Red Sox Slugger Sandoval Benched for Using Instagram During Game
ATLANTA, June 18 (UPI) — The Boston Red Sox benched slugger Pablo Sandoval for Thursday’s game in Atlanta for violating the team’s social media policy, the team said.
His violation: using Instagram during Wednesday’s game — when the Red Sox were losing to the Braves.
According to Comcast SportsNet New England, an eagle-eyed fan noticed a “like” on some Instagram photos from Sandoval’s account that was made during the seventh inning of the game.
“Not to blow up the dude’s spot, but uh…is Pablo Sandoval on Instagram during the game?” the fan said on his Twitter account.
Thursday, the issue was in the open and the Red Sox announced they would bench Sandoval in Thursday’s game in Atlanta.
Sandoval, who signed a $95 million deal when he went to Boston from San Francisco during the offseason, said he checked his Instagram account during a restroom break.
“I let my teammates down. It ain’t going to happen again. I’ll take the punishment,” Sandoval said Thursday.
The criticism of Sandoval comes amid a terrible performance by the Red Sox so far this year. At 29-39, Boston is in last place — nine games out of first place — in theAmerican League East.
Red Sox Manager John Farrell set the team’s social media and cellphone policy during spring training. Under the policy, players are not allowed to use their personal phones from 30 minutes before game time.
Farrell also called a team meeting a few days ago, at which the issues of focus and concentration were discussed, CSN New England’s report said.
