Miguel Cabrera took issue with White Sox rookie Nick Madrigal’s accusations Wednesday, saying the second baseman’s warnings to pitcher Lucas Giolito and catcher Yasmani Grandal that signs were being stolen Tuesday night were unfounded.
Tigers star Miguel Cabrera took issue with White Sox rookie Nick Madrigal’s accusations Wednesday, saying the second baseman’s warning to pitcher Lucas Giolito and catcher Yasmani Grandal that signs were being stolen during the Tigers’ 5-2 win over the Sox Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field were unfounded.
Talking to media on a zoom call Wednesday, Cabrera, who hit a 445-foot home run in the first inning, jawed with Madrigal during the sixth inning while Robbie Grossman was on second base.
“It was the second baseman,” Cabrera said. “He tried to tell the catcher and the pitcher that we passed the signs. I mean, come on, that’s some bulls—t. I don’t play that game. You need to respect the game. You don’t need to show up me or the runner on second, trying to say we passed the sign from second. Come on, get the f— out of here.”
Tigers manager AJ Hinch was fired by the Astros and suspended by MLB in 2020 for his role, as the team’s manager, in an elaborate video sign-stealing scandal. It was suggested to Cabrera that Hinch’s history might have heightened the Sox’ awareness of stealing signs, even from the bases.
“I don’t care why they’re doing it, but they need to stop because we don’t play that game,” Cabrera said. “That’s why I said something to him right away.”
Cabrera said his concern Tuesday was that the Tigers might face retaliation at the plate on Wednesday.
“Everybody is paranoid about [sign-stealing] right now, but [the Sox] are over the limit. They need to respect that. If we didn’t say that, the next day we’re going to be hit by a pitch or something like that. And we don’t play that game, we respect the game.”
Asked about it Wednesday, Sox manager Tony La Russa said he respected Cabrera’s take but also said it’s Madrigal’s job as a middle infielder to be vigilant about sign stealing.
