have to check out gibson’s wins. Anyway, great to see the former teammates – the coaches together for a photo and once again, great work Dan and great you got to see a win! You really captured the enthusiasm of Beasley and his motion.
Thank you, sir!
251 wins for Gibby, 314 for Gaylord.
On the whole, I think I’d rather have faced Perry. 🙂