Astros: Sign stealing scandal leaves more questions than answers

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I don’t know how to be any other way but honest, so here’s my honest response to the events surrounding the Astros and the outcome of the investigation by the MLB.

I have so many questions. I have so many confusing feelings. I feel like I’ve had my personality split in half. There’s the half that loves the Astros with an undying love, and then there’s the half that is so very angry with this whole situation.

Many of you saw my piece early on in this investigation, and I so appreciate you reading my writings and your comments. Bear with me as I process my thoughts after the news from the Commissioner.

First of all, in all honesty, I REALLY wanted to believe this whole scandal was blown completely out of proportion by Mike Fiers when the news was first reported by The Athletic. Now, I’m REALLY torn between being angry at him for putting this proverbial ball in motion and patting him on the back for having the guts to come forward.

I don’t know what to think of it all. The one hand wants to believe that it’s all as black and white as the print that’s on the paper. But the other hand says it’s so much deeper and so much more involved than that and that there is so much to the story that we’ll never know about.

On the one hand:

I understand the investigation uncovered some facts that I didn’t want to be true and it just hurts because I so wanted to believe that our management and our players had more integrity than the Commissioner’s nine-page investigation report suggests.

I understand that the punishment had to be severe. Even so, I was shocked that Jeff Luhnow and AJ Hinch were both suspended for the 2020 season. And before I even had time for that information to sink in, I learned that they’ve both been fired. Wait. What?

There is no way that the outcome of this report came as a surprise to anyone in the organization. There is no way that Jim Crane didn’t realize what was coming before today. So why did he wait to take action? Why wait until they’re both already suspended? Why not just let them both go early on?

HOUSTON, TX – MAY 04: Houston Astros owner Jim Crane waits near the field before the start of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Minute Maid Park on May 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

On the other hand:

I’m so very angry at myself because I so much wanted to believe in the integrity of the Astros and that there was no truth to these far-fetched allegations.
Luhnow and Hinch got what they deserved. They seemingly condoned the behavior and neither one of them took definitive steps to stop the behavior. And if Hinch was as outraged as we’re to believe, you will NEVER convince me that he and Luhnow NEVER discussed this scheme privately while it was happening. After all, who paid for the replacement monitors?
Maybe Nolan and Reid Ryan distancing themselves from the team early in the offseason points to an indication of the real culture being condoned by the organization. Perhaps Crane purposefully waited to take these drastic steps until after the report was made public so that he could save face.

Do you see what I mean? Split personality.

What now?

Who will fill the shoes of Luhnow, one of the most talented GMs in the game? Who will fill the shoes of Hinch, one of the best managers in the league? Speculation is rampant as to whether or not these positions are filled from within or without the organization. We’ll just have to wait to find out.

Worse than the suspensions and subsequent firings of Hinch and Luhnow, we dangerously depleted our farm system at the trade deadline last year. With the elimination of our first- and second-round draft picks for the next two drafts, we’ve now been dealt a lethal blow in our ability to rebuild that system quickly.

We do have some awesome talent that could possibly carry us through to the 2022 draft. Beyond that, we’re likely going to be in some trouble. We have one of the very best player development programs in the MLB, though only time will tell as to how bad this will truly hurt our ranks.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 10: Jose Altuve #27 of Houston Astros rests his hat and glove in the dugout before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 10, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Other Issues

This investigation report definitely mars the reputation of both the Astros organization and the players. It’s very likely this is a scar that cuts pretty deep, taking more than a few years to heal.

How other teams react to our players this year and whether the players are able to withstand the scrutiny that will follow them from clubhouse to clubhouse throughout the duration of 2020 remains to be seen. We are used to having a target on our backs, so it’s possible and likely this scandal just pushes the boys to their best season yet.

Huge questions remain outstanding. Will traveling fans suffer for supporting the Astros? How will other fan bases react to our players this year? Most likely, away games will have stands filled with lots of booing hecklers. Some away games may require extra security for traveling Astros fans. One has to wonder whether any of these factors were considered by Crane when making his decision to fire both Luhnow and Hinch.

I understand this decision by Crane, but it doesn’t feel like firing Luhnow is a positive step in rebuilding our farm system. And the loss of Hinch severely inhibits my confidence in the organization’s abilities to overcome this blight on the reputation of the Astros. After all, he is a genius at handling the media.

And then there’s my thoughts about Alex Cora. I felt so betrayed when he left us after 2017. At the same time, there is something about him that just always leaves me cold and mistrusting. (Maybe I just have a sixth sense or something.) One thing is for sure — his punishment is likely to be much more severe than what Hinch and Luhnow were dealt.

Moving On

While I’m truly upset at the moment, this is just a very small sampling of the many questions reeling through my spinning brain. I feel betrayed both by management and by the players because I’ve supported this team and the players with my whole heart, my words, and my money.

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The most positive thing to come from the report is that it was determined that the players stopped this sign-stealing nonsense mid-2018 because they didn’t feel it was effective. That bodes well moving forward because we now know that we won 107 regular-season games, 10 post-season games, and came to within eight outs of winning it all in 2019 without any elaborate cheating schemes.

I don’t know about you, but this part of the report helped me breathe a sigh of relief when thinking about the upcoming 2020 season.

The pivotal moment of the 2020 season comes on Feb. 13 when pitchers and catchers report. By then, we’re sure to know who will be manager and we’ll catch a glimpse of team morale.

There are still so many unanswered questions and so many mixed emotions to sort through. Thanks for putting up with me as I work it all out in my head. Like Mr. Crane, I’m resolved to put this whole issue in the rear view and to wholeheartedly support this team going into the 2020 season.

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I don’t know how to be any other way but honest, so here’s my honest response to the events surrounding the Astros and the outcome of the investigation by the MLB.

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