In professional baseball players can be fined for missing or disobeying signals from their coaches. If a squeeze play is on, that thrilling play when the batter bunts and the runner on third tries to reach the plate, and the batter decides not to bunt, the runner on third is out by several steps. After the game, the batter is often fined by his team--fines reaching into the thousands. Why? Following signs or signals is part of every team's game preparation. It's as much a part of practice and game readiness as time in the batting cage or conditioning. In short, it's following directions, something required of any employee or teammate for a successful group effort.

Jacob is looking for a defensive signal.

During the first season of Heads Up Baseball an interesting series of events occurred in the 13-15 division. A young pitcher was having a good day on the mound. Jonathan Fields was pitching a shutout late in the game when a bloop single resulted in a change of routine and a small threat from the opposing team. Switching to the stretch, Jonathan was about to throw to plate when his coach calmly yelled his name. Without saying any more the coach made a motion to his chest. Most people realized what had just happened. The coach got Jonathan's attention to give him a signal. However, only Jonathan and his observant teammates knew what the signal meant. Jonathan held the runner to first and was out of the inning a short time later. What exactly did that motion to the chest mean? Would the signal mean the same thing the next time? Only the coach and his teammates would know.

What was apparent in this situation was paying attention to the coach, or the person giving directions. Sometimes, the signals come from the pitcher. Before a pitch, he might wipe his mitt on his right leg which signals to his second baseman a pick-off play. The catcher sends signals to the pitcher on nearly every pitch. Tapping the inside of his right leg usually means an outside pitch to a right-handed batter. The number one often means "bring the heat--throw him a fastball." We've all seen pitchers shake their heads several times before pitching--they're shaking off a sign. The "bulldog," Orel Hershiser, simply stares at his catcher until he agrees with a sign.

At times, the pitcher and catcher (the battery), get signals crossed. Perhaps one forgot what the shakeoff sign was. Occasionally, you'll see a catcher set up on the inside of the plate and suddenly jump to the outside. It could be a missed pitch, or it was just as likely a missed sign and the pitcher thought the setup was simply to fake out the batter. During the 1984 divisional playoffs the Chicago Cubs were the closest they had been in nearly a century to winning the pennant. Against the San Diego Padres a bizarre miscue occurred when the pitcher missed a call for a pitch out-that play which gives the advantage to the catcher in throwing out a runner attempting to steal. The catcher jumped up and to the first-base side for the pitchout only to watch a sizzling fastball right down the middle. The batter missed and the ball struck the defenseless umpire in the midsection, suspending play for a bit.

Some batters take a peek back to the catcher to try to steal signs--to get that little bit of an edge. Other times, a runner on second will try to figure out the sequence of signs and then, using predetermined signals, inform the batter of the forthcoming pitch. Some third-base coaches will go through a silly looking series of signs to the batter just to confuse the opponents. They appear to be wiping off bugs or trying to fly without getting airborne. The very first signal may have told the batter that everything else is just a decoy. Teams may change signals in the middle of game because the opponents catch on. If Jonathan's coach went to his chest another time with a runner on base, the opponents would probably guess the directions being relayed if the signs weren't changed.

There are some clear stages in giving signals.

First, you need to be observant--paying attention to the directions from the key players involved. Benches are full of players who lose focus and mental toughness during game time. If you miss a sign and throw a 100-mph fastball to a batter who likes fastballs but embarrasses himself on off-speed pitches, you could lose the game for your team even though you demonstrated great physical skill.

Second, you need to understand what the signal means. If you're observant and pick up the sign, yet forget its meaning, you'll have to call a timeout in order to follow directions. In professional football several quarterbacks keep long lists of plays taped to their wrists and a list of calls or signals for those plays. In baseball, batters will occasionally walk down to the base coach to make sure they're on the same page with signals.

The slightest gesture from a coach can be a signal which transforms a game. (Artist: Ron Magellan, father of Heads Up player Nathan. Used with permission)

A third component of following signs is just that--following the instructions given. We need to trust our coaches. As a pitcher or an infielder, you might shakeoff the sign of a teammate, but not those from your coaches. They have seen thousands of game situations and can give direction based on years of wisdom and oftentimes on the best statistical probabilities. In the same game that Jonathan followed the sign, his opposing pitcher could have used a sign on a two-out, 1-2 pitch that was rocketed over the center field fence. Had the coaches known the statistics on slugger Nick, and the type of pitch he typically drives, the game may have turned out quite differently.

A final component of following directions is execution. While the first three parts involve clear communication, this aspect involves hours of training and conditioning to pull off the play. It's the execution that places the pro players on the field and their coaches on the sidelines. While the latter are capable leaders, they've lost their youthful skills--their ability to execute with precision.

These lessons on signals for game situations are similar to more important situations off the field. During the early history of humankind, God gave us several signs and clear directions that He indeed is God and that we should follow Him. Many of these signs require serious Bible study to understand their deeper meanings. However, some are straightforward. One of the signs and messages given in the Old Testament was that Jesus Christ would come as the Messiah, which He did 2,000 years ago. Many people missed these signs, preoccupied with daily affairs. Others chose simply to disobey them. They understood but chose not to follow the clear message given from God. For those who choose the right path and have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives, it still requires a daily effort to execute his plan, that is, to live like Christ instructed. And like learning the game of baseball, there are wise coaches in our churches that can point us in the right direction. Like the third-base coach who sends a runner home on a close play, they may not always explain a passage correctly, but the majority of time you will find their help invaluable and cross home plate safely. The final authority, the source of our signals whether through a coach or not, should always be the Scripture itself.

The Bible makes it clear that God has given us signs, information about Himself and directions on how to live. The most prominent sign was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31.