Houston Asterisks (err Astros) took cheating to an art form

So much for the Houston Astros being a lovable rags-to-riches
story. 

From 2011-2014, the franchise went 232-416. The next three
seasons, thanks to good old-fashioned rebuilding through the draft
and acquiring some useful veterans via trade and free agency, the
franchise went  481-329 from 2015-present with four playoff
appearances, two World Series appearances and a World Series
title in 2017. 

After a long investigation in which the Astros were deemed guilty of
using technology for stealing the signs of opposing teams, Major
League Baseball, led by commissioner Rob Manfred, levied heavy
penalties against the franchise. The sanctions included but were
not limited to manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow
being suspended for the 2020 season. Both have since been fired
by the Astros with current Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora
suffering the same fate since he was on the Astros coaching staff at
the time of the infraction. Former assistant GM Brandon Taubman
has been suspended for one year. The Astros must forfeit their first-
and second- round draft picks the next two years. The organization
was fined $5 million, the maximum allowed under MLB’s constitution.

For full details, read the link below: 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-hammers-astros-in-cheating
-scandal-jeff-luhnow-aj-hinch-suspended-then-fired-draft-picks-lost/

So how did the Astros cheat? The team had a camera in centerfield
at Minute Maid Park, which the home venue of the Astros, to ascertain
signs from the opposing catcher to pitcher. These signs are to relay
what pitch is on the way toward the batter. The cameras were reportedly
meant to help Hinch on whether or not to challenge an umpire’s call.
However, the technology usage escalated. Cora, who at the time was
an Astros bench coach, reportedly instructed those in the replay room
to relay the signs to a player who subsequently shared them with
teammates. 

The reaction to this scandal has compelled some people to think that
the Astros should have to vacate their aforementioned 2017 World
Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3. This lifelong San
Francisco Giants fan would not go that far but I can understand the
outrage. There are, however, a few things that cross my mind on
this issue: 

Initial reaction versus how to feel now

I’m not here to tell you how to emote because everyone feels different.
My initial reaction without reading any news stories was, “big deal,
people have done things at every level of sport to gain a competitive
edge.” There are several examples whether it was Fred Biletnikoff and
Lester Hayes’ stickum to catch the football, Jim Burt’s tight jersey to
keep linemen from holding, etc. 

However, when I researched further into the Astros’ version of gaining
a competitive edge, I became appalled. The Astros’ form of cheating
is undeniably the most overt form I have ever seen. 

Individual versus team

Baseball has had a few scandals. To limit them to the recent ones,
there was the Performance Enhancing Drug era along all-time MLB
hits leader Pete Rose being banned from baseball and not being
inducted into the Hall of Fame because of gambling on games he
played in or managed. The alleged PED use, led by the San Francisco
Giants slugger Barry Bonds, is believed by many to have helped many
MLB hitters reach enormous numbers, specifically home runs. 

I have long argued that hitting a baseball is a hand-eye coordination
skill, not a matter of strength. I can stick a needle in my rear end today
but that doesn’t mean I will be any good as a hitter. In addition, pitchers
took those enhancers as well and several hitters took them and were
still hungtooths as players. 

My question is that when an individual does something that is linked
with bending the rules, we call for Armageddon. Yet, when there is an
entire team that cheats, very few bat an eye in terms of taking away
glory. Why? 

Scouting versus cheating

Though I could create a zillion examples, I’ll limit them to a couple. In
football, there are instances when receivers might tip off a running
play by lining up in nonchalant fashion. Whereas, if it is a passing play,
they might line up with their body being more tense. Offensive linemen
may similarly tip off a running play by leaning their body forward.
Whereas on a passing play, they have their body leaning backward.
Coaches will inevitably pick up on those tendencies but they are out
in the open for everyone to see. 

Catcher to pitcher signals are given with the former squatting, thus
meant to be more discreet. The only ones that can decode the signal
are either the latter or an opposing runner on second base. While
stealing signs are not illegal, per se, they are considered an unwritten
rule that have ramifications. 

What punishment should the Astros face?

I’m into making them vacate their World Series title because it sets a
dangerous precedent. Plus, you can’t un-dogpile the players
celebrating said title. You also can’t un-parade the joy the city of
Houston felt. Vacating draft picks is a viable punishment because
for an organization that prides itself on rebuilding itself through the
draft, suddenly the farm system becomes weaker. 

Since an entire team was caught cheating, I think the punishment
needs to be more severe. Perhaps, we can allow all 30 MLB teams
to draft a player from the Astros and make them operate with a
skeleton team that looks like an expansion outfit?