I was outraged when I found out the New England Patriots were accused of stealing signs the other year. It was a year or two after their run on a perfect season, until the New York Giants derailed it in the Super Bowl. The Patriots were accused of stealing signs, which helped with their almost perfect season. I understand that teams are always looking for a leg up and that includes less-than-legal things. But if it produces an unfair playing field, I don't agree with it. Sign stealing is one thing. Being too good is another. To get back to the Phillies, even if they are stealing signs, they don't have the best record in major league baseball. They are in the lead of the national league east, but there are other teams in the national league with better records. So if they are getting any extra "help", it isn't helping them to a greater advantage.
Which leads me to my second point. If someone thinks teams don't do everything they can to get a leg up, they are amazingly naive. There is a reason there is a doping scandal. There is a reason the Yankees buy all the big name talent they can get. There is a reason teams hire the best coaches and trainers. The reason people play is to win. Whatever it takes to win, within reason, is done. This levels the playing field in the end.
What I would like to know is when someone is going to get upset about the real theft at the ball-fields. Ticket prices and the price of concession stand food is too high. Stealing the fans' hard earned money for chili that gets squeezed out of a bag is an outrage. Lukewarm "hot" pretzels for more money than a burger on a dollar menu is highway robbery. Bad seats for more than someone makes an hour being paid minimum wage is a crime against humanity. I can understand sign stealing. I can not understand fleecing the people who are supposed to be supporting you.
