The art of the steal

BUCK: Stealing signs from second base is part of the World Cup Soccer Jersey game. You are right, the Blue Jays in the "glory years" were great at relaying pitches to the batter. They had so many veteran hitters that were deadly when they knew what was coming. The catcher is responsible for protecting the signs and using a series of signals that are tough to pick up. I always felt it was my job to make sure we changed signs often enough to keep the hitters off stride. Every once in a while we would call a pitch and throw the opposite pitch to see if the runner at second was relaying the signs. If a hitter gets crossed up one time the entire team will call off the sign stealing for the night and wait for another day.
With over 40 years as a major league player, manager and broadcaster, Buck Martinez has experienced baseball from all angles. Now in his new role as the Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer, Buck is taking your questions in a weekly blog for sportsnet.ca, Behind the plate with Buck.

IAIN ASKS: Buck, how kosher is stealing signs considered to be? I know at times it can get a ball thrown at the head, but is this a legitimate beef? I know back in the early 90's the Jays were notorious for stealing signs and picking up on tipped pitches. Who's currently the best at stealing signs and discovering pitchers tipping?

STEVE M ASKS: Hey Buck, I always wondered what do the players talk about when they are on first base? Is it more just, "Hey how are you?" or, "Where is a good place to get a cheeseburger in this town?" It looked like Lyle Overbay and Alex Rios were having a good chat the night of the home opener and I have always been interested in what the players talk about.

BUCK: Only the catcher has more opportunities to talk to opposing players more than the first baseman. The conversations can be about anything. "How's he throwing", in reference to the starting pitcher. "Did you hit it good?" "Who was hot when you faced Boston?" If a player has a relationship with another as a former teammate, he may ask about his family. The best at first was Sean Casey. He couldn't wait for a baserunner to get on so he would have someone to talk to. He was nicknamed "the mayor" because he loved to sing the praises of Cincinnati to the visiting club, asking "where did you eat last night?" A quick response: "You should try the Montgomery Inn, best ribs in the league". First base is the equivalent of the water cooler in the office.


IAN ASKS: Hey Buck, what are your thoughts on the progression of Travis Snider? He looks a little lost up there, but then again, so did Adam Lind a few years back. Thanks, huge fan and love your presence in the booth.

BUCK: Travis Snider is a young player that is trying to adjust to the Major Leagues. He has done about all he can do in the minors and now he has to figure out how to make adjustments against big league pitching. Many hitting coaches believe a young hitter needs 1500 at bats in the big league before you can really determine what you have. As we speak, Travis has just over 350 major league at-bats. Give him some time and I think he will make the adjustments and become a good hitter. What we have seen this year in Snider is a player that understands you can stay on the field and contribute even when things are going so well at the plate. Snider has worked hard on his defence, throwing and base running to ensure that if he is struggling to swing the bat he can stay in the lineup because of what he brings with the glove and his legs.

DAN ASKS: Hey Buck, it's great to see you back with the Jays calling games and it's good to see this team headed in the right direction. My question for you is, where would you rank Ken Griffey Jr and Alex Rodriguez among the all-time greatest baseball players?

BUCK: I think both Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez will go down as two of the best players to ever play the game. Junior was the best player in baseball in the 90's and A-Rod is neck and neck with Albert Pujols as the best player in the past decade. Alex will be among the best offensive players to play the game when it is all said and done. Both of them, Alex today and Ken in his prime, could beat you with the bat, the glove and their wheels any day of the week.

MARCUS ASKS: Hi Buck, it seems that early on this season that highly paid veterans Jorge Posada and David Ortiz have been struggling, Posada behind the plate and Ortiz with the bat. How long do the Yankees stick with Posada as a catcher (as opposed to him DH-ing) and when doez Ortiz sit in favour of Mike Lowell?

BUCK: Big Papi had a slow start last year and ended up with almost 100 RBI again. He isn't the same offensive threat he was a couple of years ago, but he still is a presence in the Sox lineup. Posada had the upper hand the last time he was eligible for free agency. The Yankees were almost forced to re-sign him but I believe he will end up in the DH role more than behind the plate later on this year and most certainly next year through the end of his contract. He will go down as one of the best offensive catchers to play in New York or anywhere else for that matter. He is a border line Hall of Famer because of the bat and his role in all of the championships for the Yankees.

PETER ASKS: Hi Buck, I loved last week's answer on signal calling by catchers. When a pitcher and catcher get crossed up (a slider thrown instead of a fastball), who is usually to blame?

BUCK: There is no black and white in this area. Sometimes a pitcher will "read" the signs and have a brain cramp and throw the opposite pitch, crossing up the catcher. I have seen on several occasions over the years when a catcher calls a pitch and "forgets" what he calls. With the game moving so quickly and so many pitches thrown during the course of a game it can happen.
EVERETT McCALLUM ASKS: Hi Buck, It is great to see you back with the Blue Jays! I am not sure you will be able to answer my question, but here it goes. When the Blue Jays replaced the field-turf with the new astro-turf, was there any consideration given to "cutting" out a portion of the infield, and replacing the necessary spots with dirt like they do for the Tampa Bay Rays? To me, this would give the field more of a baseball look and improve the fan experience. With Minnesota now at Target Field, I think Toronto is the only team with the artificial turf in the infield. What are your thoughts on this?

BUCK: That is a very good question. The surface under the artificial turf is concrete and designed to serve the building as a "multi-purpose facility". The only dirt in the entire place is what you see when the field is in place. When they convert the baseball field into a football surface or configure the building for concerts or motor cross, the dirt area of an infield as you propose would create expensive transformation challenges for the grounds crew. It really works well the way it is.