"Did they steal the signs?" Wild conspiracy theories erupt in U.S. over Dodgers' shocking elimination: Fan support or disgraceful behavior?

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The Los Angeles Dodgers, who had ambitiously aimed for a third consecutive World Series championship, suffered the humiliation of four straight losses in the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and packed their bags in vain. However, what leaves a more bitter taste than the shock of elimination is the absurd "cheating suspicion" that surfaced immediately after the series ended. Some extreme fans who could not accept the defeat and local media are drawing criticism for raising baseless conspiracy theories.

The Dodgers lost 4-6 to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the 2026 NLCS, held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 16th (Korean time), falling 0-4 in the series and being swept out. They were completely overwhelmed by the solid strength of Milwaukee, which had recorded 103 wins in the regular season.

However, according to the New York Post and other outlets, a conspiracy theory spread like wildfire on social media (SNS) immediately after the game, claiming that "Milwaukee knew the Dodgers' pitchers' pitches in advance before stepping into the batter's box." The claim was that signs had been illegally stolen and relayed.

The evidence cited by those raising the conspiracy theory is extremely weak. The targets were the scene where Milwaukee's Jake Bauwer walked off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 after a grueling battle lasting until the 12th pitch, as well as the persistent full-count battles against Blake Snell in Game 3 and Tyler Glasnow in Game 4. The reason given was that they endured the powerful pitches of the opposing aces too well.

Adding to this, Garrett Mitchell, who had managed only one home run in 107 at-bats against left-handed pitchers during the regular season, hit two home runs against top-tier left-handers like Snell and Tanner Scott during the series, turning suspicion into conviction. Forced claims such as "an investigation is needed" are being made over the inherent charm of baseball, where players overcome unfavorable data to hit valuable long balls.

The person who poured oil on this absurd speculation was David Basse, host of the Dodgers' dedicated radio show "Dodgers Talk." He claimed to have received texts from multiple active players during Game 2 stating that "Milwaukee batters seem to already know Yamamoto's pitches and are hitting accordingly," thereby publicizing the suspicion. He also asked Cincinnati Reds legendary batter Joey Votto about the possibility of Yamamoto's "pitching habits" being exposed. Votto replied, "It is entirely possible that Milwaukee picked up on something."

However, the essence of the controversy is revealed here. Reading a pitcher's habits is clearly "legal scouting" and an important skill in baseball. Studying subtle differences in a pitcher's grip, glove angle, and release point to attack from the batter's box has been normal analysis throughout Major League Baseball history. Dodgers' Max Muncy has also openly stated that he thoroughly analyzes pitchers' habits.

The Dodgers bench, which actually watched the crushing defeat on the field, remained calm. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted the complete defeat cleanly by saying "We lost" immediately after the loss in Game 4. He respected the opponent's perfect performance rather than hiding behind anonymous tips or cowardly excuses.

Milwaukee dominated the Dodgers throughout all four games with a powerful pitching staff, precise hitting, agile baserunning, and impeccable defense. What they needed was not hidden cameras or code decoders, but simply better baseball skills.

Milwaukee, which advanced to the World Series stage for the first time in 44 years since 1982, is fully deserving of praise. What Dodgers fans, who have stepped down from the champion's throne, need now is not the disgraceful behavior of hiding behind baseless conspiracy theories. The New York Post also wrote that it was "such an absurd defeat."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original