MLB Playoffs: An Astros employee may have tried to steal signs of an enemy canoe with a video in the game, according to reports

HOUSTON – Major League Baseball is looking into whether an employee used a small camera and / or mobile phone to record the opposing canoe at ALDS and ALCS, according to several reports. The Boston Metropolitan Area first reported that a man had been removed from a media-only area next to the Boston Red Sox dugout at Fenway Park during the first match of the day. # 39; ALCS.

Here are some details of Metro Boston:

In the third round of the first game of the series, security withdrew a man claiming to be an Astros employee in the area recognized by the media next to the Boston Red Sox canoe, according to several security sources who were on the scene at the time. L & # 39; incident. The man had a small camera and was texting frequently but had no media identity.

Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports that the Cleveland Indians have lodged a complaint with the MLB, alleging that the Astros had attempted to film inside their canoe during the third match of the ALCS. The Indians warned the project's Red Sox before the ALCS, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.

MLB's Communications Officer, Pat Courtney, told the Boston Metropolitan Area that the league was "aware of the problem and that it would be treated internally". The Astros, Red Sox and Indians have declined to comment until now.

"I am aware of something that is happening, but I have not been informed.I am worried about the match," said Astros coach AJ Hinch after match 3 of ALCS Tuesday.

"Someone spoke to me right now, I think it's a MLB problem," said Alex Cora, Red Sox's manager. "They will do what they have to do, but I have just heard today."

According to the Passan report, the man in question calls himself Kyle McLaughlin. Although he is not listed as an Astros employee, photos on social media show him with Astros owner, Jim Crane, and with a bad name badge. identification of the team. His Instagram page was removed after these reports were published.

At least one other team, the Oakland Athletics, has gone to the MLB to voice its concern over the use by electronic devices to steal placards earlier this year. year, according to reports. According to the information, McLaughlin would read the posters of the opposing team, transmit the information, and then the dugout staff would relay this information to the batter with applause or hand signals.

Officially, the MLB has no rules against theft of billboards. The violation would involve the technology and the electronic devices used. Last season, the Red Sox were fined after a The investigation revealed that the team had used Apple Watches in the dugout as part of a complex system of panel theft. The New York Yankees filed a complaint with MLB as a result of this investigation.

An ESPN report indicates that the Astros should receive nothing but fines if they violate league rules. The use of electronics in canoe and in the field should be a hot topic during off-season league meetings.