The Jays throw at Kiermaier because he stole their secrets, a breakdown

Sep 23, 2021 2.8M views 8:02

What Happened

During a September 2021 game between the Rays and Blue Jays, Kevin Kiermaier got thrown out trying to stretch a hit into a run, and while sliding home he scooped up a piece of paper that had popped out of catcher Alejandro Kirk's wristband. It turned out to be Toronto's pitching scouting report on Tampa Bay hitters. Kiermaier slipped it to a Rays coach in the dugout without openly reading it, then refused to give it back when the Jays asked. The next day, Toronto pitcher Robbie Ray plunked Kiermaier on the first pitch, which got the pitcher tossed and manager Kevin Cash heated.

Why This Matters

This is one of the rare cases where MLB's quiet world of stolen signals and scouting reports went fully public. There's no rule against picking up a card that lands on the field, which is exactly why the Jays had no recourse beyond a beanball and some grumbling. Kiermaier's argument was simple: it's not espionage if you drop your homework on my baseline. The retaliation the following night showed how seriously Toronto took it, with the pitcher getting ejected for an obvious intent pitch. Both teams were chasing playoff spots down the stretch, which raised the temperature even more given they could meet again in October. It also fed the broader 2021 paranoia around in-game data and the laminated cards catchers started carrying everywhere.

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Key Moments

Who / What Is Involved

Players: Aaron Judge. Teams: Blue Jays.

Key Terms Mentioned

Full Transcript

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and Pete Walker is you thought Kevin was

hot Pete Walker is red hot

[Applause]

well now i know what i'm doing tomorrow

i'm waiting for john boy to come out