Introduction to the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal
The Houston Astros cheating scandal is a baseball controversy involving the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). In the 2019 season, the Astros were found to have illegally used technology to steal the opposing team’s signs during games. This was done with the use of a camera located in the outfield and a trash can to send signals to the hitters. The scandal has led to the suspension of the team’s manager and general manager, as well as penalties for the team, including the loss of draft picks and a $5 million fine.
Background of the Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The team is a member of the American League West division in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Astros have won the World Series twice, in 2017 and 2019, and have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.
How the Astros Cheated
The Astros cheating scandal involved the use of technology to steal the opposing team’s signs. The team used a camera placed in the outfield to record the opposing team’s signs and then relayed the signals to the hitters in the dugout. The team used a “buzzer” system, in which a trash can was banged to signal to the hitters what kind of pitch was coming.
Repercussions of the Cheating Scandal
The Astros cheating scandal has led to a number of repercussions for the team. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has suspended the team’s manager, AJ Hinch, and general manager, Jeff Luhnow, for the 2020 season. The team has also been fined $5 million and has had to surrender their first and second round draft picks for the 2020 and 2021 drafts.
Reaction from the Players
The Astros cheating scandal has also been met with a great deal of criticism from players around the league. Several former Astros players have come out and spoken out against the team’s actions, including Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Alex Bregman. Other players around the league, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, have also expressed their disapproval of the team’s cheating.
Reaction from the Public
The public reaction to the Astros cheating scandal has been overwhelmingly negative. Many fans have called for the team to be stripped of their World Series titles and for the players involved to be suspended. Fans have also expressed their disappointment in the team’s actions and have called for the Astros to be held accountable for their actions.
MLB Investigation into the Astros
In response to the cheating scandal, MLB launched an investigation into the Astros. MLB found that the team had illegally used technology to steal signs during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and that the team had possibly done so during the 2019 season as well. The investigation also found that the team had used the “buzzer” system to signal to the hitters what kind of pitch was coming.
Astros Apology
In response to the findings of the MLB investigation, the Astros released a statement apologizing for their actions. In the statement, the team apologized for their actions and accepted responsibility for their actions. The team also stated that they would work to “regain the trust of baseball fans”.
MLB Punishments for the Astros
In response to the findings of the MLB investigation, the league handed down a number of punishments for the Astros. The team was fined $5 million and was forced to surrender their first and second round draft picks for the 2020 and 2021 drafts. In addition, the team’s manager, AJ Hinch, and general manager, Jeff Luhnow, were both suspended for the 2020 season.
Conclusion
The Houston Astros cheating scandal has been one of the biggest scandals in recent baseball history. The team was found to have illegally used technology to steal the opposing team’s signs during games, and the scandal has led to a number of punishments for the team. The team has apologized for their actions, and MLB has handed down a number of punishments, including a fine, the loss of draft picks, and suspensions for the team’s manager and general manager.