Red Sox To Face Discipline for Stealing Signs Electronically
By David Hill
Stealing signs is a time honored tradition in baseball, one that occasionally comes to the forefront, but is somewhat expected. The Boston Red Sox alleged usage of electronics to steal signs, however, goes beyond what is accepted.
In New England sports, using electronics for a competitive advantage is the realm of Bill Belichick and the Patriots. From Spygate to rumors of bugged locker rooms, Belichick is essentially the NFL’s version of a criminal mastermind. The fact that the Patriots have had so much success only feeds into the sense that something suspicious is happening at Foxboro.
However, the Patriots may not be the only team in the area to use electronic means of spying on their opponents to their advantage. According to Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times, the Boston Red Sox were using various devices to steal signs from the Yankees. Understandably, this has led to an investigation by Major League Baseball, which has upheld these claims.
Manfred: “We actually do not have a rule against sign stealing.” Violation would be because of use of electronic equipment.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) September 5, 2017
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The items in question were an Apple watch and other assorted technological items. While devices such as iPads are allowed in the dugout, none of them are internet capable, or can stream videos. Having something in the dugout that can access the internet and lead to the viewing of live video is against the rules, leading to the probability that the Red Sox will face some punishment from the game.
Of course, the same sort of allegations into stealing signs are being made against the Yankees. The Red Sox are claiming the YES Network cameras were aimed into the Red Sox dugout to steal signs as well. This is a claim that Joe Girardi and New York expressly denied.
Dave Dombrowski says he’s aware that there’s an investigation, and that there’s also an investigation taking place looking into the Yankees.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) September 5, 2017
It is important to note that the issue here is specifically with the usage of electronic devices. Stealing signs, while not actively encouraged, is a time honored tradition. Every team attempts to do so, and if they are successful, it can lead to an advantage. This is why so many teams are willing to take the risk to get those precious signs.
However, as the Boston Red Sox are set to find out, using electronic means to steal signs goes beyond what is excepted. As such, Major League Baseball will be handing out some discipline in the coming days.