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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMLB suspends Astros GM and manager one year, fines team $5 million in sign-stealing scandal
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/01/13/houston-astros-penalties-sign-stealing/MLB suspends Astros GM and manager one year, fines team $5 million in sign-stealing scandal
By Dave Sheinin
Jan. 13, 2020 at 1:24 p.m. CST
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday suspended Houston Astros Manager A.J. Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luhnow for one year each for their roles in the teams extensive sign-stealing scheme from 2017 an unprecedented penalty that reflects the sports shock and disgust at a scandal that goes to the heart of its integrity.
The penalties, which also included the loss of four top picks in future drafts and a $5 million fine for the team, came at the end of a two-month investigation into allegations the Astros used cameras and video monitors to steal the signs of opposing catchers, then signal those signs to their hitters before pitches in 2017 a season that ended with the Astros winning the franchises first World Series title.
The investigation eventually spread to the 2018 Boston Red Sox, whose Manager Alex Cora, formerly the bench coach for the 2017 Astros, could also face significant discipline.
The Astros actions has caused fans, players, executives at other MLB Clubs and members of the media to raise questions about the integrity of games in which the Astros participated, Manfred said in a statement announcing MLBs findings. And while it is impossible to determine whether the conduct actually impacted the results on the field, the perception of some that it did causes significant harm to the game.
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Kingofalldems
(38,458 posts)Alex Cora seems to be involved in both instances.
virgogal
(10,178 posts)exboyfil
(17,863 posts)Initech
(100,080 posts)As a fan of a team in the AL West, this one really cheeses me off.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)![](/emoticons/chuckle.gif)
Kingofalldems
(38,458 posts)KatyMan
(4,198 posts)Were caught doing the same thing they got a slap on the wrist. Funny how that happens.
Takket
(21,577 posts)greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)The league hasn't adjudicated the more recent sign stealing/electronic comms case. Cora is probably done.
The Yankees were fined for using the dug out phone to confirm balls and strikes, a violation that had fuck all to do with sign stealing, despite the false claims of your interlocutor.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)The Red Sox will be paying for Alex Cora's bullshit soon enough.
greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)Really?
I'm not even a Yankee fan - indeed, I'm a Mets guy and hate the Yankees like poison - but I'm really interested to hear your version of when the Yankees received a "slap on the wrist" for doing "the same thing" as the Astros were doing.
FakeNoose
(32,645 posts)Is everybody in the USA trying to beat the system? Doesn't anyone respect the rules anymore?
Just sayin'
marble falls
(57,102 posts)I've been watching the catcher signal the pitcher for years.
Takket
(21,577 posts)There are rules against using electronic equipment during games.
Raven123
(4,849 posts)Clearly tainted
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)It's all a game. They all have signs and they are all trying to figure out the other teams signs. The best way to avoid against this is to have rotating signs, and change up your own pattern to thwart against this.
Next they are going to ban curve balls because some players can't hit them, so they will say that's not fair too.
Get over it, this is part of the game.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)The bad part is...they had a great team. They didnt need to cheat to win.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)and signaled them to the batter. Would that be "cheating" too? What if the 3rd base coach figured out a sign and signaled it to his base runner?
I would understand if they bugged the other teams locker room or were stealing their playbook from the dugout, but signs being used on the field are part of game strategy as much as curve balls are.
It should be up to the teams to do their own due diligence in assuming people are figuring out their signals and taking steps to constantly be changing them to outsmart their opponents.
Takket
(21,577 posts)They are being punished for using the video equipment.
But after decades of being an MLB fan, I'm checking out. Good luck to my Astros, but obviously MLB hates when non east coast teams beat the yanks or bosox. Especially in such a large market as Houston, where baseball was really beginning to take hold in a football-centric state.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)And Alex Cora is going to get punished worst of all for this for bringing it to Boston.
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)They were signaling upcoming pitches to batters at the plate.
Its cheating.
VMA131Marine
(4,139 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)theft games.
While it is impossible to determine any Impact on the field,well wobbie,another bullcrap statement. Astros would not have made it through the Play Offs had in not been for their Cheating. We could see it in real time sucko.