Wireless, more but mostly less.

By now you've probably read that the Major Baseball League (MBL) has made a deal with the minor wireless company (T-Mobile) for very limited wireless communication between the dugout and bullpen with restricted physical access.  Not a big deal.  It merely replaces the dugout phones but does not add functionality.

Here are some of my past posts on wireless:

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Signs are archaic.

Why not use wireless communication, you know, like the rest of us do?  All defensive players could be connected and aware of all that is happening.  That would eliminate:
1. catcher's signs to the pitcher; the pitching coach can call the game
2. SS & 2B getting the catcher's signs and relaying them to each other
3. coaches waving towels to OF to get them to change their defensive position
4. MEETINGS!  Just tell the damn pitcher what to do from the dugout!
5. third base coach signs.  Just tell the damn batter what to do from the dugout!
6. signs to base runners.

There has been closed circuit phone communication between the dugout and bullpen for many years.
Go wireless.  It should speed up the game.
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Get the coaches off the field!

What the heck are coaches doing on the playing field? Neither basketball nor football allow coaches on the playing field...

Of course, it would be even better if MLB used wireless communication, like the rest of humanity.
Get those coaches the heck off the field!
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Saturday, July 18, 2009
Coaches everywhere.

Use wireless communication between manager/coaches and players and among players.
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
Phone between dugout and bullpen: are gambling and social networking issues for MLB?

Quoting a New York Times article:

"only real restriction baseball placed on communication between the dugout and the bullpen was that it be conducted through a direct line with no outside-calling capabilities"

"Regular cellphones are banned from the dugout ...  telephones have been used in major league dugouts and bullpens since at least 1930"

"In addition to cellphones, laptop computers are also banned for dugout-bullpen communication, according to the baseball spokesman Pat Courtney. A pre-approved form of walkie-talkie can be used if a landline fails, Courtney said, provided the affected team alerts the umpiring crew."


My comments:

MLB forces managers and coaches to bring those big binders into the dugout, rather than  laptops, iPads, etc.

Part of it may be MLB does not want players and coaches with access to the Internet.  Otherwise they could just use smart phones.  NFL bans that in games.  One issue, especially for MLB with its history would be communicating with gamblers during a game.  That would be  HUGE scandal.

Gambling.  Devices that connect can be used to communicate with gamblers.  That's my guess.  Also, general purpose stupidity like tweeting moronic thoughts.

You could only let the manager have one but I think they're banned in dugouts because MLB does not want a Pete Rose memorial laptop.  Wasn't Pete supposedly on the phone during games that he managed for Cincinnati, possibly calling his bookies.  That's also probably why the phones are not supposed to reach anything other than the bullpen.
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