The paranoia that exists among baseball teams is unmatched in sports. Between stealing signs and foreign substances, MLB teams are always on the lookout to make sure their opponent isn’t utilizing the same shady tactics that they probably are using to gain an edge.
But the Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier appeared to cross a line of gamesmanship — even unintentionally — that you never see in a baseball game. The Blue Jays understandably aren’t happy about it.
Big-league players often keep a scouting card for matchups, positioning and pitch strategy in their pockets or wristbands. It’s exactly the kind of thing you don’t want the other team getting a hold of. But during Monday’s game between the Blue Jays and Rays, Kiermaier picked up Alejandro Kirk’s card on a play at the plate. It was right there on the ground.
The Blue Jays are not happy.
Last night in the 6th, Kevin Kiermaier slid into home plate and grabbed a card (video here). That card, I'm told, was from Alejandro Kirk's wrist band that fell out on the tag.
On the card: the Blue Jays' game plan on pitching to Rays' hitters. pic.twitter.com/wjjuYd3Bhk
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 21, 2021
According to Sportsnet’s Arash Madani, that card contained the Blue Jays’ pitching plan for the Rays. Again, not something you want an opponent having during a game with major playoff implications.
Kiermaier told Madani that he didn’t realize it was the Blue Jays’ card when he initially picked it up, saying that he thought it was his own card that he keeps in his back pocket. But upon realizing it belonged to Toronto, he didn’t give it back.
It’s an awkward spot to be in, sure. And baseball teams love to get an edge. But if Kiermaier wanted to act in the spirit of sportsmanship and competitive balance, he should have given the card back or handed it to an umpire the second he realized it wasn’t his. Optically, that would have been the best move. Even Kiermaier said he wasn’t going to give something like that back, which is why the Blue Jays are upset.
Spoke w/ Kiermaier. These are his comments.
Around 5:20 pm, Kevin Cash came out to speak with Charlie Montoyo about it.
The Jays are pissed. As a team source told me, "if there’s one card we wouldn’t want any opponent to have, it’s that one"
More at 6:30 pm on @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/Rp6iaGNPwM
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) September 21, 2021
All he had to do was be like, “Hey, you dropped this. I thought it was mine. I didn’t read it, I promise *awkward laugh*.” Everyone would have moved on.
The teams still have two more games left in the series, so we’ll have to see if these frustrations with Kiermaier boil over on the field. Managers Kevin Cash and Charlie Montoyo have already spoken about it, but it remains to be seen what that conversation actually accomplished.
