2019-2020 Offseason Thread

[olpapa]

I’m curious. Did Fiers say, “they” or “we” cheated as a team when he responded to Correa’s comments about Altuve not being a part of the sign-stealing, trash-can-banging program? Has Fiers apologized for the Astros sign stealing in 2017? He was a member of the team and benefited from plenty of run support in 2017 IIRC.

[Saint]

Feb 17, 2020 10:23:52 GMT -6 olpapa said:

I’m curious. Did Fiers say, “they” or “we” cheated as a team when he responded to Correa’s comments about Altuve not being a part of the sign-stealing, trash-can-banging program? Has Fiers apologized for the Astros sign stealing in 2017? He was a member of the team and benefited from plenty of run support in 2017 IIRC.

He said the "team cheated" and refused to go into any other details.

On a side note, supposedly Altuve is going to speak with reporters after practice today. 

[ɮօʀȶǟʐ]

Chris Sale:

On the Astros

After Sale discussed all the requisite baseball stuff, he shared his thoughts on the sign-stealing scandal involving the 2017 Astros and also the pending investigation of the ’18 Red Sox.

“I'm a firm believer in not really dwelling on things in the past,” said Sale. “I think that moving forward, this has no effect on us. It's obviously a tough situation and put the sport in a bad light. Obviously it was the wrong thing to do. But nothing I'm going to do or say today is going to help me win a World Series. It's kind of where I'm at with it.”

Though Sale was shelled by the Astros in Game 1 of the 2017 American League Division Series -- and the Red Sox lost the series in four games -- he hasn’t spent much time obsessing about whether Houston gained an unfair advantage that day from the trash barrel scheme.

“Yeah, it sucks,” said Sale. “But what am I going to do? Am I going to hold them at gunpoint? Am I going to sit here and curse them out through a bunch of cameras? If I have something to say to them, I know those guys. I can get one of their numbers and text them and talk to them face-to-face or whatever. It happened. What are you going to do about it? You can sit around and cry about it or I can get my ass to work and try and win a championship.”

And the Red Sox?

Sale acknowledged that he did speak to MLB for the investigation on whether the 2018 Red Sox used technology to steal signs and he was more than happy to talk to them.

“They asked me, ‘Hey, you want to talk to these guys?’ and I said, ‘Yeah I do.’ Because I want to help make this right,” said Sale. “Is it frustrating? Yeah. It took 30 minutes out of one of my days in the offseason. Whatever. But to get the truth and to make this a better game, I'm in. That's what I've talked about basically this whole interview, getting all this right and making this a better game when I leave.”

Sale joined J.D. Martinez, Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and a cast of others in expressing his belief that Boston players didn’t cheat during their championship season.

“I know, given the circumstances, with what happened in Houston and AC [Alex Cora] being our manager, I think they're just doing their due diligence, just to see if he brought it over here,” Sale said. “I don't know how much longer it's going to take. Hopefully it will be over soon and we'll get to see the truth.

“It's under investigation right now. Until that comes out, no one's going to believe what I say. We can sit up here as players and an organization and say all the things we want, but until the hammer drops, that's when the truth comes out. Just kind of wasted breath for me to sit up here and keep talking about it.”

[bearbryant]

Feb 15, 2020 15:31:47 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 15, 2020 13:05:17 GMT -6 paastrosfan said:

MLB handled the drug situation with kid gloves.

Comments by Logan Morrison:

“I know from first hand accounts that the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros and Red Sox all have used film to pick signs,” 
“If we are going to be punishing people for it. Don’t half ass it.”

[unionstation82]

Alright, name one damn team out there that would’ve ceded their World Series championship over this.

Exactly.

[Saint]

Signed some bullpen depth:

www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/astros-sign-jared-hughes.html

[olpapa]

Feb 17, 2020 11:54:59 GMT -6 unionstation82 said:

Alright, name one damn team out there that would’ve ceded their World Series championship over this.

Exactly.

No team which had players on their roster who were using PED’s ceded their WS championship.

On another front..., have any of you considered that we have stolen the Yankees’ title as most hated team in baseball?

[abregmanfan]

Feb 17, 2020 12:36:00 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 17, 2020 11:54:59 GMT -6 unionstation82 said:

Alright, name one damn team out there that would’ve ceded their World Series championship over this.

Exactly.

No team which had players on their roster who were using PED’s ceded their WS championship.

On another front..., have any of you considered that we have stolen the Yankees’ title as most hated team in baseball?

Being a Cowboy fan I am used to rooting for the most hated team in the league.

[sempersmom]

Feb 17, 2020 12:36:00 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 17, 2020 11:54:59 GMT -6 unionstation82 said:

Alright, name one damn team out there that would’ve ceded their World Series championship over this.

Exactly.

No team which had players on their roster who were using PED’s ceded their WS championship.

On another front..., have any of you considered that we have stolen the Yankees’ title as most hated team in baseball?

It's temporary.  The Yankees will be back on top of the hated list in no time.

[paastrosfan]

Feb 17, 2020 13:59:32 GMT -6 sempersmom said:

Feb 17, 2020 12:36:00 GMT -6 olpapa said:

No team which had players on their roster who were using PED’s ceded their WS championship.

On another front..., have any of you considered that we have stolen the Yankees’ title as most hated 0team in baseball?

It's temporary.  The Yankees will be back on top of the hated list in no time.

The Yankees who claimed they changed their habits of re-building there team through the draft, then letting Cole fill in a blank check have taken the top spot again.

[Saint]

Feb 17, 2020 11:02:18 GMT -6 ɮօʀȶǟʐ said:

Chris Sale:

On the Astros

After Sale discussed all the requisite baseball stuff, he shared his thoughts on the sign-stealing scandal involving the 2017 Astros and also the pending investigation of the ’18 Red Sox.

“I'm a firm believer in not really dwelling on things in the past,” said Sale. “I think that moving forward, this has no effect on us. It's obviously a tough situation and put the sport in a bad light. Obviously it was the wrong thing to do. But nothing I'm going to do or say today is going to help me win a World Series. It's kind of where I'm at with it.”

Though Sale was shelled by the Astros in Game 1 of the 2017 American League Division Series -- and the Red Sox lost the series in four games -- he hasn’t spent much time obsessing about whether Houston gained an unfair advantage that day from the trash barrel scheme.

“Yeah, it sucks,” said Sale. “But what am I going to do? Am I going to hold them at gunpoint? Am I going to sit here and curse them out through a bunch of cameras? If I have something to say to them, I know those guys. I can get one of their numbers and text them and talk to them face-to-face or whatever. It happened. What are you going to do about it? You can sit around and cry about it or I can get my ass to work and try and win a championship.”

And the Red Sox?

Sale acknowledged that he did speak to MLB for the investigation on whether the 2018 Red Sox used technology to steal signs and he was more than happy to talk to them.

“They asked me, ‘Hey, you want to talk to these guys?’ and I said, ‘Yeah I do.’ Because I want to help make this right,” said Sale. “Is it frustrating? Yeah. It took 30 minutes out of one of my days in the offseason. Whatever. But to get the truth and to make this a better game, I'm in. That's what I've talked about basically this whole interview, getting all this right and making this a better game when I leave.”

Sale joined J.D. Martinez, Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and a cast of others in expressing his belief that Boston players didn’t cheat during their championship season.

“I know, given the circumstances, with what happened in Houston and AC [Alex Cora] being our manager, I think they're just doing their due diligence, just to see if he brought it over here,” Sale said. “I don't know how much longer it's going to take. Hopefully it will be over soon and we'll get to see the truth.

“It's under investigation right now. Until that comes out, no one's going to believe what I say. We can sit up here as players and an organization and say all the things we want, but until the hammer drops, that's when the truth comes out. Just kind of wasted breath for me to sit up here and keep talking about it.”

For a guy that is supposedly an asshole in the clubhouse, that's a pretty fair response. 

[paastrosfan]

At this point Sale's remark's say it how it is, nothing is going to change it. We will now see stage 2 when the Stros start taking the field and hit the road when the season starts.

[unionstation82]

Feb 17, 2020 12:36:00 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 17, 2020 11:54:59 GMT -6 unionstation82 said:

Alright, name one damn team out there that would’ve ceded their World Series championship over this.

Exactly.

No team which had players on their roster who were using PED’s ceded their WS championship.

On another front..., have any of you considered that we have stolen the Yankees’ title as most hated team in baseball?

Oh, we are now for sure.

[unionstation82]

Feb 17, 2020 14:22:01 GMT -6 paastrosfan said:

At this point Sale's remark's say it how it is, nothing is going to change it. We will now see stage 2 when the Stros start taking the field and hit the road when the season starts.

Remarks of a member of a team in an investigation.

[bearbryant]

J.D. Martinez says the Astros-bashing is getting to be a bit much, and he’s taking issue with Manfred’s comments about further trying to restrict the in-game use of video, including when hitters go to the clubhouse

to review their at-bats before returning to the dugout

“I understand players' frustrations, but we have to move past it at some point. From here on out, it's going to be a different message in the clubhouses and a different environment with people, like steroids. The punishments

were so harsh that people weren't going to attempt to think about doing it anymore.”

[Saint]

Feb 17, 2020 16:06:59 GMT -6 bearbryant said:

J.D. Martinez says the Astros-bashing is getting to be a bit much, and he’s taking issue with Manfred’s comments about further trying to restrict the in-game use of video, including when hitters go to the clubhouse

to review their at-bats before returning to the dugout

“I understand players' frustrations, but we have to move past it at some point. From here on out, it's going to be a different message in the clubhouses and a different environment with people, like steroids. The punishments

were so harsh that people weren't going to attempt to think about doing it anymore.”

Similar to Sale's comments.  I think they're somewhat prepping for their punishment announcment.

[abregmanfan]

www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/francis-martes-suspended-full-season-for-ped.html

[olpapa]

Feb 17, 2020 16:41:58 GMT -6 abregmanfan said:

www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/francis-martes-suspended-full-season-for-ped.html

Time to show Francis the door. 

[abregmanfan]

Feb 17, 2020 16:44:51 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 17, 2020 16:41:58 GMT -6 abregmanfan said:

www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/francis-martes-suspended-full-season-for-ped.html

Time to show Francis the door. 

I agree. Enough of his crap...

[blcoach8]

Feb 17, 2020 8:13:14 GMT -6 Saint said:

They've apologized enough and are still getting hammered. Even when Correa tried to be completely open and honest about what is accurate and what isn't. You can pick out practically any team and find cases of cheating and/or unethical behavior. All of these people throwing stones and spreading false rumors are just giving in to mob mentality. At some point it's time to just embrace the hate, say f*ck you to whomever whines, and go kick some ass.

Winning another pennant (or more) would feel really good.

The more whining and crying I hear from losers like Bellinger, Bauer, and Fiers, the less I care about what we did. No amount of explaining or apologizing will shut these guys up.  As Correa said. Beellinger had a bad WS.  He struck out numerous times and left a lot of runners on base so he needs an excuse.  Saying we "stole" their ring is asinine when he had ample opportunity to win games for the Dodgers and failed time and again. He is a loser, a prima donna, and a damn crybaby.  Fiers is as gutless as they come. He pitched his way off the Astros and runs his mouth to get revenge.  Bauer.....well, he is just a loud-mouthed asshole who lost to us in Cleveland and hates Bregman for calling him "Tyler".  LOL

Now, the entitled Mike Trout, speaks out to say he has lost respect for us.  That just breaks my heart when a guy is handed an MVP he didn't deserve doesn't respect us.LOL LOL I have no respect for a guy who checks it in when his team is eliminated.  But, I guess it's OK since Trout is the "best player on the planet" who can't get his team into the playoffs.

As for Bellinger saying Altuve "stole" the MVP from Judge.........consider the source and call bullshit.

I think our players should tell the media they have made their apologies and will have nothing more to say and get on with Spring Training.  The losers on the other teams are going to whine anyway.....Screw them.

I love that Correa is shoving Bellinger's bullshit in his face.  Carlos told the crybaby what he thought in plain language.  Screw Bellinger.

Spring training is underway and all MLB network talks about is the Astros cheating.  I wonder how much we will hear if it is proven that the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, and others also cheat.

[blcoach8]

Feb 17, 2020 16:53:07 GMT -6 abregmanfan said:

Feb 17, 2020 16:44:51 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Time to show Francis the door. 

I agree. Enough of his crap...

He is useless.  Get rid of the piece of crap.

[paastrosfan]

Feb 17, 2020 14:51:05 GMT -6 unionstation82 said:

Feb 17, 2020 14:22:01 GMT -6 paastrosfan said:

At this point Sale's remark's say it how it is, nothing is going to change it. We will now see stage 2 when the Stros start taking the field and hit the road when the season starts.

Remarks of a member of a team in an investigation.

Sale and company are on record saying they are clean. Time will tell, only if the Baseball World see the same in-depth investigation.

[bannedfan]

So Martes gets a year for PED but if you cheat you get nothing? MLB has a lot of issues. Bye bye Martes....

[olpapa]

Feb 17, 2020 18:38:35 GMT -6 bannedfan said:

So Martes gets a year for PED but if you cheat you get nothing? MLB has a lot of issues. Bye bye Martes....

What punishment do you think MLB should have imposed on the Astros players?

[bannedfan]

Feb 17, 2020 18:42:44 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 17, 2020 18:38:35 GMT -6 bannedfan said:

So Martes gets a year for PED but if you cheat you get nothing? MLB has a lot of issues. Bye bye Martes....

What punishment do you think MLB should have imposed on the Astros players?

They are part of a union so it wouldn’t ever be allowed...but I would say a 50 game suspension. Maybe 81 games.

[bannedfan]

I was listening to Mad Dog radio today and the host brought up a good point. I doubt many Astro fans show up at away games in Astro gear in 2020. Taking your life into your hands😳

[ɮօʀȶǟʐ]

Feb 17, 2020 18:38:35 GMT -6 bannedfan said:

So Martes gets a year for PED but if you cheat you get nothing? MLB has a lot of issues. Bye bye Martes....

upload

[ɮօʀȶǟʐ]

Feb 17, 2020 18:47:31 GMT -6 bannedfan said:

Feb 17, 2020 18:42:44 GMT -6 olpapa said:

What punishment do you think MLB should have imposed on the Astros players?

They are part of a union so it wouldn’t ever be allowed...but I would say a 50 game suspension. Maybe 81 games.

for which players? The entire team? What about the players who are now on another team?

[blcoach8]

Feb 17, 2020 18:42:44 GMT -6 olpapa said:

Feb 17, 2020 18:38:35 GMT -6 bannedfan said:

So Martes gets a year for PED but if you cheat you get nothing? MLB has a lot of issues. Bye bye Martes....

What punishment do you think MLB should have imposed on the Astros players?

Some people won't be happy with anything short of putting all of them in front of a firing squad....even some so-called Astros fans.  The team was punished........that's enough

[olpapa]

Feb 17, 2020 18:47:31 GMT -6 bannedfan said:

Feb 17, 2020 18:42:44 GMT -6 olpapa said:

What punishment do you think MLB should have imposed on the Astros players?

They are part of a union so it wouldn’t ever be allowed...but I would say a 50 game suspension. Maybe 81 games.

If I’m counting correctly there are 10 players remaining on the Astros roster who were on the team in 2017. This includes their entire starting infield, their centerfielder, their right fielder, Verlander, McCullers, Devenski and Peacock. If Manfred had suspended each of those guys for 50 or 81 games, would the Astros forfeit those games or would they field a predominantly minor league team for those 50 or 81 games?