Astros caught cheating in Game 1?

[RedOctober3829]

Whatever the Houston Astros were trying to do at Fenway Park during Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night, they got caught. In the third inning of the first game of the series, security removed a man claiming to be an Astros employee from the media-credentialed area next to the Boston Red Sox dugout, according to multiple security sources who were on the scene at the time of the incident. Theman had a small camera and was texting frequently, but did not have a media credential.

After the man was removed another Astros staffer intervened - according to sources who were on the scene - and tried to convince security that he was authorized to be in the area next to the dugout. The man was not allowed back into the credentialed area, but was allowed to remain in the ballpark. Security sources say they had been warned about the man, because of some suspicious activity in Houston’s ALDS series against the Cleveland Indians. It’s unclear as to whether or not that warning came from Major League Baseball or the Red Sox.

MLB Chief Communications Officer Pat Courtney acknowledged Saturday night’s incident in an email on Tuesday afternoon, saying, “We are aware of the matter and it will be handled internally.”

https://www.metro.us/sports/boston/metro-exclusive-astros-may-have-been-cheating-game-1-against-red-sox-0

 

[E5 Yaz]

So this happened before Barnes was using pine tar on his forearms in Game 2?

 

[bosox188]

Trevor Bauer weighs in:

 

[Mooch]

Rob Bradford on Twitter:

Just talked to Major League exec about this: 'This is a big story' Insinuated feeling in baseball that this is far from an isolated incident

 

[timlinin8th]

Certainly would explain why Vazquez has been dropping down multiple signs even with nobody on.

 

[luckiestman]

This is pretty gross by the Astros.

Edit: if they’re up to shenanigans on the road they must have some crazy stuff going on at home

 

[dhappy42]

Has the crack TBS team in the booth mentioned the Ratsos cheating story yet?

 

[Royal Reader]

Can we agree right now not to make Spygate jokes please?

 

[johnmd20]

Can we agree right now not to make Spygate jokes please?

Are you seriously considering the possibility that there won't be Patriots jokes? Get ready, this thread is going to be all Belichick and first round picks and Tom Brady suspensions.

 

[Reggie's Racquet]

If true they should forfeit game one. Wouldn't that be sweet.

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

Why would the Astros need to do something like this? They are a "historically good team"!

 

[E5 Yaz]

Rob Bradford on Twitter:

Just talked to Major League exec about this: 'This is a big story' Insinuated feeling in baseball that this is far from an isolated incident

There are a lot of franchises pissed off at how the Astros built a winner

I'm not suggesting they didn't break the rules in this case, just that the "feeling in baseball" type of comments are often laced with professional jealousy

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Why would the Astros need to do something like this? They are a "historically good team"!

Maybe this is why.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Why would the Astros need to do something like this? They are a "historically good team"!

Maybe this is why.

Insert Patriots joke here

 

[koufax32]

Insert Patriots joke here

Too soon

 

[LesterFan]

Certainly would explain why Vazquez has been dropping down multiple signs even with nobody on.

I can recall the Sox doing this throughout the season, particularly against Toronto.

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

I'm sure Houston totally denies doing anything wrong. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

 

[8slim]

I'm sure Houston totally denies doing anything wrong. Whatever happened until innocent until proven guilty?

Rogue texters.

 

[Red Averages]

Certainly would explain why Vazquez has been dropping down multiple signs even with nobody on.

#1 - Both teams have been doing this.
#2 - There is absolutely no way you can take a camera, see a catchers sign (particularly from whereever this is!) text it to someone else, and have them relay that information within the few seconds it takes to go from catcher sign to pitch.

I'd think it's far more likely they are trying to steal signals such as steals, run and hit, etc if they were in fact doing something.

 

[joe dokes]

Glob says sources say it was an Astro guy in the photo pit seeing if the Sox were using video in the dugout, not the Astros actually trying to relay signs.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

#1 - Both teams have been doing this.
#2 - There is absolutely no way you can take a camera, see a catchers sign (particularly from whereever this is!) text it to someone else, and have them relay that information within the few seconds it takes to go from catcher sign to pitch.

I'd think it's far more likely they are trying to steal signals such as steals, run and hit, etc if they were in fact doing something.

While I agree with your conclusion, I think it’s a distinction without a difference. He could easily be doing both, in sync with someone in outfield stands. A text or a FaceTime with someone that can see the signs could easily lead to verbal signals to the batter within earshot. ‘Here we go...’ is fastball, ‘come on...’ is curve, etc. the camera seems kinda dumb because I don’t understand what you’re gleaning that you can’t from tv footage that’s usable in real time, but if the Sox can’t wear an Apple Watch this shouldn’t be allowed either.

 

[RedOctober3829]

While I agree with your conclusion, I think it’s a distinction without a difference. He could easily be doing both, in sync with someone in outfield stands. A text or a FaceTime with someone that can see the signs could easily lead to verbal signals to the batter within earshot. ‘Here we go...’ is fastball, ‘come on...’ is curve, etc. the camera seems kinda dumb because I don’t understand what you’re gleaning that you can’t from tv footage that’s usable in real time, but if the Sox can’t wear an Apple Watch this shouldn’t be allowed either.

They easily could be stealing pitch calls from the dugout. Most pitches get called from the dugout these days.

 

[Royal Reader]

While I agree with your conclusion, I think it’s a distinction without a difference. He could easily be doing both, in sync with someone in outfield stands. A text or a FaceTime with someone that can see the signs could easily lead to verbal signals to the batter within earshot. ‘Here we go...’ is fastball, ‘come on...’ is curve, etc. the camera seems kinda dumb because I don’t understand what you’re gleaning that you can’t from tv footage that’s usable in real time, but if the Sox can’t wear an Apple Watch this shouldn’t be allowed either.

It shouldn't, but it's probably the same degree of nbd.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Sources: in a similar incident with someone affiliated with the Astros, the Indians suspected there was an attempt by the Astros to gain information impermissibly in Cleveland during the American League Division Series

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

It shouldn't, but it's probably the same degree of nbd.

Depends on how each was being used and I’ll admit ignorance on Sox and the Apple watches. If it used in real time then it’s not nbd imho, in either case. If it’s for logging data then sure, knock yourself out, just like Spygate; you can glean that in a different manner for future use and it’s an argument of semantics over collection methods or location of recording. If the guy was relaying signs or using them in game, yeah I think it’s more than nbd.

 

[bsj]

This would be a big story on ESPN but it wasnt a Boston team

 

[RedOctober3829]

Sources: the Indians tipped Red Sox off to Astros employee attempting to impermissibly gather info. The same individual was involved both in Cleveland and Boston. That same employee was seen again at Minute Maid Park today, but not in a suspicious capacity.


The Astros employee involved works for the team essentially in his free time, sources said. He has a connection to Astros owner Jim Crane.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

They easily could be stealing pitch calls from the dugout. Most pitches get called from the dugout these days.

You have a cite for the bolded? That is an astonishing assertion, so it would be nice to see your work.

 

[soxhop411]

Sources: the Indians tipped Red Sox off to Astros employee attempting to impermissibly gather info. The same individual was involved both in Cleveland and Boston. That same employee was seen again at Minute Maid Park today, but not in a suspicious capacity.


The Astros employee involved works for the team essentially in his free time, sources said. He has a connection to Astros owner Jim Crane.

that makes it worse no?

 

[canderson]

It’s the lead MLB story on espn.com: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25001681/mlb-investigating-houston-astros-photographer-alcs-vs-boston-red-sox

Says nothing more than a fine is expected.

 

[Rough Carrigan]

Glob says sources say it was an Astro guy in the photo pit seeing if the Sox were using video in the dugout, not the Astros actually trying to relay signs.

Why would you try to do that with a guy at the side of the dugout instead of the much easier look straight across the field from their own dugout? He doesn't have a visual edge from off to the side. He might be able to hear something from there that they couldn't from across the field but he's not going to see anything better.

 

[DJnVa]

You have a cite for the bolded? That is an astonishing assertion, so it would be nice to see your work.

It's astonishing that pitches are called from the dugout? Now, I don't think it's as prevalent as the post you responded to, but it's not new.

They easily could be stealing pitch calls from the dugout. Most pitches get called from the dugout these days.

Not most. Some. In college, it's a majority.

 

[reggiecleveland]

Why would you try to do that with a guy at the side of the dugout instead of the much easier look straight across the field from their own dugout? He doesn't have a visual edge from off to the side. He might be able to hear something from there that they couldn't from across the field but he's not going to see anything better.

If he had a good directional mic, or a live stream on the person signalling, etc, thereis an advantage. If they know when to pitchout, or expect a fastball, that is enough to swing a game.

Hopefully this story dies, because it will die if the astros lose this series.

 

[Lowrielicious]

If he had a good directional mic, or a live stream on the person signalling, etc, thereis an advantage. If they know when to pitchout, or expect a fastball, that is enough to swing a game.

Hopefully this story dies, because it will die if the astros lose this series.

I think it's the opposite actually.
They are the defending champs and won 103 games. Swept Cleveland and won game 1 against the 108 win Redsox.
Then they were forced to stop whatever "it" is they were doing and potentially don't win another game to be booted out of the playoffs.

The story is then how long have they been doing "it" and they couldn't win without "it".

 

[LesterFan]

Passan has a story up with more details

 

[loshjott]

Passan has a story up with more details

Link for those on the app?

 

[DJnVa]

Link for those on the app?

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-red-sox-warned-indians-astros-attempting-steal-signs-information-032027336.html

 

[LesterFan]

Link for those on the app?

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-red-sox-warned-indians-astros-attempting-steal-signs-information-032027336.html

 

[JCizzle]

Tito keeps winning. My manager forever.

 

[reggiecleveland]

I think it's the opposite actually.
They are the defending champs and won 103 games. Swept Cleveland and won game 1 against the 108 win Redsox.
Then they were forced to stop whatever "it" is they were doing and potentially don't win another game to be booted out of the playoffs.

The story is then how long have they been doing "it" and they couldn't win without "it".

MAybe if we find out who this guy is, and if there are photos of him in next to dugouts from the playoffs lat year, then maybe.

The Patriots stories have legs because they have won for so long, and the jealousy is overwhelming. If there is a fine and they lose, the talking heads move onto the next story.

 

[DJnVa]

MAybe if we find out who this guy is, and if there are photos of him in next to dugouts from the playoffs lat year, then maybe.

We know who the guy is and the Dodgers had suspicions that the Astros were stealing signs in Series last year.

As did Oakland earlier this year.

This is not the first investigation into the Astros’ attempts to gain competitive advantages this season, three sources told Yahoo Sports. During a late-August game against Oakland, A’s players noticed Astros players clapping in the dugout before pitches and believed they were relaying stolen signs to pitchers in the batter’s box, sources said. The A’s called the league, which said it would investigate the matter. It’s unclear what the result of the investigation was or whether it remains ongoing.

Two major league players said they have witnessed the Astros hitting a trash can in the dugout in recent years and believe it is a way to relay signals to hitters. The Los Angeles Dodgers also believed the Astros were stealing signs during the World Series last season, according to two sources.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Glob says sources say it was an Astro guy in the photo pit seeing if the Sox were using video in the dugout, not the Astros actually trying to relay signs.

And OJ is still looking for the real killer

 

[reggiecleveland]

Okay I just read the latest. This could have legs. This guy has the starfucker "just happy to be here" look in all those photos. He looks like the expendable assistant coach that goes down during NCAA investigations.

 

[Ed Hillel]

He’s their Ernie Adams!

 

[bosox188]

I'm not particularly happy with this one gaining traction. Pine tar, sign stealing, I'm a little tired of seeing stories blow up about misdemeanor-level offenses that every team is doing to some degree. There's always a different spin on it (cameraman on the sidelines, apple watches, media dugout) but ultimately it amounts to the same thing, doesn't it?

Personally, I don't want to see anybody in Boston making a big deal out of this, because then it just serves to legitimize all of the Spygate crap too. In a rational world we should all be agreeing that this is a molehill, not a mountain.

Eh, but maybe I'm just taking it too seriously.

 

[LesterFan]

Hitting trash cans in the dugout to relay signals to the hitter sounds ridiculous to me. How would that even work? Sounds like a salty opponent to me.

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

It was the ravens that tipped off the colts before deflate-gate. So if the Astro’s are the Pats here and the Indians are the Ravens then ....that makes us the Colts?

Please God No!!!!
If that’s the case then I say just let them cheat

 

[DJnVa]

I'm not particularly happy with this one gaining traction. Pine tar, sign stealing, I'm a little tired of seeing stories blow up about misdemeanor-level offenses that every team is doing to some degree. There's always a different spin on it (cameraman on the sidelines, apple watches, media dugout) but ultimately it amounts to the same thing, doesn't it?

Personally, I don't want to see anybody in Boston making a big deal out of this, because then it just serves to legitimize all of the Spygate crap too. In a rational world we should all be agreeing that this is a molehill, not a mountain.

Eh, but maybe I'm just taking it too seriously.

You think things like pine tar and taking pictures of the opposing dugout are the same types of things?

 

[Rough Carrigan]

Hitting trash cans in the dugout to relay signals to the hitter sounds ridiculous to me. How would that even work? Sounds like a salty opponent to me.

One bang on the trash can is a fastball . . .
And you don't do it during every single at bat for your team. That's too obvious. Also, some of the guys wouldn't want to be distracted by it. Back in the 1930's and 40's, the Tigers had a coach, Del Baker, who was supposedly a master at picking up on pitchers tipping their pitches but there were guys who didn't want him whistling or whatever his signals were because it was too distracting. Other guys loved it.

 

[JCizzle]

You think things like pine tar and taking pictures of the opposing dugout are the same types of things?

Do they involve apple watches or no?