August 25, 2026 • 9:04 PM EDT
Updated 13 days ago
Monday night got fiery fast between the Diamondbacks and Cubs. Arizona’s dugout went after Chicago third-base coach Quintin Berry, certain he was tipping off Cubs hitters about pitches from D-backs starter Merrill Kelly. If you watched it play out, you’d have sworn something illegal was going on. Emotions ran hot, words flew, and a tense standoff followed.
Turns out, Arizona had it wrong. After the dust settled, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo called Cubs manager Craig Counsell to apologize. MLB confirmed Berry wasn’t breaking any rules, just capitalizing on what he picked up from the box. It was all legal, and Lovullo owned up to the mix-up. According to Yahoo Sports, Lovullo made things right before Game 2 in Phoenix.
Lovullo explained that after speaking with MLB’s senior VP of on-field operations, Michael Hill, it was clear Berry was within the rules. Any coach inside the base-coaching box can relay whatever signs they pick up. So, the onus now falls on Arizona: they must fix how their signs are given away, not blame the opponent for spotting them.
- Diamondbacks wrongly accused Cubs coach Quintin Berry of illegal sign-stealing.
- MLB clarified Berry was operating inside the rules from the coaching box.
- Lovullo apologized directly to Craig Counsell, admitting the D-backs were in the wrong.
- He credited Michael Hill for clarifying what coaches can and cannot do in real time.
- The Diamondbacks will focus on fixing their own pitch-tipping issues.
Dugouts clear as tempers boil over
The mess started when Kelly stopped mid-inning, convinced Berry was relaying signs. Arizona bench coach Jeff Banister and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty launched into a war of words. Lovullo joined the fray, claiming the Cubs were “bending the rules”—but as MLB confirmed, the Cubs weren’t cheating. It was just good old-fashioned gamesmanship, and Arizona didn’t like being caught out.
Kelly battled through his start, throwing 99 pitches and giving up 3 earned runs over 5 and 2/3 innings. But the real takeaway for bettors is the mental toll: Kelly and the D-backs were distracted and emotional, and it showed in the 7-0 thumping they took from Chicago.
What the players think
Merrill Kelly didn’t mince words postgame. He called coaching staff involvement in sign-stealing “bulls***”, stating, “I think it’s a little bulls*** when it comes from a coach.” His view? Sign-stealing’s part of the game, but it’s “bush league” when it’s not just players doing the sleuthing. It’s old-school baseball code—players expect a battle of wits on the field, not crossfire from the coaching boxes.
To his credit, Kelly admitted he needs to tighten up his own game. “I gotta figure out and do better on my part to not give it away,” he said. This tells you all you need to know: pro hitters and coaches are always hunting for an edge. If you tip, you pay the price—no matter who’s in the other dugout.
How does this affect your bets?
- Sign-stealing isn’t going anywhere, but when it’s within the rules, it’s on players and staff to adapt.
- If a team gets rattled by legal gamesmanship, you need to weigh their mental approach in your next wager.
- Look out for Arizona to make quick changes to their sign protocols. If they don’t, sharp teams will keep pouncing.
- Be wary of emotionally charged teams in the next game after a dust-up. Distraction lingers.
- The Cubs showed they’re willing to push baseball’s unwritten codes for a win. That can swing momentum in a series.
- Managers admitting mistakes publicly can have a stabilizing effect in the clubhouse—and on their odds to bounce back.
- This saga proves why you can’t just look at the box score. These little chess matches dictate who gets the edge.
More coverage: latest MLB news, our MLB betting analysis and MLB expert picks.
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