Red Sox fined for stealing signs
MLB: Boston used electronic device against Yankees.
The Boston Red Sox were fined Friday by Major League Baseball for using electronic equipment to steal signs given by a Yankees catcher this season, and New York was fined a lesser amount for improper use of a dugout telephone in an earlier year.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred did not announced the amount of the fines, which will be donated to hurricane relief efforts in Florida.
Manfred found insufficient evidence to support an allegation by Boston that the Yankees made inappropriate use of the YES Network against the Red Sox.
The New York Times reported this month video clips sent to the commissioner’s office by the Yankees showed Boston assistant athletic trainer Jon Jochim looking at an Apple Watch during an August series. Jochim then relayed information to outfielder Brock Holt and second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who was seen passing information to Chris Young.
Manfred said Boston’s owners and front office had no advance knowledge of what occurred.
He said the Red Sox violated rules by sending electronic communications from their video replay room to the trainer. He said Boston stopped the conduct when its management became aware of it.
Mets: Right-hander Noah Syndergaard could be nearing his first appearance since sustaining a torn lat muscle April 30. Manager Terry Collins said Syndergaard will be evaluated today after throwing a bullpen session without restrictions Thursday. Collins did not say when Syndergaard might pitch in a game or if he might pitch in relief. “I think we owe it to ourselves as an organization to say we’ve got to get Noah out there,” Collins said. “Peace of mind for us, peace of mind for him.”
Phillies: First baseman Rhys Hoskins’ two-run homer Thursday gave him 18 home runs in an MLB record 34 games since his promotion from Triple-A on Aug. 10. The Yankees’ Gary Sanchez previously held the record for fastest to 18 homers (in 45 games).
Cubs: Pitcher John Lackey and catcher Willson Contreras were ejected from Friday’s game after arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker in the fifth inning. The Cardinals had two runners on with two out when Lackey screamed at Baker after he called a ball on a 2-2 pitch to Carlos Martinez near the knees and outside corner. Martinez hit the next pitch for an RBI single, and Lackey screamed again at the umpire as he ran toward the plate. Contreras also got into it with Baker and slammed his catcher’s mask to the ground. He was restrained by manager Joe Maddon.
Tigers: MLB ruled Detroit did not intend to throw a pitch that struck plate umpire Quinn Wolcott in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground Wednesday at Cleveland. Wolcott was hit by a fastball from Detroit’s Buck Farmer. Rookie catcher John Hicks never touched the ball as it sailed past his mitt. The incident came two batters after Wolcott ejected Tigers catcher James McCann and manager Brad Ausmus over a close pitch to Cleveland’s Jay Bruce that was called ball four.