Sox spies put on Watch
Yanks rat to MLB about stolen signs
‘(Stealing signs) has been a part of the game for a very, very long time . . . It’s the electronic equipment that creates the violation.’ — MLB COMMISSIONER ROB MANFRED
Without David Ortiz, the Red Sox offense has reverted to the Apple Watch.
The New York Times reported yesterday that the Red Sox had been using the gadget in attempt to steal signs during a series with the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in August.
Major League Baseball investigated the accusation, originally made by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, and determined the Red Sox did, in fact, execute such a plan to steal signs from the Yankees catchers and transfer the information to players in the dugout using an Apple Watch, which was being worn by a member of the training staff.
After MLB investigators confronted the Red Sox, they admitted to using their sign-stealing system for “weeks,” according to the report.
Commissioner Rob Manfred, who was at Fenway for a routine visit, said he was certain that the sign-stealing via Apple Watch was no longer taking place.
“We will conduct a thorough investigation of the charges on both sides,” he said. “I want to do it quickly, I think it’s important we get it resolved. The only thing I can tell you about repercussions is that, if there was a violation on either side, and I’m not saying there was, but to the extent there was a violation on either side, we are 100 percent comfortable that it’s not an ongoing issue.”
Stealing signs is not against major league rules, Manfred said.
“It has been a part of the game for a very, very long time,” he said. “To the extent that there was a violation of the rule here, it was a violation by one or the other that involved the use of electronic equipment. It’s the electronic equipment that creates the violation.”
Asked about the story before last night’s game, Sox manager John Farrell did not deny nor confirm the report.
“Aware of the rule, that electronic devices are not to be used in the dugout,” Farrell said. “But beyond that the only thing I can say is it’s a league matter at this point.”
Outfielder Chris Young and Red Sox team trainers were interviewed by the league, according to the report, and the Sox told the investigators that Farrell, nor president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, nor any front office officials were aware of the sign stealing.
But Dombrowski, speaking generally, defended the act of sign-stealing.
“Do I think sign-stealing is wrong? No, I don’t,” he said. “I guess it depends how you do it. But no I never thought it was wrong.
“People are trying to win however they can. It’s an edge they are trying to gain. Sometimes your sophistication of signs can make a difference.”
Dombrowski seemed agitated that the Yankees went so far as to file a formal complaint with the commissioner’s office.
“Usually the general manager calls you and says, ‘Here’s a situation I’d like to discuss with you,’ and I’ve had that happen maybe 10 times in my career,” he said, noting it’s the first time in his career he ever had to deal with a situation like this through the commissioner.
The Sox responded by filing a complaint against the Yankees yesterday.
Manfred said he takes the issue seriously, but he felt gamesmanship was in play.
“I do believe that this is a charged situation from a competitive perspective,” he said. “When you have the kind of rivalry the Red Sox and Yankees have, I guess it’s not shocking you could have charges and countercharges like this.”
Dombrowski seemed to suggest that the Yankees purposely leaked the story yesterday, given the commissioner’s scheduled visit to Fenway Park.
“This is not new, this has been something that has been going on for 1012 days,” Dombrowski said. “Something like that. Maybe two weeks. The Yankees decide they want to give it today, for whatever reason. I think maybe because it just so happened the commissioner is in town today. I’m not sure there is a direct correlation to that.”
Manfred said he expects a decision on punishment to be handed out before the end of the season.
While the commissioner has the power to take away wins from a team, he doesn’t expect to do so.
“Has it ever happened with this type of allegation? I think the answer is — I know the answer is — no,” he said. “And the reason for that is it’s just very hard to know what the actual impact in any particular game was of an alleged violation like this.
“When I think about punishment, I think you need to think about deterrents. I think you need to think about how the violation has affected the play on the field, and I think you need to think about how it’s affected the perception of the game publicly. All of those things are something that you have to weigh in terms of trying to get to appropriate discipline.”
In Baltimore, Yankees manager Joe Girardi defended the grievance.
“This has been a concern of mine in baseball for a long time and what we do to try to combat the catchers having to go out all the
‘Do I think sign-stealing is wrong? No, I don’t. I guess it depends how you do it. But no I never thought it was wrong.’ — SOX PRESIDENT OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS DAVE DOMBROWSKI
time,” Girardi said. “It’s something I’ve been speaking up about a long time, that headsets are needed. There has to be a way to protect signs. Stealing signs has been part of the game for a long, long time — signs, location and different things. It’s something in baseball I think we need to help on because we’re talking about pace of play. Pace of play has slowed down because of this.”
Manfred acknowledged attempts to speed up pace of play this year have failed. He’s optimistic rules will be in place next season to help.