Blue Jays furious at Devil Rays
The Toronto Blue Jays are upset with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after an incident occurred Monday during the game, when Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier slid into home plate and took a card that fell out of the Blue Jays catcher's wrist band, the card contained the Blue Jays game plans on pitching to Devil Rays hitters, here is the video of the incident and the story:
Blue Jays Livid After Rays OF Kevin Kiermaier Takes Card With Team's Pitching Plan
It looks like we may have another ethics discussion brewing in baseball.
With the memory of the Astros' sign-stealing scandal still very fresh in the minds of players and fans alike, the Rays and Blue Jays have themselves mired in a conflict centered on gaining the upper hand. This time, it's Tampa Bay's Gold Glove center fielder Kevin Kiermaier who's the focal point of the discussion.
During Monday's game, Kiermaier scored in the sixth inning after sliding to avoid the tag of Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk. On the tag attempt, a card fell out of Kirk's wristband and landed directly in front of Kiermaier, who was still on the ground. After looking at it for a beat, he picked it up and took it into the dugout.
The card contained Toronto's game plan on pitching to Rays hitters, and the Blue Jays are "pissed" at the situation, according to Sportsnet's Arash Madani, who spoke to Kiermaier on Tuesday for his perspective on the incident.
“The play happened so fast. … I picked it up, didn’t know what it was, whether it was mine or not. They’re all pretty similar, and then as I picked it up, I realized it was that,” Kiermaier said. “I never even looked at it, I’ll say that. But at the same time, I’m not going to drop it or hand it back.
“Everything was so quick and after I did it I was like, ‘Dang, their scouting reports or whatever it was, was on the ground and I grabbed it.’ Like I said, it got to the point that I’m not going to return it or do that. It’s September, whatever. I didn’t know what was going on.”
Madani reported that Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash spoke to Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo about it Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Jays quickly realized what had happened and sent a bat boy to the Rays' dugout to ask for the card back, a request that Tampa Bay reportedly scoffed at.
“I handed it to one of our other personnel in the dugout. I couldn’t even tell you what happened from that point on," Kiermaier said. "I didn’t have a conversation, but I told one of our players: ‘I think I grabbed something from them.’ I don’t even know. I just know it wasn’t mine. But, again, it got to the point that I picked it up and I wasn’t going to return it or give it back. That was definitely weird. Everything happened so fast.”
Comments
Kevin Kiermaier after the slide, going back to the dugout....
Oh wow, just wow, the Blue Jays plunked Kevin Kiermaier today in retaliation for taking the card, roll the footage!
Eric
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I think it's funny and he had no obligation to return the card though he's obviously lying about not knowing what it was. And it's seriously bush league to bean him for it.
perhaps instead of relying on a cheat sheet, the TB catcher could just study the information and keep it stored safely in his noggin.
there are what, about 14 or so position players to keep track of? doesn't seem too difficult.
just a thought.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
this is why the DH in the AL is "bush league" because a pitcher never has to face the music. that guy should have been ejected without a thought and the Umpires are the ones with the ethics problem.
oh yeah, boo hoo to Toronto. that dumb ass catcher needs to secure his stuff.