The Astros are in everyone's heads, whether the Yankees are tipping pitches or not

Did they pick up on something with James Paxton?

Remember how the Houston Astros knew the pitches thrown by Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow because if his glove was up, it was a fastball and if it was down, it was a curveball?

Well, it might have happened again in the ALCS. Or it didn’t. But you have to imagine that if a team like the New York Yankees knew the Astros were shrewdly figuring out opposing pitchers’ tendencies, it might spook them.

In Game 2 on Sunday, Yankees hurler James Paxton lasted just two and a third innings and gave up one run and four hits. Paxton didn’t think he was tagged early because of tipping and nor did manager Aaron Boone, who told the media “We’re pretty vigilant on that stuff.”

But here’s Astros star Alex Bregman appearing to signal something about “glove” to the dugout:

And that’s significant. From MLB.com:

Here’s what we know: the Astros picked up that Paxton was tipping his pitches on April 10, and they proceeded to pound him for five runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings. The left-hander changed his hand placement in his next start on April 16 against the Red Sox and allowed only two hits and one walk in eight scoreless innings. It was Yankees special advisor Carlos Beltrán who first suggested that Paxton was tipping his pitches.

There was also this observation:

Either way, here’s a message for Yankees pitchers and anyone else who faces the Astros: if you’ve got something that’s tipping off the other team to what you’re throwing, clean it up. It’s clear the Astros are paying attention — as they should! — and will be happy to take advantage.