benches clear in Boston as Pitcher Accused of Sign Stealing
A heated confrontation erupted on the baseball field in Boston in 2017 when pitcher Hector Neris of the Philadelphia Phillies was accused of intentionally balking Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies to third base. Neris allegedly believed Story was relaying signs to his teammates. The incident led to a bench-clearing incident, with Neris exchanging words with the Red Sox third base coach as he left the field.
The controversy highlights the ongoing issue of sign-stealing in baseball, a practice where teams attempt to decipher the opposing pitcher’s signals to gain an advantage. While not explicitly illegal, sign-stealing can lead to accusations of cheating and intense rivalries between teams. The specific details of how Neris believed Story was relaying signs, and the exact nature of the exchange with the third base coach, were not fully detailed in the initial reports. This incident serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of professional baseball and the lengths to which players and coaches will go to gain an edge.