User:LuK3/Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal

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The Houston Astros sign stealing scandal refer to a series of incidents where members of the Houston Astros organization allegedly stole signs of opposing teams against MLB rules. Mike Fiers, a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Astros in 2017, told The Atlantic that the Astros used a video camera in center field to tape signs of opposing teams.[1]

Background

Sign stealing in baseball is not inherently against the rules in baseball.[2] Major League Baseball, along with the Major League Baseball Players Association, stated in February 2019 they were looking to amend the rules to include a ban of technology in sign stealing.[3] Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated said that the ban would include "all non-broadcast outfield cameras from foul pole to foul pole as well as tightening restrictions on in-house video".[4]

Notable incidents of sign stealing include the 1951 New York Giants, where coach Herman Franks used a telescope to relay signals.[5] The Boston Red Sox in 2017 used an Apple Watch to sign steal against the New York Yankees.[6]

2017 Houston Astros season

The Astros finished 1st place in the American League West division.[7] After defeating the Yankees in the 2017 American League Championship Series,[8] they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.[9] The World Series was their first in their franchise history.[10]

The Dodgers organization said that they suspected sign stealing after the World Series. Andrew Friedman, the President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers stated that "there was just a lot of speculation at the time about it".[11] In The Atlantic article, Fiers stated that a center-field camera feed was sent to the Houston Astros tunnel in Minute Maid Park. An Astros staff member then hit a trash can to signal specific different pitches to the players and coaches in the dugout.[12]

Reactions and aftermath

Reactions and aftermath within Major League Baseball

Jeff Luhnow, the General Manager of the Astros, stated that the Astros organization is “going to look into the allegations in cooperation with Major League Baseball.”[13] Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle said the he "had his guard up" regarding potential sign stealing in the 2019 World Series.[14]

Major League Baseball officials told league representatives in 2019 to specifically listen for banging sounds at Minute Maid Park.[15]

References

  1. ^ Passan, Jeff (November 12, 2019). "Ex-Astros pitcher Mike Fiers: Team stole signs with camera". ESPN. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  2. ^ Schoenfield, David (September 5, 2017). "Everything you need to know about sign-stealing". ESPN. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  3. ^ Kasabian, Paul (February 19, 2019). "MLB Reportedly Adding Rules for Cameras, Video to Restrict Sign-Stealing". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Verducci, Tom (February 19, 2019). "Exclusive: MLB Set to Pass New Rules Designed to Crack Down on Sign Stealing". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "Hitters knew pitches in stretch drive". ESPN Classic. Associated Press. November 19, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Schmidt, Michael (September 5, 2017). "Boston Red Sox Used Apple Watches to Steal Signs Against Yankees". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  7. ^ "2017 MLB Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  8. ^ Joyce, Greg (October 12, 2019). "Where it all went wrong for Yankees in 2017 ALCS heartbreak". New York Post. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Martin, Jill (November 2, 2017). "Houston Astros win World Series for first time in franchise history". CNN. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  10. ^ "Astros win 1st World Series crown, top Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7". Austin American-Statesman. Associated Press. November 1, 2017. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  11. ^ Castillo, Jorge (November 12, 2019). "Dodgers suspected Astros' sophisticated sign-stealing prior to 2017 World Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  12. ^ "MLB is investigating after report that the 2017 Astros illegally stole signs". Chicago Sun-Times. Associated Press. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  13. ^ Verduccu, Tom (November 13, 2019). "Astros' Latest Scandal Demands Quick Action From MLB". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  14. ^ Lingebach, Chris (November 15, 2019). "Doolittle: 'We had our guard up' for Astros stealing signs". WJFK-FM. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  15. ^ Rome, Chandler (November 18, 2019). "MLB told video monitors to listen for Astros' banging sounds in 2019". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
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