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Colorado Rockies wild card notes: MLB investigating the Diamondbacks

By Noah Yingling

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 04: Pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies walks off the field after being removed from the game during the bottom of the second inning of the National League Wild Card game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 4, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 04: Pitcher Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies walks off the field after being removed from the game during the bottom of the second inning of the National League Wild Card game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 4, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post and MLB Network, Major League Baseball just opened an investigation into the Arizona Diamondbacks for possible usage of Apple Watches during yesterday’s Wild Card Game.

During the second inning of yesterday’s National League Wild Card, Diamondbacks coach and interpreter Ariel Prieto was seen wearing an Apple Watch on his wrist.

The reason why this is a problem is that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently fined the Boston Red Sox an undisclosed amount of money for stealing signs with Apple Watches.

In Sherman’s article, he explains MLB’s policy.

"MLB bans electronic equipment on the bench that has internet capabilities, mainly wanting to deter high-tech attempts to steal signs. Laptops provided by MLB that are internet-disabled are allowed."

Apple Watches, obviously, have internet capabilities and, potentially, the Rockies signs could have been stolen with them, as the Red Sox did.

This could be part of the reason why Jon Gray, the Rockies starting pitcher, was pounded early. As you may be able (or may not be able to see), in Sherman’s screen shot, the TBS score bug (which many people on Twitter, including us, maid fun of for being so small) shows that it is 4-0 in the second inning when Prieto is shown with the watch.

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Implications

Obviously, it remains to be seen whether or not the D’Backs did steal signs with the watches or even if they were in use. They still have to investigate the situation.

However, if they did, Rob Manfred said that his punishment for future allegations similar to the Red Sox would be stiffer.

It could cost the D’Backs a significant fine or draft picks. You may be hoping that Manfred would take away the win from the D’Backs but I highly, highly doubt that it would come to it. But I’ve been wrong before.

Next: Rockies morning after: a disappointing end

However, it may be a reason in why the Rockies lost.

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