These days, everyone wants a source for every bit of information that comes out. The Toronto Blue Jays team Twitter account was not enough of a source for one fan.
One has to be careful on the internet. With fake accounts, people pretending to be insiders, and other folks making things up for their own purpose, it can be difficult to get accurate information. Team feeds can be the best source of information, although, as the Toronto Blue Jays discovered, not everyone will accept that.
Such was an exchange that the Blue Jays Twitter feed had on Thursday when they announced a lineup change. Justin Smoak had a stiff neck, and was taken out of the lineup. However, one person wanted a source, leading to the following exchange:
Literally us, the Blue Jays.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 4, 2019
I mean, let’s face it – there is not going to be a better source than the team for injuries or news about the franchise. Trades? Roster moves? Free agent signings? The team would know who is going through that door. And, who is unable to play.
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It is not outside the realm of possibility that there is a fake team site out there. People get creative when it comes to finding ways to mess with others online. However, it is doubtful that someone would put in the effort needed to get the blue checkmark on Twitter, or would somehow co-opt the Blue Jays name.
Yet, it is the internet, after all. People will immediately believe any article with a flashy title and any dubious information as long as someone with a purported title makes those claims. Fake News, as some would call it, permeates every site, no matter how much one tries to guard against it.
There are some sources that are more trustworthy than others. Even in the baseball industry, there are those people whose reports are met with acceptance, just from the virtue of their name. Yet, when a team claims that a player is injured, chances are they would know as their employer.
On Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays kept Justin Smoak out of the lineup due to neck tightness. However, for one person, they were not a credible enough source of information.