Are Clubhouses Going Low Tech?
In response to the recent Astros sign-stealing scandal, new regulations surrounding in-game protocols have been handed down from the MLB. While the regulations have yet to be ratified by the Player’s Union, if they go into effect, they will represent a noticeable change in clubhouse dynamics.
No longer will “lower-level baseball operations employees” be allowed in the clubhouse during games. If you read the Manfred report, most of the sign-stealing creation guilt was put on such employees, though it should be noted that most of those 2017 front office employees are still employed by the Astros organization, with a few, such as Derek Vigoa promoted to department heads. It is not specified what sort of access these new regulations would allow them to live video, though they would not be allowed in the clubhouse during games.
Who is allowed in? Players, seven coaches, interpreters, and trainers deemed as necessary to the game, which…could possibly include some of those promoted Astros employees, depending on their title. This limited clubhouse list will be enforced by MLB security agents. It’s not mentioned if there will be added security personnel to each stadium or if current staff will be enough.
It’s also up in the air how extensive the ban on in-game video will go. With the time allowed to make a replay challenge shortened to 20 seconds (in a not-so-veiled attempt to cut down on the number of time-consuming replay reviews), those in-game videos will be all the more important when it comes to close plays. One plan calls for all clubhouse televisions to be turned off and all players banned from using their phones, even in the clubhouse. Other plans say one television is allowed to broadcast on an 8 second delay. Trainers will still be allowed to carry phones for emergency medical usage, but otherwise the dugout and clubhouse could be relatively tech-free.
The tablets used by coaches and staff to look up scouting reports have not been specifically mentioned in any reports. MLB struck a multi-year promotional deal with Apple in 2016, and given the recent Nike swoosh addition, it doesn’t seem likely that the MLB will give up any opportunity to take a company’s money in exchange for promotional considerations. These devises are supposedly preloaded with data through a proprietary MLB Dugout app and are supposedly not connected to the internet or streaming services during games. This is enforced by not allowing WiFi signals in the dugout and possible in-app restrictions but the tablets are WiFi capable for mid-game updates.
Former Astros manager A.J. Hinch was interviewed in that 2016 Apple article. He was quoted as saying, “I’m not sure if everybody is going to want to utilize it, but I try to be tech savvy. I think I’ll be fine and utilize it with the scouting report and advance report and some of the video of pitchers coming in. It’s a great resource for us. I’m glad we’ve progressed to the point of that being available. … I’m pretty excited about it.”
Hinch’s comments certainly take on a new light with the recent revelations.
Though Joe Torre has stepped back from his position in the Commissioner’s Office into a Special Assistant role, he seems to be very adamant in his support for the removal of tech in the dugout. He and Senior Vice President Chris Young have been calling for a return to simpler baseball, a call that frustrated fans are ready to heed after so much techno-tainting of recent years.
After all of the recent complaints from players in the media, it seems like the MLBPA will be quick to agree to at least some of these measures.
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