Live discussion: What do all those signs in baseball mean?

Join The Times’ Kevin Baxter and Mike Hiserman a live discussion at 12:30 p.m. on baseball’s game within the game -- all those wordless signs between the manager, coaches and players.

Baxter described the complex system that delivers messages within seconds in Monday’s Times:

“During a typical nine-inning baseball game, there are hundreds of sign sequences, each part of a distinct strategy — telling the runner to steal, the batter not to swing at a pitch, or directing the fielders how to defend against a bunt.

“Keeping everyone on the same page is imperative. The infielders need to know where the catcher’s throw is going to go if there is a runner at third and a runner at first tries to steal second base; a baserunner looking to steal needs to know whether the batter has been ordered to bunt.

“It’s all done knowing the opposing team has players and coaches who are trying to crack your code.”

Angels bench coach Rob Picciolo told Baxter: “There’s a lot that goes on in the course of a game. It sounds complicated, but once you do it every day, you get used to it.”

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