Fiers declines to discuss whistle-blower role in cheat scam

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers didn't have any more to say regarding his role as a whistle-blower.

Fiers declined Friday to answer questions about revealing the sign-stealing scam that has engulfed Major League Baseball, instead saying he simply wanted to focus on the future. He spoke a day ahead of an A's fan event, his first public appearance since divulging the Houston Astros used electronics to illicitly steal signs from opposing catchers in 2017.

“I don't want this to be a distraction to them, I want them to be ready for the season," Fiers said. “For me it's all about getting ready for the season, playing baseball and not being a distraction to this team.”

Fiers said he would take “baseball questions." As for the cheating scam and its aftermath, “I'm not talking about that right now," he said.

“We're moving forward," he reiterated several times without saying whether he expected to face scrutiny with his decision to disclose with the Astros' cheating.

Fiers told The Athletic in a story published in November that his former club had used a camera in center field to steal signs on the way to winning the 2017 World Series championship.

His manager and teammates were quick to applaud him for what he did.

“A lot was reported to the league, but it's tough to get something done unless a player that was there comes out and says something. It wasn't going to go down any other way," manager Bob Melvin said. “And this is significant enough that it needed to be addressed. And as time goes on, he'll be revered for doing this, for making the game a better place."

“You're seeing more sentiment come his way right now, as it should, because there's no place for this in baseball. This crosses a serious line. It needed to happen and...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Fiers-declines-to-discuss-whistle-blower-role-in-15002969.php