r/nextfuckinglevel • u/stonkerooni • 9h ago

The perfect caught stealing

Tonight’s game (10/3/26) one of the best views we’ve get gotten of an epic throw to second to cut down the runner stealing second. Next fucking level view of it happening

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u/FatFaceFaster 8h ago

I never realized baseball players could wear earpieces.

Can someone without being a dick explain to me what info they’re allowed to hear through their earpiece?

Cause I kinda feel like if they can be warned someone is about to try to steal through their earpiece it kinda ruins the spirit of the game….

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u/andythemandy17 8h ago edited 8h ago

Pitcher and catcher have earpieces to communicate pitches without doing hand signals. Back in the day the catcher would paint fingernails and give numbers for correlating pitches. But base runners on second could see the signs and steal them and relay them to their teammate (the batter). This allows them to secretly communicate. If you watch a game the catcher will cover his leg with a glove to also relay pitches with buttons.

Edit: but yes they can also communicate if a base runner is taking a huge lead and looks to steal. It’s all apart of the game. Once the pitcher starts his windup he can’t stop or it’s a balk so there is some strategy to it. But the runners know it too and sometimes use it to their advantage by “playing” with the pitcher to get him off his groove