Don’t cross the Leones! Mexican Baseball League punishes rival team after cheating probe
The Diablos Rojos del Mexico sports director has been suspended for a year and fined after he was found responsible for manipulating broadcast cameras during games against the Leones de Yucatán in order to steal signs, the Mexican Baseball League said. The team was also fined, although the amount of the penalty was not disclosed.
The director, Miguel Ojeda, was attempting — perhaps unsuccessfully — to steal signs from the Leones team in their own stadium, according to the Mexican League after Yucatán asked for an investigation.
In baseball, stealing signs involves observing and relaying signals being given by the opposing catcher to the pitcher or a coach to a base runner.
The alleged camera manipulation occurred during Game 1 and part of Game 2 of the South Zone Championship Series. The Yucatán Leones swept the series, which attracted around 15,000 people to the Kukulcán Alamo stadium ok Sunday.
The Red Devils denied any wrongdoing, asserting in a press release that “we do not tolerate cheating.”
With the findings, the league has suspended Ojeda for a year, which has gone into effect immediately. And the league has decided to suspend the head television producer of Game 1 and Game 2 for a full year.
“The Mexican Baseball League will always consistently and forcefully ensure fair play among all its affiliated teams,” the league said while characterizing the incident as an isolated event.
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