MILWAUKEE — An Unusual Strategy in Pitch Signaling

Recently, a baseball game showcased what might be the most intricate—yet perhaps overt—attempt to distract a pitcher.

During the fourth inning on Saturday, Andy Pages successfully made it to second base on a double. He stayed alert the entire time.

Every time Robert Gasser, the Brewers’ left-handed pitcher, threw a pitch, Pages engaged in a series of hand gestures, seemingly to communicate with his batter.

This kind of tactic isn’t new; it’s a completely permissible aspect of strategy in baseball. If a base runner can identify the type of pitch being thrown, there are many creative ways to signal to teammates at the plate.

In fact, Pages has made this a routine of sorts. Once he’s on second base, he tends to signal regardless of whether he knows what pitch is coming.

“We’re doing our best in those situations,” Pages commented about being in the midst of pitch signaling. He added that there are occasions when it feels like the pitcher is being distracted intentionally.

Upon reflection, Saturday seemed more like a distraction tactic. Pages made several hand motions while Gasser threw eight out of ten pitches, yet there didn’t appear to be a discernible pattern corresponding to actual signals.

While Will Smith was batting, Gasser delivered a changeup, and Pages raised his left arm. Smith swung and ended up getting an out. Next was Kyle Tucker, who observed Pages tapping his helmet before Gasser threw different pitches, leading to Tucker getting walks.

What drew attention on Saturday was what transpired next.

As Teoscar Hernandez stepped up, Pages conducted a right-handed helmet tap before Gasser’s next pitch. After missing the swing, he then had a left-handed helmet tap and an arm extension before a changeup led to another strike.

Eventually, with a count of 0-2, Pages reverted to just extending his left arm before the subsequent pitch from Gasser.

This time, Hernandez connected for a three-run home run, turning the tide of the game in favor of the Dodgers, who won 11-3.

After the game, Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested that Pages had indeed caught on to Gasser’s signals. However, in an interview the next day, Pages insisted that his gestures were merely a ruse.

When asked if he assisted in Hernandez’s success, he chuckled, dismissing the idea.

It’s possible the truth lies somewhere in the middle. If Pages were genuinely deciphering Gasser’s signals, it wouldn’t be particularly wise to admit it publicly.

“Sometimes I just take the credit,” he joked.

But even the Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, seemed to think that Saturday was not a clear case of signaling.

“Honestly, I doubt we had any indication of that,” he reflected, adding that while Hernandez made a good swing, the situation wasn’t ideal.

Regardless, Pages’ intent appears to be simply getting into a pitcher’s head, regardless of whether he truly has any insights to offer.

“That’s part of the game,” Pages noted. “Doing things that may distract the pitcher is essential. It doesn’t matter if he leaves a pitch at the plate or not; it’s just about the back-and-forth exchange.”

Roberts seemed to appreciate Pages’ approach to unsettling pitchers.

“If you can make the pitcher believe he’s been signaled, you’ve already won,” he emphasized.

However, he added a caveat: sometimes, it’s better for the runner to remain less conspicuous so as not to distract the batter. Pages’ tendency to rush pitchers is something Roberts seems to value.

How much this strategy truly benefits the Dodgers, though, remains an open question. Pages’ statistics don’t significantly outshine those of his teammates.

When Gasser was asked about the incident post-game, he admitted he noticed Pages making gestures. So, whether or not Pages effectively tipped any pitches, it seemed he achieved what he set out to do.

“Did you get it? That’s part of the gamesmanship,” Roberts concluded.