Diamondbacks Upset with Cubs Coach Over Sign Stealing Incident

The Arizona Diamondbacks voiced their displeasure towards Quintin Berry, the third base coach for the Chicago Cubs, during a game on Monday night. Several members of the Diamondbacks, including manager Torey Lovullo, suspected Berry of signaling pitch information to Cubs hitters by observing the grip of Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly.

This situation escalated in the fifth inning when Michael Busch was at bat with Seiya Suzuki on second base. After Berry made a gesture with his left hand, Kelly reacted by stepping off the mound and glaring at him. The exchange led to a heated back-and-forth between the two dugouts, with Diamondbacks bench coach Jeff Banister confronting Berry and pitching coach Brian Kaplan engaging with Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty.

Kelly expressed his frustration after the game, stating that while sign stealing is a part of baseball, he believes it should be limited to players rather than involving coaches. He acknowledged his own shortcomings in hiding his pitches but emphasized that such tactics should remain within the players' domain. The game ended with the Cubs winning 7-0, marking a challenging season for Kelly, who has struggled with his pitching performance.