San Diego Padres pitcher, Seth Lugo, has raised suspicions about the Los Angeles Dodgers stealing his signs during Monday’s 13-7 loss at Petco Park. Lugo endured a challenging outing, allowing eight earned runs in the fourth inning alone, resulting in his frustration. He described the Dodgers’ actions as “bush league,” suggesting they were attempting to gain an unfair advantage. However, Padres manager Bob Melvin did not view the matter as problematic, acknowledging that sign-stealing is a prevalent practice among all teams.
The suspicion centered around the notion that runners on second base in the fourth inning were relaying Lugo’s pitch selections to the Dodgers’ batters, based on how Lugo held the ball. Interestingly, a runner was on second when Lugo gave up five of his six hits in that inning. The Dodgers have denied any involvement in such activities, with Mookie Betts, who hit a grand slam off Lugo during that inning, dismissing the allegations. Dodgers rookie center fielder James Outman similarly denied witnessing any sign-stealing, suggesting that Lugo was hiding his grip with his glove.
It’s worth noting that the Dodgers’ actions are not illegal, as Melvin emphasized. In an era where the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal has heightened Major League Baseball’s scrutiny of potential cheating practices, teams are constantly seeking advantages. While the Astros employed their notorious trash can banging system, the Dodgers’ attempts to communicate pitch or sign information to their batters fall within the realm of accepted practices. However, some, like Lugo, believe it to be unsportsmanlike.
Ultimately, these accusations only serve to intensify the longstanding rivalry between the Padres and the Dodgers in the NL West. The competition between these two teams continues to fuel the animosity.
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