While the Cincinnati Reds’ annual caravan rolled on last week. The impact of a sign stealing scandal rocked Major League Baseball. With three managers being fired within a week.

So far, the Reds aren’t implicated in the recent sign stealing scandal. There’s no evidence that the Reds even tried to use tech to steal signs. One could argue that Cincinnati’s record in recent years doesn’t show that they did. The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox are facing the immediate fallout from this scandal. Both firing the managers of two of the last three World Series champion teams. All while the Reds had some of their worst season’s in recent decades. Losing over 90 games in both 2017 and 2018.

Now one could go on a sermon-like tangent railing about how society rewards bad behavior. Or at the very least, a rant about Boston sports teams and cheating scandals. After all, this is the second one to pop up within a year. However, one part of this controversy is sticking out. The role technology is playing in all of this.

Technological advancements within this century made this controversy possible. With the introduction of smart devices like the Apple Watch. Along with the introduction of video review in Major League Baseball in 2008. The Astros are accused of using both to steal signs. According to a public statement by Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred.

Technology also made this kind of controversy practically inevitable. Basically, the means now exist to pull off such a scheme. Baseball players in the 1800’s didn’t have the technology we have today. The 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings weren’t walking around with smart watches. The only feasible way to steal signs back then was with the naked eye.

It’s actually ironic that this controversy is effecting baseball. A sport criticized by some as too slow paced for the tech/social media age. Baseball is finding ways to incorporate more technology into the sport. Analytics is becoming a ubiquitous part of baseball and other sports. MLB will even experiment with computerized strike zones during spring training.

Ultimately, the human factor is the most important part of this story. Technology is only as good the motives people have for using it. Fault doesn’t lie with the smart watch but with those using it.