NEW YORK (AP) Technology unleashed baseballs Analytics Era, and now its holding the sport prisoner.
AJ Hinch, Alex Cora and Carlos Beltrán are casualties, a triple play of hubris. At the cutting edge with the Houston Astros, now they have been cut. Their sign-stealing system exposed, all three managers were deposed within a whirlwind 72 hours this week that raised questions about the prevalence of the sports rule breakers.
Whats next in a game grappling with innovation and plagued by paranoia?
Video rooms and dugouts are now monitored by Major League Baseball, like proctors pacing an exam room to stifle students temptation to cheat. Bench and bullpen telephones are monitored, Big Brother in the commissioners office listening in to assure compliance. Television feeds in clubhouses were ordered to be delayed by a minimum 8 seconds last year to prevent prying eyes from decoding signals in real time.
