Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier angers Blue Jays after taking and keeping Alejandro Kirk’s data card
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 Tampa Bay Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier appeared to cross a line of gamesmanship — even unintentionally — that you never see in a baseball game. The Toronto 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 to see. But during Monday’s game between the Blue Jays and Rays, Kiermaier picked up Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk’s card after a play at the plate. It was right there on the ground.
According to Sportsnet’s Arash Madani, that card contained the Blue Jays’ pitching plan for the Rays. Again, not something you want an opponent to have 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. 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 when 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 were upset.
“I never even looked at it, I’ll say that,” Kiermaier told Sportnet before Tuesday’s game between the teams. “But at the same time, I’m not going to drop it or hand it back.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday he reached out to Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, pitching coach Pete Walker and general manager Ross Atkins to apologize.
“I had no idea we had the card,” Cash said. “I expressed that to Ross, Charlie and Pete Walker, but take full responsibility. I apologized to all of them, and if I needed to speak to (Monday’s starter) Robbie Ray, I would have no problem doing that. Not ideal and I’m sorry about that.”
After Cash apologized, Montoyo said, “now it’s agua under the bridge.”
The Blue Jays won Tuesday’s game 4-2, but the Rays still hold a six-game lead on Boston and a 7½-game lead on Toronto in the AL East. Tampa Bay’s magic number to clinch a second consecutive division title is five.
