The Astros Sign-Stealing Scandal is Gonna Be a Big One, Cy Young Winners, and Other Cubs Bullets

Nothing gets a blogger more nervous than having to change his home WIFI. Our system has progressively gotten less stable over the many years we’ve had the same router, and with kids reaching “device age,” it seems to be getting even worse in the last year. Because I am a nerd who must be able to read FanGraphs at all hours from every corner of our house, it was time to get a new system. Fingers crossed that this post reaches you when it’s time to publish …

The big baseball scandal of the week is confirmation that – at a minimum in 2017 – the Houston Astros were electronically stealing signs in their park. The league and the Astros are looking into the matter, and it could wind up coming with a big hammer for the Houston organization (and you start to wonder about other clubs that have done similar things). For their part, The Athletic duo that broke the story aren’t going to let it lie:

Three major-league managers are connected to #Astros sign stealing in 2017. Story with @EvanDrellich: https://t.co/yELt98S60T

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 14, 2019

It’s kinda obvious that the manager of the Astros, the former bench coach of the Astros, and a former veteran hitter on the Astros would be in on this kind of scheme, but nevertheless, getting the confirmation sure is something.

I find it interesting that Beltran, who was just hired as the new manager of the Mets, is trying to take the denial-non-denial-try-to-talk-around-it approach, rather than either copping to it or just no-commenting. Here’s what he said to The Athletic:

“We took a lot of pride studying pitchers in the computer – that is the only technology that I use and I understand. It was fun seeing guys get to the ballpark to look for little details. (In) the game of baseball, guys for years have given location and if the catchers get lazy and the pitcher doesn’t cover the signs from second base, of course players are going to take advantage. I don’t call that cheating. I call that using the small details to take advantage. I think baseball is doing a great job adding new technology to make sure the game is even for both teams.”

What Beltran is trying to do is conflate two things, both of which are OK: using video and computers to study pitchers and see if you can find any pitch-tipping (something the Astros have been at the forefront of, to their credit), and stealing and relaying signs from *players on base*. Neither of those things is a problem, and neither is the issue here.

This might not quite be on the level of the Cardinals hacking scandal in terms of “holy shit”ness, but when you think about the fact that we’re talking about true in-game, on-field impact spread across dozens and dozens of games, possibly multiple years, and possibly multiple teams? This is, uh, kind of a really big deal.

Side note: I don’t think this would be the reason he didn’t get either of the Cubs or Giants jobs, but this story does kinda recast Joe Espada as a managerial candidate, doesn’t it? At a minimum, it would have brought scrutiny, as it is now to the Mets and Red Sox.

Incredibly, Anthony Rizzo got jobbed out of another Cy Young award this year. And Ben Zobrist didn’t even win for striking out Yadi Molina. Rigged.

Complete voting results for the 2019 NL Cy Young Award along with individual ballots.

1. Jacob deGrom, 207 points
2. Hyun-Jin Ryu, 72
2. Max Scherzer, 72
4. Stephen Strasburg, 69
4. Jack Flaherty, 69 pic.twitter.com/bCKul2IkmA

— Today in MLB (@TodayintheMLB) November 13, 2019

Complete voting results for AL Cy Young Award and individual ballots.

1. Justin Verlander, 171 points
2. Gerrit Cole, 159 points
3. Charlie Morton, 75 points
4. Shane Bieber, 64 points pic.twitter.com/SSSx2c8Zim

— Today in MLB (@TodayintheMLB) November 13, 2019

In all seriousness, put me down for Yu Darvish being *involved in* the Cy Young conversation at times next year. Not saying he’ll win it or even be a finalist, but I think he’s gonna get some love, because I think the guy he was in the second half will carry forward. And that guy? That guy is a clear Cy Young candidate.

I still can’t believe this is something that happened:

https://twitter.com/pitchingninja/status/1194950554746839040?s=21

Luis hit up SportsFeed with his usual flare:

Thanks @lcm1986 of @BleacherNation for talking Bears & Cubs with @paytonsun on Wednesday's @CLTVSportsFeed. https://t.co/ZMlo8VJk1H

— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) November 14, 2019

Congrats to Yu Darvish and his family on the new arrival. And he is such a good dude:

Yu Darvish became a father again yesterday, when his wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Given this is Darvish's first daughter, he's soliciting input, especially from women on what they liked and didn't like about their own fathers. https://t.co/Y5AebU3eHP

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) November 13, 2019

A note that there are even Cubs movies on Disney+:

Game getting younger every year. Cubs really going for years of control this offseason.

(You know the flick, which, by the way, is available on Disney+. Sign up for your free trial here – https://t.co/xLE1QtC5rA – which supports BN via a commission! Thanks!) pic.twitter.com/i9HuBwYlvj

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 13, 2019

Speakers, clothes, and outdoor equipment are among your Deals of the Day today at Amazon. #ad

I bet it’s a Gerrit Cole unveiling video:

Ooooh, the @Cubs newest content on their YouTube channel … WHAT ARE THEY HIDING FROM US!?!?!? pic.twitter.com/YgsIra5CZe

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) November 14, 2019