SLAP AP ON THE WRIST WATCH
Sox only fined for sign-stealing scam Yankees also hit with minor penalty MLB fined Dustin Pedroia’s Red Sox for stealing signs using an Apple Watch. The Yanks were levied a lesser sum for improperly using a bullpen phone.
If the Yankees had hoped to deal a significant blow to the Red Sox when they accused Boston of using electronics to steal signs from their catchers during a series at Fenway Park last month, they didn’t get their wish Friday.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced the Red Sox were guilty of the charge and fined them an undisclosed amount, but he also fined the Yankees a lesser undisclosed amount for improper use of a bullpen phone during a previous season.
As expected, there was no discipline of any player or coach, but there was some thought the Red Sox would be forced to give up a draft pick.
Instead, all teams were notified that “future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions, including the possible loss of draft picks.”
“It’s over,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said following batting practice, after the penalties were made public. “We move forward and that’s all I can tell you.”
The funds from the fines will be donated to hurricane relief efforts in Florida.
The battle between the two AL East rivals began when the Yankees sent video to MLB with evidence alleging members of the Red Sox’s training staff used an Apple Watch to relay information from video personnel to players during a series in Boston from Aug. 18-20.
The Yankees had previously suspected the Red Sox of stealing signs and lodged a formal complaint after becoming annoyed the practice continued. During those three games at Fenway, the Red Sox went 10for-30 with runners in scoring position.
MLB rules do not prohibit stealing signs, but using electronics to do so is not allowed.
After the complaint, the Red Sox admitted to the wrongdoing, which contributed to the light penalty levied Friday.
In his statement, Manfred said “the violation in question occurred without the knowledge of ownership or front office personnel” and “when the Red Sox learned of the Yankees’ complaint, they immediately halted the conduct in question and then cooperated completely in my investigation.”
Manfred acknowledged improved technology in the game “has made it increasingly difficult to monitor appropriate and inappropriate uses of electronic equipment.”
Boston responded to the Yankees’ complaint by filing one of its own, alleging the “Yankees had made improper use of the YES Network in an effort to decipher the Red Sox signs.”
The Red Sox believed the Yankees used a camera to pick up signs from the Boston dugout, but sources said the Yankees denied the allegations and MLB’s investigation found “insufficient evidence” to support the accusation. However, the league found the Yankees had violated rules prior to this season by “violating a rule governing the use of the dugout phone.”
“It’s good everybody knows what they can and can’t do,” Chase Headley said. “That’s all that really matters.”