Video breakdown shows SF Giants catcher get caught while stealing signs

The SF Giants were swept in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres earlier this month, but something interesting happened in the first game. It involved Giants catcher Patrick Bailey relaying what pitch was coming to the batter at the plate.

The video breakdown comes courtesy of Jomboy who has developed a large online following thanks to his breakdowns of weird or interesting things happening in baseball. The full video can be watched below:

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey got caught tipping pitches to batter

When watching the situation unfold the first time live, it was odd. The pitching coach of the Padres came out in the middle of an at-bat to speak to the pitcher. Then, after Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta struck out batter Mike Yastrzemski to end the inning, he did a weird gloating dance off the mound and appeared to mock Bailey.

It did not make a ton of sense initially, but Jomboy's breakdown brings some clarity to the situation. Essentially, Bailey was able to figure out what pitches Pivetta was throwing while he was at second base just by peeking into Pivetta's glove and seeing what grip he had on the baseball.

Bailey would peer into the glove and then tug on his jersey if a fastball was coming or pat his helmet if a breaking ball was coming. Unfortunately, Yastrzemski was not able to do anything with the pitches even with Bailey's aid. After the pitching coach came out and told Pivetta that he was tipping his pitches, Pivetta did a better job of hiding the ball so Bailey could not relay what was coming.

That is what prompted the dance from Pivetta after the strikeout of Yastrzemski which Bailey only laughed at. It was an interesting situation and was a great instance of the game within the game where players are looking for any advantage they can get.

Of course, Bailey has struggled mightily at the plate this season so perhaps he is simply looking for any competitive advantage he can bring to the table to make it hard to keep him out of the lineup. We know how much value he provides behind the plate as a catcher, but it is nice to have a guy who is an asset as a baserunner on second base as well at least in terms of gathering information.

Some may wonder whether what Bailey did would be considered wrong or cheating, but the fact that he was essentially able to steal signs just by using his eyes and brain is not considered cheating. What made the sign-stealing scandal with the Houston Astros different is they were using the aid of technology to assist them which many feel went against the spirit of the game.

If a pitcher is going to be careless enough to allow the runner on second to see what grip he has on the ball in the glove, then that is total fair game for the baserunner to take advantage of.

It did not bear fruit for the Giants that time, but maybe Bailey can take advantage of another careless pitcher at some point this season and help the hitter at the plate make hard contact on a pitch they know is coming.