In their first trip to the postseason since 2011, the Arizona Diamondbacks edged past the Colorado Rockies in a thrilling National League Wild Card Game at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks are now on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-five NL Division Series.
The matchup is one that’s long been anticipated between the top two teams in the NL West. Although Arizona once sat atop the division standings this season, they ultimately were unable to unseat the Dodgers as NL West champions.
For as much excitement that came with the Diamondbacks living to see another game in October, it’s now clouded with some controversy.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Diamondbacks coach/interpreter Ariel Prieto is being investigated by MLB over his wearing an electronic watch during the Wild Card Game:
Major League Baseball has launched an investigation to determine why and for what purpose Diamondbacks coach Ariel Prieto was wearing an electronic watch during their wild card game Wednesday night against the Rockies, The Post has learned.
This comes less than one month after the Boston Red Sox were fined an undisclosed amount for sending electronic communications from their video room to an athletic trainer in effort to steal signs. The New York Yankees filed a complaint centered around the use of an Apple Watch.
In addition to reprimanding the Red Sox, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred warned all 30 teams harsher penalties would be rendered moving forward.
“All 30 clubs have been notified that future violations of this type will be subject to more serious sanctions,” Manfred’s statement read. “Including the possible loss of draft picks.”
In effort to curtail further means of stealing signs, MLB has a ban on the bench use of any electronic device that has wireless internet capabilities.
