I see absolutely no problem with stealing signs using old fashioned methods. Essentially, watch what the other team signs and deduce what the signs mean without using anything other than the players/coaches eyes on the field. No one in the press box. No one in the stands. Just the guys in the dugout or on the field.
For me at least, these changes didnt alter the look of the game. I didn't say it was impossible. Like Seal said, I just think the push back by traditionalist will slow the progress. Valid point.
No longer forcing pitchers to throw 4 pitches to intentionally walk a guy changes the look. Having umpires get on headsets for almost every close play, every scoring play, every "rules clarification", even for seeing if guys were hit by pitches certainly changes the look of the game. After last night's 18 inning debacle (yes, when guys are just trying to hit HR's every AB in extras, its a debacle)... I'm fully ready to have a runner at 2B to start the inning if the game goes into the 12th. What's most important (and least realized around here), is that the game looks vastly different now than what it was when most of the modern elements were implemented.... constant pitching changes, mound visits, sign relaying, specialists of all types. The proposed changes being discussed will just be another version of evolution of the game.
Although I realize it, I admit its happened gradually enough that ive adapted to how things are now better than some others may have. For the record, I am not against evolution in principle. I have just elucidated some of its potential impediments.
There will always be opponents to change. Not too long ago, people were dead set against using any sort of replay. Then, when they saw how many close calls there actually were/game, they all reversed course and called for an expansion of what can and cannot be reviewable. I expect the same sort of blowback when the pitch clock and batters box step out violations are enforced. I actually think the extra inning rule change is perfect. All other sports treat their overtime differently... (hockey, basketball is only 5 minutes, football, etc) and baseball should evolve that as well.
