NEW YORK —The series against the rival Red Sox is even heading into a matchup on Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN tonight at Yankee Stadium. While much of the attention will be on headline storylines — such as Carlos Rodón pitching under significant pressure, the Yankees aiming to defeat a struggling Red Sox team, and Hunter Dobbins’ pointed comment to the Boston Herald, stating, “I’ve said it before, that if the Yankees were the last team to give me a contract, I’d retire” — a deeper layer of gamesmanship deserves attention.
This past week, the drama surrounding the Boston Red Sox escalated during their series against the Angels, which included a pre-game scuffle stemming from accusations that the Red Sox were stealing signs. Initially, the incident seemed insignificant — until a video breakdown by Jimmy O’Brien of Jomboy Media, based in New Jersey, brought renewed attention to the situation.
To preface, there is little that is outright illegal about this situation. It primarily falls under gamesmanship, and it is the responsibility of the opposing team to protect against sign stealing. The only thing I found illegal was the first base coach was not standing in the first base coachers box, at all, during the sequence, giving him a better look at how the catcher is moving in the box based on what pitch was called.
However, I believe this has been occurring against the Yankees in each of the past two games. On Friday night, Will Warren was dominant through the first five innings, allowing only one run on a solo home run by Marcelo Mayer, before unraveling in the sixth inning and finishing with a rough final line. Brent Headrick also looked sharp through the first three batters he faced, but, like Warren, struggled once Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers stepped in, leading to a breakdown.
For the remainder of the game, Cruz, Loáisiga, and Williams each pitched just one inning — too little time for the coaching staff to adjust to potential sign issues. Headrick, however, remained in the game to finish the sixth and start the seventh, and was roughed up after striking out Ceddanne Rafaela in the seventh.
The Yankees need to be more aware with their catcher deekes with Wells and Escarra to make sure the opponent is not stealing signs tonight, and going forward, off the starter (tonight being Rodón), and the bullpen.