I'm not sure about the vitriol regarding the ball four signs. My interpretation is the pitcher/ thrower should have never gotten to a ball three count. Just throw strikes.
It really isn't a sign worth overthinking. They're saying get the ball in the zone. If they posted a sign saying, "Bring the heat every pitch" we'd have people saying they should be focusing on getting in the zone, not just blowing it by people.
I don't think Nationals pitchers are seeing those signs and reading it as, "Ah, yes, I'm going to go out there and drop my fast ball into the 80's to make certain I can place it in the zone!"
