04/24/24
November 12, 2019
Houston Astros accused of electronically stealing signs in 2017:
Early in the 2017 season, at least two uniformed Astros got together to start the process. One was a hitter who was struggling at the plate and had benefited from sign stealing with a previous team, according to club sources; another was a coach who wanted to help. They were said to strongly believe that some opposing teams were already up to no good.
They wanted to devise their own system in Houston. And they did.
George Springer smashes a breaking pitch for a home run during a game in September 2017.
posted by grum@work at 09:12 PM on November 12, 2019
Crazy coincidence #1: Jeopardy answer from tonight's broadcast.
(It was filmed three months ago.)
posted by grum@work at 09:16 PM on November 12, 2019
This explanation of a scene described in the article is probably the most damning example of the cheating.
Love me some Jomboy videos.
posted by NoMich at 09:59 PM on November 12, 2019
Belichuk have any friends on the Astros staff?
Seriously, as a player would you even want to be part of such a scheme?
posted by cixelsyd at 10:05 PM on November 12, 2019
Seriously, as a player would you even want to be part of such a scheme?
posted by grum@work at 11:39 PM on November 12, 2019
George Springer smashes a breaking pitch for a home run during a game in September 2017.
During the World Series the announcers were discussing pitch scouting and brought up how Springer doesn't use that information and would rather read and react. So that was a fucking lie.
Though, tbf, the pitch in that video was absolutely awful and didn't deserve to stay in the yard.
posted by tron7 at 12:55 PM on November 13, 2019
I feel like what will be telling about this will be how much reaction we get out of other players and teams. If there's a lot of outrage, that may or may not tell us anything, but if there's not a whole lot of hand-wringing, that may be an indication that the Astros have been caught doing something that a lot of teams are doing in some variety of form.
That is not a defense of the Astros, but I am definitely interested to know how much of this sort of thing is going on.
posted by bender at 03:38 PM on November 13, 2019
I have a feeling that most of other teams' outrage is over the fact that the Astros were so damn blatant about it. Whistling really loudly? Beating the shit out of things in the dugout with a bat? I mean, at least try to keep your sign stealing a secret.
posted by NoMich at 03:48 PM on November 13, 2019
August 6, 2017: Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros
You can hear the sound right before the game-tying hit by Bregman, and then if you watch the next batter, you can hear it a couple of times then as well.
I wonder what Roberto Osuna (blown save + loss) thinks of the Astros cheating now that he's a part of the team...
posted by grum@work at 04:21 PM on November 13, 2019
April 4, 2017: Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros
Before the 7th pitch OF THE SEASON, you can hear the "bang".
Then, this wonderful line by the broadcaster at the 28:08 mark:
"He [Altuve] does not pass on that pitch. He does not get cheated. There's just some guys out there, that you are comfortable in the box. Whether it be the timing of their motion with your swing, where their release point is, or just their tendencies. You almost know what's coming.
So they were doing it for the ENTIRE season, meaning this was something organized from the very beginning.
The punishment has to be harsh. GM suspended? Manager suspended? Loss of mulitple draft picks? No international money? Massive fine?
posted by grum@work at 04:26 PM on November 13, 2019
Astros had a crude system no doubt. Sort of like having the cast of Stomp place bids at an art auction.
Waiting for a televangelist to claim that Verlander's World Series losses are God's revenge for the sins of the sign stealers.
posted by beaverboard at 04:27 PM on November 13, 2019
Waiting for a televangelist to claim that Verlander's World Series losses are God's revenge for the sins of the sign stealers.
I'm a devout atheist, but fuck it. I'll go on record saying that. I mean, I might use the word "karma" in place of "God", but tomato/tomaato.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:41 AM on November 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/Dan_OMara/status/1194780971696087040
posted by tron7 at 06:19 PM on November 14, 2019
Still can't believe how the Astros pulled this off. I hope they get a ban.
posted by dreamwaxs at 08:35 PM on December 06, 2019
They had a secret camera trained on the catcher signals, and players/personnel sitting in a hallway to the dugout watching on a specially installed television. When they saw the signal, they would hit a garbage can with a bat to make noise that the batter could hear.
People have begun posting instances of the signaling being used to Youtube.
This explanation of a scene described in the article is probably the most damning example of the cheating.