News broke Tuesday afternoon that the Yankees had accused the Red Sox of sign stealing using electronic communication. Their complaint was filed with MLB a few weeks ago, and the league reportedly found that the Red Sox were indeed breaking rules by stealing signs using electronic communication, including an Apple Watch. Boston reportedly admitted to doing so, though they responded by filing a complaint accusing the Yankees of also cheating.
Obviously a sign stealing accusation is a big story in baseball, but it becomes even bigger when the accusations are between the two biggest rivals in the sport. Throw into the mix the fact that the accusation involves yet another New England sports team following the Patriots’ Spygate and Deflategate scandals, and you have the perfect storm.
It didn’t take long for Twitter to react to the scandal.
I found it. #WatchGate pic.twitter.com/JydfIlJlf8
— Hector L (@CoLeon_) September 5, 2017
How do you like them apple watches? pic.twitter.com/DT590muhjl
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) September 5, 2017
Let's put this Red Sox – Yankees sign stealing thing in perspective pic.twitter.com/L3Vd8H6jxT
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) September 5, 2017
Typical New England, always cheating. #spygate #watchgate https://t.co/SLrCfSm8CU
— Matt (@NYMoot) September 5, 2017
I'm gonna go ahead dub this iGate. https://t.co/hURecQMDgU
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 5, 2017
Then the jokes started to come:
#RedSox punishment for their Apple Watch sign-stealing should be that they have to start David Price in the postseason.
— Zachary Abate (@zabate) September 5, 2017
lmao an apple watch.
"Siri, how do I manage a bullpen" – John Farrell, probably
— Inkling Pez (@PezDOY) September 5, 2017
Then there were plenty of jokes centered around the Apple Watch:
Cheating with an Apple Watch is the closest MLB has ever come to trying to market to millennials https://t.co/gFUqb9esw5
— Anthony Vitale (@antsvitale) September 5, 2017
Not sure what's more embarrassing. That the Red Sox stole signs, or that someone on the Red Sox wears an Apple Watch
— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) September 5, 2017
the real story here is someone found a use for the apple watch https://t.co/ETcLWj79Vr
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 5, 2017
Apple Watch said, "Nunez, swing if you want." pic.twitter.com/QicmUp78QV
— Evan Daniel (@itzevandaniel) September 5, 2017
We have a feeling this is only the beginning of much more to come.
