As the club was celebrating their ALCS victory, and while closer Roberto Osuna was talking to the media, Houston Astros Assistant GM Brandon Taubman went off in a very specific, very disgusting way.
The events – coming against the backdrop of Osuna’s previous domestic violence suspension, which allowed the Astros to acquire him on a discount – were detailed at Sports Illustrated, and corroborated by multiple other witnesses:
During the Astros’ ALCS celebration, assistant GM Brandon Taubman yelled, half a dozen times, to three female reporters, “Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f——— glad we got Osuna!” On a systemic problem, in Houston and across the league: https://t.co/8zyVwG2Lpo
— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) October 22, 2019
This would make me *very* uncomfortable. https://t.co/hhlFmasgWO pic.twitter.com/XID0Ios2lS
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) October 22, 2019
So, that’s what happened. I can say that it happened – without the allegedly – because the Astros have now twice commented on the events, and did not deny in either case that it happened. Instead, they are trying to fundamentally change the context of what happened.
First they tried to totally discredit the reporter:
The Astros just released the following statement. pic.twitter.com/KnA6kQt0hq
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 22, 2019
Then, when it was clear that wasn’t going to fly, the Astros have tried to change the story again:
Astros Assistant GM Brandon Taubman and owner Jim Crane have released the following statements: pic.twitter.com/6v5nfXQNCE
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) October 22, 2019
“Sorry if you’re offended.” “I actually know lots of women and they think I’m fine.” “We take this issue seriously except right now.” Great work. Great work.
The Astros, before and after their statements, have been getting blasted from all corners:
The Houston Astros should be ashamed of themselves.
Column: https://t.co/YbLuD9QUve
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 22, 2019
A troubling pattern of behavior continues in Houston where the pursuit of efficiency and winning at seemingly any cost is leading to some repugnant decisions and creating collateral damage. From our reporting in the book: pic.twitter.com/m3JD83VBAe
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) October 22, 2019
Anything short of the @Astros apologizing publicly to the reporter and retracting that false statement is sanctioning their reckless and unprofessional behavior. #TakeItBack? They can begin with that statement filled with lies. I don’t typically go off here. But this is bullshit.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 22, 2019
I’m going off about the @Astros because their pathetic attempt to discredit a journalist could have been aimed at anyone that has delivered coverage that they didn’t like. Their smear cannot stand.
I’m sorry if anyone was offended by my actions.
I’m kidding. I’m not sorry.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 22, 2019
Evan is correct. It took the Astros almost 18 hours to produce new statements. And they still did not address why they called Epstein’s story “misleading” and “completely irresponsible” when multiple sources confirmed her account. https://t.co/SiKbFxYluu
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 22, 2019
And now MLB is involved, too:
MLB announces it will investigate the incident reported by Sports Illustrated involving Astros assistant GM Brandon Taubman pic.twitter.com/myjBbSTiLk
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) October 22, 2019
Taubman screwed up deeply, and the response thereafter – both by him and his organization – tell me a whole lot about whether it was a totally-out-of-character mistake, or whether it was some muscle-flexing by a meatball a-hole who apparently exists in an organization full of them.
The Astros face the Nationals in the World Series, starting tonight, and this is the biggest conversation. Just a bang-up job all around, Houston.