Astros stealing signs - But Dusty to the Rescue

[bluestreak]

Do you think this will have significant ramifications in other ways.. Like the ability to assign quality free agents in the future? How important is it to aplayer to sign with an organization that does not just win... but wins legitimately. I personally would be embarrassed to play for a team linked to all of this stuff...

Players will not care about this at all. In fact, I would bet that a sophisticated cheating operation would make a player more likely to sign with a team.

[Elvir Ovcina]

This is MLB saying that cheating is fine with almost 0 reprecussions. Cora will probably get a 1 or 2 year suspension too for cheating on TWO teams. Astros laughing their asses off at MLB for this.

I'm not sure they are.  They're probably relieved, but I doubt they're laughing.  Yes, they keep the ring, but this is a permanent stain on Luhnow and Hinch.  It's like a PED suspension in that respect.  As others have mentioned, the draft picks hurt in the long run, and don't underestimate the weirdness upcoming of having a manager and GM suspended and how much of a mess that creates.  For example, the New Orleans Saints had their head coach suspended for a year for Bountygate and went 7-9 despite a loaded roster that went 13-3 the previous year and 11-5 the next.   It probably won't be that severe of an effect, but it's gonna be weird for them.

Also, Luhnow is a huge douche and deserves to wear this.  You have to wonder how much of his suspension is really for this incident as opposed to a backdoor for the Taubman crap. 

[nfotiu]

espn is saying they are both fired.

[bluestreak]

I really don’t get the calls for lifetime bans. It would be without precedent. Betting on baseball is pretty much ingrained in all players. Sign stealing has been encouraged throughout baseball history.

I just don’t get the outrage. This is a significant penalty.

[UMDNats]

Hinch and Luhlow fired. Both are major jerks, so they deserve it. Luhlow can go back to a high-paying consulting gig in the private sector, Hinch will latch on somewhere in baseball next year.

[imref]

espn is saying they are both fired.

wow.  Good move for Houston. 

[bluestreak]

Luhnow and Hinch both fired.

[bluestreak]

wow.  Good move for Houston.

Yes. Good for the rest of baseball. This will make Houston worse.

[nfotiu]

I really don’t get the calls for lifetime bans. It would be without precedent. Betting on baseball is pretty much ingrained in all players. Sign stealing has been encouraged throughout baseball history.

I just don’t get the outrage. This is a significant penalty.

I think so too.   Other than gambling bans, this has got to be the highest penalty leveraged against teams.  It puts a pretty big stain on Luhnow, Hinch and the team.   

Lots of things felt dirty about how that team was run, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them take a pretty good tumble next year.   

[GburgNatsFan]

We should get their 2017 WS title, too.

[Natsinpwc]

Hardly a disincentive, especially for repeat offenders. Also, don't talk about major consequences dan then deliver this. Chalk up another Manfred special (wonder if he's going to destroy the tapes/files).

Do you think the manager and GM are happy to be suspended without pay for a year and now fired?  Seems a good disincentive for others.

[Natsinpwc]

We should get their 2017 WS title, too.

And the Sox 2018.

[skippy1999]

I really don’t get the calls for lifetime bans. It would be without precedent. Betting on baseball is pretty much ingrained in all players. Sign stealing has been encouraged throughout baseball history.

I just don’t get the outrage. This is a significant penalty.

ditto. 

[nfotiu]

And the Sox 2018.

Sounds good.  If it gets vacated, just keep pushing the titles to the next clean winner.  Like a skins game.

[stanleycaps98]

espn is saying they are both fired.

Hinch should be out for dumping Greinke.

[skippy1999]

Also didn't the Cardinals HACK INTO the Astos' computers? Did anyone get suspended/fired for that, I forget?

[bluestreak]

And the Sox 2018.

I think the Dodgers should probably get at least one of those...

[bluestreak]

Also didn't the Cardinals HACK INTO the Astos' computers? Did anyone get suspended/fired for that, I forget?

The guy who did it was banned for life. Cardinals lost top two picks in 2017 and were fined $2 million.

The guy who did the hacking also went to jail.

[skippy1999]

The guy who did it was banned for life. Cardinals lost top two picks in 2017 and were fined $2 million.

The guy who did the hacking also went to jail.

Right, ONE guy from the organization was penalized, that always seemed ludicrous to me. 

[nfotiu]

The guy who did it was banned for life. Cardinals lost top two picks in 2017 and were fined $2 million.

The guy who did the hacking also went to jail.

The picks and money went from the Cards to the Astros I think.

[Natsinpwc]

I think the Dodgers should probably get at least one of those...

Nah. They are always second. Maybe the Yankees.

[Natsinpwc]

Sounds good.  If it gets vacated, just keep pushing the titles to the next clean winner.  Like a skins game.

[HalfSmokes]

Right, ONE guy from the organization was penalized, that always seemed ludicrous to me. 

that's how it goes- the workers take the fall, the owners laugh all the way to the bank

[nfotiu]

Nah. They are always second. Maybe the Yankees.

Let's just replay some of those series over spring training.  That will make for a more fun off season.   

[skippy1999]

that's how it goes- the workers take the fall, the owners laugh all the way to the bank

but it was a SCOUT, apparently NO ONE ELSE in management knew what he was doing?  Please