15 hours ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

Unless they have figured out that literally all of our pitchers are tipping pitches, I've never seen so many pitches sat on correctly in my life. Every pitcher, seemingly every pitch. Breaking ball low, sit on 100 mph fastball the next pitch. The tying hit in the 9th was particularly egregious. I thought I was going crazy but there is a lot of commentary online about it at least, including from our own James Fox

The entire series their hitters sure seemed to be dialed in for every single pitcher. I don’t think them cheating is something that can be outright dismissed because:

1.) Their organization has cheated in the past

2.) Their drastic improvement correlates to the organization making changes in their coaching ( which would be a good opportunity to introduce methodologies of cheating ).

3.) In this age, with technology, it could be possible for a device to be created and distributed to their players. For example, they could have funded an engineer to create a device that is worn and gives of a sequence of vibrations based on the 915 MHz radio signal from PitchCom.

It is not LIKELY that they had hired engineers who were able to decrypt the signals and translate them into a wearable device… but with advancements in localized AI, I would think it could be a possibility.

I haven’t researched it much but will now. If I find anything, I’ll follow up.

15 hours ago, Bob Sacamano said:

basically what Jimmy said

Huh?

2 minutes ago, hi8is said:

Huh?

"Totally locked in created players" is what my friend basically says about the Brewers since last year

8 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I'm skeptical that some team has an elaborate road cheating scheme.

I would think the most likely point of failure that would allow a team to cheat would be PitchCom… and that system is obviously not a variable based on where games are played.

2 hours ago, Milkman delivers said:

After they win the World Series. And of course, they will be allowed to retain the title and teams will be punished for any perceived retaliation.

I kind of miss 2019 / 2020 / 2021 where 95% of all of baseball was completely united in absolutely HATING the Assblows while cheering on every up and in heater.

Look- if they had some drastic change in the amount of strikeouts they were averaging per game, then this theory would have some legs. I just don't see that in the numbers. They are slugging an insane amount more. Could that be a change of hitting approach? Could that be feeling good- let's take our big daddy cuts.

The White Sox are struggling on offense. In a 162-game season, offenses will struggle and thrive. I think the truth of the Red Sox offense probably is somewhere in the middle. We just are catching them at the wrong time.

Also, that game was awesome, but the ending sucked. However, God Damn this team fights like hell. I think their is some missing pieces for sure on this team as far as talent, but the character is as good as any team I have watched.

1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I used to audit company’s networks in the Chicagoland area. Numerous companies had security camera systems management portals accessible on the Internet with defaulted admin credentials.

admin / password123 for the win. 😆

This seems a rare occurrence where joejoe and I can agree…

With modern technology, it is entirely a possibility that a team could cheat at the MLB level by hacking PitchCom.

4 hours ago, T R U said:

this board makes it hard to be a white sox fan sometimes.

It really is an embarrassing thread.

14 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

"Totally locked in created players" is what my friend basically says about the Brewers since last year

I know it's hard as Sox fans to understand teams that have elite preparation, MLB scouting and game plans but that's the Brewers.

8 minutes ago, kwill said:

Look- if they had some drastic change in the amount of strikeouts they were averaging per game, then this theory would have some legs. I just don't see that in the numbers. They are slugging an insane amount more. Could that be a change of hitting approach? Could that be feeling good- let's take our big daddy cuts.

The White Sox are struggling on offense. In a 162-game season, offenses will struggle and thrive. I think the truth of the Red Sox offense probably is somewhere in the middle. We just are catching them at the wrong time.

Also, that game was awesome, but the ending sucked. However, God Damn this team fights like hell. I think their is some missing pieces for sure on this team as far as talent, but the character is as good as any team I have watched.

Post of the thread.

Like I said initially, it is not LIKELY that they are cheating… but it’s something which cannot be wholly dismissed.

The MOST LIKELY explanation is what you and others have stated… the Red Sox are simply on a historic heater and we ran into their buzzsaw at the wrong time.

Still, as another poster mentioned, it would sure be interesting to see a team switch to throwing down signs against them to see if their bats look any different.

9 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

It really is an embarrassing thread.

Anyone who outright dismissed the potential of cheating in professional sports in the modern era is a fool.

This thread ( or anyone bringing up the idea ) would only be an embarrassment IMO if the concept was presented as a fact or as an accusation.

Exploring the potential, in present day, is warranted discussion that should quickly be chalked up as an unlikely possibility.

34 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Davis Martin gets smacked around and the team releases the idea that red Sox had a tell and he was tipping pitches.

Two days later James is tweeting about cheating. White sox media is becoming as bad a politically slanted media with their talking points.

I bet the red sox are very happy to know theyre in the head of the opponent like this though.

Are you insinuating that I tweeted that because the team told me to? I was watching the game and Boston reminds me of the Astros while they were cheating right now. That's it. That's the whole story. I have no idea whether Davis Martin was actually tipping pitches or not. The White Sox likely wouldn't see Boston again until the ALCS potentially though so none of this really matters.

1 minute ago, hi8is said:

Anyone who outright dismissed the potential of cheating in professional sports in the modern era is a fool.

This thread ( or anyone bringing up the idea ) would only be an embarrassment IMO if the concept was presented as a fact or as an accusation.

Exploring the potential, in present day, is warranted discussion that should quickly be chalked up as an unlikely possibility.

Call people cheaters before they kick your ass. Doing it after just makes you look like a whiner.

Beyond that, the fact that the Sun Times had an article after Davis Martin's whooping insinuating something suspicious (although they claimed it was "legal") as to why he got crushed, and then two days later we have other Sox media-aligned person tweeting about cheating isn't the best look in the world imo.

3 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Are you insinuating that I tweeted that because the team told me to? I was watching the game and Boston reminds me of the Astros while they were cheating right now. That's it. That's the whole story. I have no idea whether Davis Martin was actually tipping pitches or not. The White Sox likely wouldn't see Boston again until the ALCS potentially though so none of this really matters.

Fair enough, maybe you just saw the article and the Sox mentalist'ed you. Put the thought in your mind so you felt it. Happens!

So to put this another way, if someone accused the White Sox of cheating because of the difference in 2025 and 26, what would your reaction be?

1 minute ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Call people cheaters before they kick your ass. Doing it after just makes you look like a whiner.

Beyond that, the fact that the Sun Times had an article after Davis Martin's whooping insinuating something suspicious (although they claimed it was "legal") as to why he got crushed, and then two days later we have other Sox media-aligned person tweeting about cheating isn't the best look in the world imo.

Who is calling them cheaters? The title of this thread asks the question, which is not an accusation. The rest of this thread is basically people pondering that question. None of us have proof anyway to make such an accusation. Baseball has a checkered history in this regard, and it's probably not just White Sox fans wondering the same thing. I think we're all eager to see them fall back to planet Earth soon so we don't have to wonder about this.

Edited 50 minutes ago50 min by Southwest Sider

4 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Are you insinuating that I tweeted that because the team told me to? I was watching the game and Boston reminds me of the Astros while they were cheating right now. That's it. That's the whole story. I have no idea whether Davis Martin was actually tipping pitches or not. The White Sox likely wouldn't see Boston again until the ALCS potentially though so none of this really matters.

Kyle Teel figured out how Martin was tipping pitches.

4 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Call people cheaters before they kick your ass. Doing it after just makes you look like a whiner.

Beyond that, the fact that the Sun Times had an article after Davis Martin's whooping insinuating something suspicious (although they claimed it was "legal") as to why he got crushed, and then two days later we have other Sox media-aligned person tweeting about cheating isn't the best look in the world imo.

Fine. Cleveland is cheating.

19 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

It really is an embarrassing thread.

I know it's hard as Sox fans to understand teams that have elite preparation, MLB scouting and game plans but that's the Brewers.

Oh I'm not discounting that or saying I think the Brewers are cheating. I get a good laugh when my Cubs fan buddy texts the group chat accusing them of cheating all season long for the past 2 years lol

1 minute ago, southsider2k5 said:

So to put this another way, if someone accused the White Sox of cheating because of the difference in 2025 and 26, what would your reaction be?

My reaction: "I hope not! I don't know if I can be like Astros fans were and just keep being a fan. I'd need to see another historic organizational purge, plus JR leaving to maybe come back."

7 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Call people cheaters before they kick your ass. Doing it after just makes you look like a whiner.

Beyond that, the fact that the Sun Times had an article after Davis Martin's whooping insinuating something suspicious (although they claimed it was "legal") as to why he got crushed, and then two days later we have other Sox media-aligned person tweeting about cheating isn't the best look in the world imo.

Or you’re just making connections that simply don’t exist in order to be negative and critical.

15 minutes ago, kwill said:

Look- if they had some drastic change in the amount of strikeouts they were averaging per game, then this theory would have some legs. I just don't see that in the numbers. They are slugging an insane amount more. Could that be a change of hitting approach? Could that be feeling good- let's take our big daddy cuts.

The White Sox are struggling on offense. In a 162-game season, offenses will struggle and thrive. I think the truth of the Red Sox offense probably is somewhere in the middle. We just are catching them at the wrong time.

Also, that game was awesome, but the ending sucked. However, God Damn this team fights like hell. I think their is some missing pieces for sure on this team as far as talent, but the character is as good as any team I have watched.

I will preface my comments by i have no clue if Boston is cheating or not....

So, I agree with most of your logic that teams go through stretches. However, some of what is happening in Boston with their hitters is insane.

You have Dudes mashing and crushing (at the same time) for about a 2 month period who are at best mediocre/average baseball players....

Along with some anomalies like Wilson Contreras having a career year at age 34 (catcher regress at this age, they don't get better....I know he's not catching right now but has most of his career)

They are hitting pitches that have no business be hit let alone being hit hard unless you know it's coming.

Wilyer Abreu hit a pitch from Brazoban last night that was perfectly spotted (99mph fastball sinking to the ground).

Some of the stuff that is going on there makes no sense. I have been an avid baseball fan since mid 80's and have watched teams go on runs (usually led by superstars and aided by role players). The Red sox have no superstars and this is being done by average baseball players at best. Never seen anything like this!

4 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Kyle Teel figured out how Martin was tipping pitches.

That whole thing sounded like:

"Oh they crushed you, but I've been watching you and this is why" type situation to lift up his pitchers confidence. Who knows though, still a big Teel fan so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on being wise!

7 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

So to put this another way, if someone accused the White Sox of cheating because of the difference in 2025 and 26, what would your reaction be?

“They’re doing a pretty piss poor job of cheating.”

Or

“Well, they sure are blending in those losses at a high enough rate to fly under the radar - tricky!” 😆

9 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Fair enough, maybe you just saw the article and the Sox mentalist'ed you. Put the thought in your mind so you felt it. Happens!

You're insufferable.

9 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

So to put this another way, if someone accused the White Sox of cheating because of the difference in 2025 and 26, what would your reaction be?

I'd probably shrug it off and laugh honestly.

2 minutes ago, 2Deep said:

I will preface my comments by i have no clue if Boston is cheating or not....

So, I agree with most of your logic that teams go through stretches. However, some of what is happening in Boston with their hitters is insane.

You have Dudes mashing and crushing (at the same time) for about a 2 month period who are at best mediocre/average baseball players....

Along with some anomalies like Wilson Contreras having a career year at age 34 (catcher regress at this age, they don't get better....I know he's not catching right now but has most of his career)

They are hitting pitches that have no business be hit let alone being hit hard unless you know it's coming.

Wilyer Abreu hit a pitch from Brazoban last night that was perfectly spotted (99mph fastball sinking to the ground).

Some of the stuff that is going on there makes no sense. I have been an avid baseball fan since mid 80's and have watched teams go on runs (usually led by superstars and aided by role players). The Red sox have no superstars and this is being done by average baseball players at best. Never seen anything like this!

I'll nitpick a little bit on this and say some of their players are actually very good and have been for their careers so far.

Wilyer Abreu 3+ bWAR in 24 and 25.

Ceddanne Rafaela 3 in 24, 4.9 bWAR in 25.

Caleb Durbin 2.7 bWAR in 25

Contreras pretty consistently a 3+ bWAR guy.