Astros: Three key takeaways from MLB sign stealing report

Hinch, Luhnow Failed to Stop It

The report noted that there was no evidence Luhnow was aware of the trash can banging operation, though it did appear he was notified of the replay room’s activities. He evidently brushed it off or paid it no mind.

The report was also clear that while Hinch was aware of both the replay room’s activities and the trash can banging, he was not involved with them and in fact did not support them. He went as far as actually damaging the monitors on two separate occasions to show his displeasure, but that’s as far as it went.

So if neither of them were actually involved in the sign stealing, why did they get the brunt of the punishment? The main reason is the commissioner’s memo to teams that came in response to the Red Sox getting caught using an Apple Watch to steal signs in 2017.

The release, issued Sept. 15, 2017, clearly stated that “the General Manager and Field Manager of Clubs would be held accountable for any violations of the rules in the future.” In the league’s view, the fact that Luhnow and Hinch failed to stop the violations, especially given that they directly or indirectly oversaw the culprits, warranted severe discipline.

In particular, I don’t understand why Hinch didn’t put a stop to it. He was right there when it was going on and was very much opposed to it, yet he evidently never stepped up and told anyone to stop. It’s unfortunate in that he’s a great manager and was a great fit for the club, but it all happened on his watch.

Players Get Off Scot Free

This is where most of the actual culpability lies. The report noted that “Most of the position players on the 2017 team either received sign information from the banging scheme or participated in the scheme by helping to decode signs or bang on the trash can.”

The entire scheme was largely player-driven, as it was a group of players who came to Astros bench coach Alex Cora with a desire to find better ways to steal signs. It was the players who primarily ran it, and of course it was the players who primarily benefited from it.

So where’s their punishment? Well, it’s not coming. In fact, the only position player actually named in the report is Carlos Beltran, and he’s now retired. There is no discussion about which players were involved or which ones were the primary culprits, and there is no attempt by the commissioner to discipline any players even though they knew what they were doing was wrong.

Why? Well, for one, the commissioner deemed it impractical. Given the fact that a handful of players were involved and that it would have been difficult to determine which ones were more responsible than others, and that some of them now play for other teams, Manfred decided to hold Luhnow and Hinch responsible.

But there’s also another reason he won’t admit to. Issuing discipline to players would have drawn the attention of the Players Association, and that’s not a fight Manfred likely wants with CBA negotiations coming up. So for the people most responsible for the actual violations, their union has effectively served to get them off the hook.

Cora In Deep Trouble

While Hinch was not involved in the sign stealing, his second-in-command was. Cora was very much involved in the whole operation and was an active participant. The fact that he was so much involved is what led the players to think it was acceptable for them to do it.

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Cora has escaped punishment for now, but not for long. He’s also under investigation for some alleged electronic sign stealing undertaken by the Red Sox club he managed in 2018. Upon the conclusion of those investigations, he’s expected to be disciplined severely.

That could mean a number of possibilities, but it looks like he should at least get a suspension equal to Hinch’s. At this point, he’s probably hoping for that. But with all things considered, I would expect something worse.

With an apparent central role in two separate violations with two separate clubs, Cora could be looking at a suspension spanning multiple years, possibly even for life. It’s unlikely he survives this as Red Sox manager, as Boston would probably have no choice but to move on to someone else.

While Hinch and Luhnow will likely get new jobs in the league after their suspensions are up, Cora’s very future in this game is currently in jeopardy. Even if he avoids a lifetime ban, it’ll be hard for a team to justify putting him in a dugout ever again.