The ASStericks Cheating Scandal

I would be over $10,000 richer if we had won either of those World Series.

This is a terrible smear on the game – when a whole Franchise is involved in a calculated cheating system, they should be stripped of their title, and 2017 should be left blank.

This part of the report regarding Manfred’s opinion of the culture that exists in the Houston organization I find most telling:

“But while no one can dispute that Luhnow’s baseball operations department is an industry leader in its analytics, it is very clear to me that the culture of the baseball operations department, manifesting itself in the way it’s employees are treated, its relations with other Clubs, and its relations with the media and external stakeholders, has been very problematic. At least in my view, the baseball operations insular culture – one that valued results over other considerations, combined with a staff of individuals who often lacked direction or sufficient oversight, led, at least in part, to the Brandon Taubman incident, the Club’s admittedly inappropriate and inaccurate response to the incident, and finally, to an environment that allowed the conduct described in this report to have occurred.”

Essentially the Commish believes Luhnow to be a scumbag, responsible for creating a cultural climate in the Houston org. that put winning over integrity. I don’t think he’s the only executive in the game that would stoop to those levels, but I’m surprised that he put that opinion out there.

As far as all the comments about the Assterisks vacating the title. It was never going to happen. Then again, opposing fans will let them have it and never allow them to forget. That in itself will either make or break the Houston club. They’ll only have themselves in their corner. 2020 will be a long season for the cheaters, a team that has mainly stayed in tact the past 3 seasons. Imagine what it will be like when Houston Goes into the Bronx to play for the first time this year

I have, on numerous occasions on this board, called Kersh a choker, etc for his numerous playoff failures. I have said he’s the #1 reason we don’t have at least 1 ring in this 7 year run.

I will now stop with those comments. Granted he wasn’t great in 2013, 2014, or 2016 (he was great vs the Mets in 2015), but 2017 was his year to win World Series MVP if he wins that crucial game 5 in Houston. Can’t fault him or Yu for what happened.

Now let’s go take this in 2020 and finally get our ring.

MLB is weak. If Cora is not suspended for life, then remove the ban from Pete Rose. Every player who knew about and said nothing should be suspended for 10 games. Every position player who used it should be suspended 30 games. Rotate the suspension so the Astros have a team. Suspend the player(s) who thought up the scheme for life. There is no place in any sport for cheaters. Let the players union defend cheaters. Take away the WS title from the Astros. You cannot give it to LA. Fine every player the amount of difference between the winner and loser amount.

Making every team shut up is wrong.

Regarding Beltran: From what the NYPost is reporting, once MLB decided to grant all players immunity in its investigation, Beltran, a player for the 2017 Astros, found himself in the clear, in terms of discipline, as long as he cooperated, which baseball officials believe he did.

As for vacating the Championship; The Commissioner’s Office made clear from the outset of this investigation that such a ruling wasn’t on the table. Think of the Pandora’s box that would open: Do you take away the 2000 Yankees’ title because ace Roger Clemens allegedly used illegal performance-enhancing drugs that season? What about Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” off Ralph Branca, which was likely achieved via illegal sign-stealing? It’s way too messy.

In light of the fact that the Dodgers might have won 2 WS I’d like to see all the naysayers of Roberts, Kershaw and Kasten take a break and admit that those 3 aren’t as bad as they thought. Give em a break, you have been second guessing things that were ok, except someone else was cheating.

I really feel bad for Clayton, he may have been a hero instead of being tarnished. At least he answers to someone able to make ” all things work to the good… “

I would like to see some players start to comment, but there is a “code of silence” among players and I suspect we won’t hear much from them other than an occasional “drive by” comment. David Freese had a tweet yesterday that more or less “split the baby.” He was critical of the punishment meted out, but was also critical of Mike Friers without naming him specifically.

Dan Plesac said on MLB TV that teams have two primary camps of players. The pitchers and position players. The pitchers, who make a living trying to get outs, are enjoying the unveiling of the cheating scandal while position players, who make a living trying to get base hits, might have a more subdued response.

Where is the statement from the MLBPA? The other players and their union need to step up and go on the record that the behavior of certain players in the Astros organization is not condoned, nor excused by the union. That the game should be played hard, but with integrity. Union should call out the players for what they did – cheat their union brothers, the game, and the fans.

Manfred is really Babyfred. What a weakling. He needs to go.

I agree that the Red Sox should fire Cora now. Cora should be out of baseball forever and so should Carlos Beltran. It is disgraceful that MLB will not punish Beltran because he was a player at the time. So bloody what. Maybe there would be some union litigation, but bring it on. While the MLBPA would be required to represent the player, does anyone really believe that MLBPA will want to heartily represent cheaters right before their CBA is about to expire? It would really ring hollow that MLBPA gives a rip about the integrity of the game. Plus would NYM really want a manager that was fighting a legal battle over being disciplined for cheating?

Come on MLB, you are in the right to go after the two masterminds behind this fiasco. You eliminated the two ostriches but are ignoring the true perpetrators. They in essence have a life time ban. Who is going to hire them?That is like locking up the getaway driver for life, but putting the actual bank robbers on probation. Come on Manfred and MLB, grow a pair. Ban Cora AND Beltran for life. Let the union represent cheating.

This gag order placed on MLB teams is a crock as well. Jim Crane should be castigated himself. It is his team that was found cheating, whether he condoned it or not. He needs to take ownership of it all. I recognize that $5MM is the max allowed, but that was a drop in the bucket compared to what the team realized for “winning” the WS. Mark Walter should test the gag order and tell the world that Houston vacating their title is the least that they should have to pay. They should be banned from being able to participate in the next two years post season. So what if it hurts the City of Houston. What did their cheating do to the City of Los Angeles? Stand up for Clayton Kershaw and the team. If Houston cannot participate in the post season maybe the fans will stay away with nothing to play for, and that is what would hurt the organization. Not $5M.

While the two draft picks are a start, the team will lose the #30 and perhaps #70 pick this year. A loss to be sure, but not like a Top 10 and Top 40 pick. They will plug those dollars lost in signing top draft choices back into the organization in other ways. They should also lose all of their International Free Agency money for two years as well.

Come on Manfred, above any other responsibility, your job is to protect the integrity of the game, and this punishment hardly matches that vast responsibility. Make it hurt. I will wait to see what happens with Cora, but all you have done thus far is to punish two bit players (guilty as they are), and let Beltran and the Houston ASSterisks off the hook.

The more I have thought about the situation and the punishment handed out, it appears MLB had an eye clearly focused on the negotiations for the next collective bargaining agreement In light of this scandal, I don’t believe they want to follow that up with a players strike, so they determined to make a subtle shift in position and not rock the boat with player suspensions and fines, giving management some negotiation capital in other areas.