Major League Baseball is considering significant changes to prevent teams from replicating the 2017 Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.
One of those changes may significantly affect J.D. Martinez.
The Boston Red Sox slugger admitted Monday he heard that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is considering restricting players' access to live video replay during games.
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"I don't deny video can help you perform if you have access to it during the game, but a golfer can't come off the sixth and take a look at his swing," Manfred told ESPN's Karl Ravech over the weekend. " ... We're going to have to live with less access to live video in and around the dugout and clubhouse."
Martinez relies heavily on in-game video to dissect his swing. So, it's safe to say he wouldn't be a fan of these developments.
"To go out there and take all video out and you're not allowed to look at at-bats I think is a little ridiculous," Martinez told reporters Monday in Fort Myers.
"When I was in the minor leagues, Double-A, Triple-A, we had video systems. It's something you grew up with. You go back and check something in your swing and it helps you throughout the game. ... All of a sudden, you take that away? It's a little extreme."
Martinez, who has proclaimed the Red Sox innocent in MLB's investigation into their 2018 club for sign-stealing, also insisted in-game video doesn't help batters steal signs.
Boston Red Sox
"It's kind like you're watching the game live on NESN," Martinez said. "You're watching the game on NESN. Can you steal the signs? It's too hard. It's cutting in and out. There's a guy eating a sausage and they're talking about a guy eating his hot dog, and all of a sudden (there's) the pitch."
Martinez acknowledged why the league would have to take some action based on the extent of the Astros' cheating. But the 32-year-old designated hitter believes in a less drastic solution, like delaying access to video replay by an inning.
Just as long as baseball doesn't take away the tool that's helped him become one of the game's best hitters.
"If you have to delay it, delay it," Martinez said. "Whatever you have to do. But to sit there and take that away? I mean, it's what makes me me.
"I'm a very analytical guy. I like to study my swing. I like to study what my back foot is doing, my elbow, whatever it might be. And there's a lot of guys nowadays that are like that. That's the trend of the game."