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Fuss about 'sign stealing' between Red Sox and Yankees

Posted September. 08, 2017 07:49,   

Updated September. 08, 2017 08:50

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“I was aware that the players were trying to steal signs, but did not know they were using electronics,” Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said about the recent controversies over “stealing signs” at the match with New York Yankees.

The hot debate picked up when Yankees players started to raise eyebrows over their arch rival Red Sox batters who for some reasons swung too easily. Whenever the Yankees fastball pitchers threw breaking balls, Boston batters swung to the fullest, as if chopping firewood. At first, everyone thought the batters got their guesses right. However, those guesses turned out to be too good to be true.

The mystery was solved by a Yankees staff who played over the video filmed on the recent match on Aug. 19. The video showed a Red Sox trainer receiving an instant message on his Apple Watch. He later sent that message to one of the players at the dugout, and that player forwarded the message to the runner on the second base. Again, the runner sent the sign to the batter on the box. Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman immediately filed an official complaint with the Major League commissioner’s office that Red Sox stole their signs.

During the investigation, Boston trainers acknowledged they could save time sending signs to the batter by using the Apple Watch. However, using electronic devices at the dugout is clearly against the regulation. The signs interpreted by Red Sox video analysts who watched the camera installed on the central outfield were then sent to dugout trainers’ Apple Watch. Those who were questioned during the investigation stated that Farrell and other fronts were not aware of this illegal cheating.

Against this backdrop, Red Sox engaged in a counterattack on Wednesday, claiming that Yankees rather monitored their dugout through YES television network to steal their signs, an assertion the Yankees immediately denied. “We will conduct a thorough investigation on both sides,” the commissioner said. Though the rival match during the regular season ended, the psychological warfare between the two Major League teams continues to heat up.



Bo-Mi Im bom@donga.com