1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Astros hit with 1-year suspensions for manager, GM, and heavy draft penalties UPDATE: Sox fire Cora

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Regan MacNeil, Jan 13, 2020.

Page 13 of 47
  1. Michael_ Gee

    Michael_ Gee Well-Known Member

    Here's what I don't get. For all the high technology razzle-dazzle, the final means of communicating info to an Astros batter, banging on a garbage can, was as primitive and open as could be. I fail to believe it went on for a season without some opponent catching onto it. Why didn't they react in the simplest most direct means possible? If, as I have read, the banging meant a breaking ball, how come no team just threw chin-high, chin-tight fastballs when they heard the noise? That would get batters distrusting their sign stealers in a big hurry. My conclusion is that if there was no such retaliation, it means that Houston was very far from the only team doing this sort of thing and the strict punishments given the Astros are part discipline and several parts a "cut it out, the rest of you" message sent to all other teams.
     
    Michael_ Gee, Jan 14, 2020
    #145
  2. Inky_Wretch

    Inky_Wretch Well-Known Member

    Like this?

     
    Inky_Wretch, Jan 14, 2020
    #146
    poindexter likes this.
  3. outofplace

    outofplace Well-Known Member

    Good point. All the reports have no discipline for the players involved. They should add the word yet to the end of it.
     
    outofplace, Jan 14, 2020
    #147
  4. Inky_Wretch

    Inky_Wretch Well-Known Member

    You can fine me $5 if I reap $60 for whatever it was I did.

     
    Inky_Wretch, Jan 14, 2020
    #148
  5. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    They probably have 20 years to pay back that $5M.
     
    Songbird, Jan 14, 2020
    #149
  6. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Let's say that the world series was worth an extra $60 million to the team, is it likely that the fallout from having gotten caught is going to cost the Astros money moving forward in terms of licensing revenue, ticket sales, ticket prices, and if so, how much?

    Whatever benefit the team got from the World Series, it will give back at least some of it, in terms of the black eye and the fallout moving forward.

    I'm not saying whatever revenue that accrued because of the world series doesn't matter, but for the owners of pro sports teams, the real value is in the rising franchise values. And the bragging rights and ego boost of being a champion. Drayton McLane isn't into the Astros because he needs it to pay his bills. He's a multibillionaire. He owns the Astros because it is the mother of all rich men's toys. The scandal, and being labeled a cheater, is going to hurt someone like that as much, or more, than however millions of dollars you fine the team.
     
    The Big Ragu, Jan 14, 2020
    #150
  7. poindexter

    poindexter Well-Known Member

    This is correct if you assume McLane has a soul, and is capable of human emotions like embarrassment.

    From what I've seen in the last five months from Luhnow, and that asswipe Taubman, I'm convinced they don't have a soul, and are completely incapable of feeling shame, or self-consciousness.
     
    poindexter, Jan 14, 2020
    #151
  8. Azrael

    Azrael Well-Known Member

    Also worth asking how much the Astros cost opposing players by cheating.

    Every batter who missed a performance incentive in his contract by a point or two; every team that missed the playoffs and didn't pay out a bonus.

    Restitution and amends in this case are pretty complex.
     
    Azrael, Jan 14, 2020
    #152
  9. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Yeah, and I am also living in the past. Drayton McClane sold the Astros. ... I should have said Jim Crane.
     
    The Big Ragu, Jan 14, 2020
    #153
  10. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    THAT would be a great story or #30for30.
     
    Songbird, Jan 14, 2020
    #154
  11. Michael_ Gee

    Michael_ Gee Well-Known Member

    The solution to this is simplicity itself. Get rid of replay. Baseball doesn't need it, did fine without it and only its obsessive NFL envy led to it in the first place. Is there a single fan who's ever said, "boy replay has really enhanced my baseball experience"? I'm gonna say no.
     
    Michael_ Gee, Jan 14, 2020
    #155
    wicked, HanSenSE, bigpern23 and 1 other person like this.
  12. Regan MacNeil

    Regan MacNeil Well-Known Member

    Yeah, no. We're about to start switching to electronic strike zones and you think MLB will go backward? Good luck with that.
     
    Regan MacNeil, Jan 14, 2020
    #156
Page 13 of 47
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page