When you think about a PitchCom malfunction, you’re probably thinking about when the device that allows the pitcher and the catcher to communicate pitch signs malfunctions. Say a battery dies or the radio waves get interrupted. Something like that.
But! Did you know that position players can listen in on the pitch calls to help with positioning? Up to five guys can have sound devices to hear the pitch calls. Kinda neat. That, too, can malfunction, however.
I didn’t QUITE have this in mind, though:
“This stupid daggone thing … if I could just … maybe if I unplug the … AH CRAP BALL! BALL! BALL!”
To his credit, Josh Donaldson recovered quickly on that one to make the play, which was made all the more impressive by his hat (and PitchCom receiver) laying off to his side. Gonna need to fix that one between innings!