Major League Baseball has told teams that it’s OK for pitchers to use the kind of scouting cards that umpire Joe West confiscated from Philadelphia reliever Austin Davis on the mound this weekend.
MLB clarifies rule: Pitchers can use cheat sheets – via @ESPN App// West made a judgment call and, in the end, should have let Davis keep the card. But I applaud West for showing restraint and not ejecting the pitcher. Other umps could learn from West. https://t.co/DVaDKOogFY
— Stephen Ohlemacher (@stephenatap) September 2, 2018
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Sunday that he’d been informed the cards were legal. They are, provided they don’t delay games, MLB told clubs in clarifying the policy.
Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler Says Pitchers Using Cheat Sheets is Allowed https://t.co/rxUXa6ZoSt
— SportsGossip.com (@sportsgossip) September 2, 2018
It has become common in the age of advanced baseball analytics to see outfielders and infielders pulling info cards from their pockets to check on proper positioning.
Cheat sheets are a thing. pic.twitter.com/Om0TnNR1K7
— Tim Ring (@timringTV) September 2, 2018
I’m into the analytics of baseball and I think it’s great to study who you’re facing. However, pitchers having cheat sheets on the batter takes away from the game, and probably just another thing that will slow down the game.
