While major league managers and coaches lug heavy three-ring binders full of scouting information to the dugout, the Cardinals are cruising to the best record in baseball with just an iPad.
The Redbirds are one of a handful of teams using an iPad in the dugout instead of traditional scouting materials, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday.
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The step is reminiscent of the NFL’s move to tablets on the sidelines instead of printed images used by coaches to review plays.
Major League Baseball is allowing teams to use the new technology on the condition their Wi-Fi capabilities are disabled — sorry, Pablo Sandoval. All information on the tablet must be downloaded before the game.
Information such as spray charts, statistics and scouting data on recent call-ups is included on the iPad. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said the capabilities of the iPad have cut his prep time in half in some areas.
MLB has not made it mandatory for teams to use an iPad, but the option is there for any team willing to give it a spin. Matheny said he plans to use the device as long as it’s permitted.