SerpApi.Org
The reason Angels fired scout called ‘The Baseball Spy’ appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Angels are in last place in the AL West. At 40-61 on the season, the Angels are well outside the playoff picture and have lost 12 of their last 16 games.
Earlier this season, ahead of a series with the Colorado Rockies, Angels scout Justin “Boomer” Prinstein was sent to do scouting. He would be released from the organization shortly after, and now the reason why is known, according to Brittany Ghiroli and Sam Blum of The Athletic.
Prinstein, who had previously referred to himself on social media as “The Baseball Spy, was hired by the club in December. He was then spotted filming Rockies coaches from his phone from the section reserved for scouts at Coors Field. While filming is allowed by scouts, the use of filming or technology outside of the televised broadcast in order to steal or decode signs is not allowed under MLB rules.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
The league notified the Angels of the incident, and Perry Minasian, the then-general manager of the Angels, fired Prinstein.
“Minasian also apologized to the Rockies front office, including president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes. Multiple sources briefed on the matter said that both organizations believe Prinstein acted on his own initiative and that the Angels are not facing any punishment from the league,” Ghiroli and Blum wrote.
There is some irony to the situation, as Prinstein used to write freelance articles and had a short-lived podcast called “The Baseball Spy.” In one of the episodes, he discussed the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and discussed the use of technology in sign stealing.
“It seems there needs to be a line drawn. And there is. There’s a (MLB) memo that went out. There’s a rule that says you can’t use technology,” Prinstein said. “To do this, it’s more like spying.”
The Athletic also spoke to scouts around the majors about the situation.
“If a guy goes to his glove a little bit more when he’s about to throw a cutter, we can see that,” said one American League scout, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. “So, unless you’re trying to cheat, there’s no good reason to have your phone out videoing. This isn’t 2014. Every team, even the Angels, has the technology to upload and analyze the broadcast.”
The advance scouting of the Rockies did not work out for the Angels. The Angels lost two fo the three games with the Rockies in the series.
Like ClutchPoints’ content? Be sure to follow us.
Related: MLB rumors: Is Angels’ interim GM open to trading Mike Trout to Phillies?
