The moment could have been purely about baseball brilliance. It was a night when the Yankees’ star at second base delivered in a big way, crushing a late homer against the Twins and etching his name alongside team greats in the record books. It was the kind of milestone that cements Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s place in team history, and it had fans buzzing for all the right reasons. However, as the glow of that win lingered, a new interaction started to unfold online.

It began with a post from @KutterIsKing, sharing a short clip from a current game with the caption: “THEY WERE CHEATING AND STILL STRUCK OUT LMFAOOOOO.” In the video, Chisholm Jr. is seen standing on second base, making subtle motions toward Paul Goldschmidt. “Well, that’s part of the game. If you’re going to make it obvious, you can pick it up,” the commentary said, highlighting that catchers and pitchers are always wary of runners on second, who are “picking up signs.” The implication was clear: this was not just baserunning; it was a possible pitch relay.

The reaction? Quick fireworks. Yankees fans jumped in; however, one reply from @legendarynoah24 concluded the counterpoint best: “It’s not cheating 😂. If the pitcher and catcher allow the baserunner to see the pitch signal it’s perfectly within the rules to relay it to the hitter. It becomes cheating when technology etc. gets involved.” This distinction between old-school and on-field gamesmanship and current, tech-driven scandals quickly became the focus of the debate.

For the fans, this was not just about defending a star; it was about defending a tradition as much a part of MLB as hot dogs and seventh-inning stretches. With Chisholm fresh off joining the rare list of Alfonso Soriano and Joe Gordon as the only Yankees second basemen to post a 20-homer and 15-steal season, some saw the timing of the claim as more than just coincidence.

However, the interaction did not stop with some heated back-and-forths—it snowballed into a full-blown showdown between fans and critics, with fans firing off takes blending MLB knowledge, rivalry jabs, and a bit of old-fashioned trolling.

Fans clap back with passion, humour, and baseball know-how

One fan established the tone early, reminding all where the actual rulebook stands: “Stealing signs is not cheating. Unless you use electronics or smash garbage cans in the dugout.” The reference to the Astros’ 2017 scandal was hard to miss, where they were accused of stealing signs in the 2017 and 2018 seasons and were later found guilty as well. It underscored the vital difference between what Chisholm Jr. was accused of and what MLB punishes. In fact, under current MLB guidelines, only tech-assisted schemes cross the legal line—everything else falls under the category of gamesmanship.

Another fan kept things light, highlighting the most basic scoreboard issue of the night: “They’re still winning tonight. Lol.” The fan was not wrong. The Yankees ended that game with a 6-2 victory over the Twins, powered by timely hitting and an elite bullpen. It was a reminder that no matter the chatter digitally, the team’s performance on the field remained the ultimate mic drop.

Another fan shifted the spotlight elsewhere, like the commenter, writing: “That’s not cheating. Cheating is what the Red Sox did in 2017.” This jab was backed by data—in September 2017, MLB fined the Red Sox for utilizing a smartwatch to steal signs, prompting Rob Manfred to issue a memo warning that future electronic sign-stealing activities could lead to severe penalties, including the loss of draft picks. Compared to that, a baserunner flashing hand signals feels almost quaint.

Other fans went the purist route, critiquing the Yankees and defending the practice: “Yankees suck, but that’s not cheating. On-field signal stealing has always been part of the game. Takes a special boon to miss the pitch he knows is coming.” The irony was not lost on them—if a hitter truly had advance notice of the pitch and still whiffed, could the real story be that it wasn’t the real story at all?

Then, of course, there was the inevitable full-throttle rivalry banter: “Your coach is the biggest cheating scumbag of all time. Shut up, fat boy.” It was pure internet fuel—zero rulebook citations, plenty of passion, and a dash of personal insult, and this was dedicated to Red Sox, specifically, Alex Cora. Baseball debates have always thrived on such moments, where reason and conoetition mix into something uniquely volatile.

The online clash over Chisholm Jr.’s alleged sign relaying revealed more about MLB’s culture than any single play could. Fans drew lines between legal and illegal activities, dragged old scandals back into the spotlight, and never missed a chance to flex their team loyalties. Whether you see it as a clever approach or an issue, one thing is certain—the debate is not dying anytime soon.