Earlier this week, Aaron Judge made some headlines when he appeared to suspiciously look into the New York Yankees dugout during an at-bat, just before hitting a home run. It appeared that Judge was getting some sort of sign from the Yankees dugout, though Judge and the Yankees have denied that claim. If that’s the case, one star pitcher has a very simply play to stop it.
During an appearance on former Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s “Foul Territory” podcast, Chicago White Sox pitcher Lance Lynn suggested that the “only way to stop” a player from stealing signs is to hit him with a pitch, given how much the game has changed.
“That’s the only way to stop it, I think,” Lynn said according to the New York Post. “Unfortunately, everything has changed in the game. Everyone told me, ‘If you’re giving it and the first-base coach can get it, it’s on you.’ It’s like, no. Coaches and dugouts and things like that are out of it.
“If a guy’s on base and he sees your grip from second, that’s on you. I see that one, but when players that are not on the field or coaches that are not playing the game are involved, that’s where I think it’s too much.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game that Judge looked toward the dugout because his teammates were “chirping” at the umpire, but it sounds like Lynn isn’t buying that.
