Earlier today, video surfaced of Joe Mauer possibly stealing signs from the Tigers, relaying them from second base to his teammate at the plate, Jason Kubel. When Mauer tugged at his helmet, it was a curve ball. When he didn’t do anything, it was a fastball. Today, via Kevin Kaduk’s Twitter, the Twins issued their reaction, beginning with Mauer’s manager, Ron Gardenhire:
Twins React to Video of Mauer Stealing Signs
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↵"I'm not saying we're out there trying to steal signs, but I hope we are. I hope that they're out there trying to steal signs. Because that's the game. Everybody does it"
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So, Mauer was definitely stealing signs then? Case closed? Not so fast. In the video, it is blatantly obvious that Mauer is trying to signal Kubel. Almost too obvious. The Twins are ensuring that "no one would ever tip that obviously," with Justin Morneau adding, "This **** is hilarious." And since in the self-policing sport of baseball, obvious sign-stealing would quickly be dealt with, a fact Gardenhire not-so-subtly points out:
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↵"If you're stealing signs and using your hand on your helmet, I guarantee you somebody would get killed."
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Well then. Lastly, about the video itself: Yahoo!'s Jeff Passan said that the Twins watched it on Kevin Slowey's laptop, and their general response was that "the guy who posted it was an idiot."
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