RE: Your #1:
There's usually an "activator" sign, whereas after the activator sign is given, any proceeding valid "signs" are considered to be the _actual_ sign given.
There's usually an "activator" sign, whereas after the activator sign is given, any proceeding valid "signs" are considered to be the _actual_ sign given.
I've also seen a modification on that where the number of strikes/balls/whatever is added to the first one, so one example would be 2 strikes, 2 1 2 1 3 2 would be the #3 pitch.
That last one is easy to mess up, so might only be used for fast baserunners (A runner might want to steal 3rd on a changeup or curveball - both pitches that are likely to end up close to the ground- , but will not want to try on a high fastball), as the simplest use of sign stealing is for taking 3rd base.