I have been away for a little while, and during that period, a lot of baseball news trickled in. One item I wanted to address was the Evan Drelich book on the Houston Astros 2017 scandal titled Winning Fixes Everything.
First off, the title of the book. It says it all. This was/is a corrupt baseball organization that got away with cheating their way to a title. As much as I despise the Giants, the vitriol for the Houston Astros will always surpass that animus I have for the team up north. They stole it from us. They flaunted and bragged about it. When caught, they got defensive. When they apologized, it was insincere. They kept their rings, their records, their flags, and their putrid pride. When called out by other players, their star shortstop told them to “bleep” off.
Houston fans say that “everyone did it” (the cheating). They’re wrong. No team took it to the degree that the Astros did (*note: the ’51 Giants also did, but that’s another story). There were indiscretions by other teams here and there, but not to the Astro’s level. Drelich, who was the beat writer covering the Astros and then the Red Sox in 2018, had become privy to information that few knew in 2018. They cheated their way to the title. It makes one’s blood boil, honestly. Here’s an excerpt from his book:
“There was one massive problem I learned during the 2018 postseason. Sitting in a hotel room within walking distance of the Astros’ stadium, I spoke with people who had firsthand knowledge of how the Astros had cheated in that championship season. There were not sources on the outside pointing fingers, but people who knew-who had lived it.
“I learned how the Astros used a camera in center field to zoom in on the signs the catcher flashed the pitcher before the pitch. How the Astros had set up a television monitor near their dugout, where players sit during games, to be able to see that video feed, and how they brazenly banged on a garbage can with a baseball bat and other devices to communicate what they gleaned from that screen. It was an advantage, many players felt, to know what was coming, be it a straight fastball or a bending curveball. And to use technology to gain that knowledge was beyond the pale.
“This wasn’t one player breaking the rules, either. This was a World Series-winning team that had collectively cheated, and the public didn’t know it.
“I was floored. It was a massive story, the kind, frankly, many reporters dream of, and some might even dread. I was confident in everything I had at the outset-indeed, it all proved to be true. But to get the story done, I would need further corroboration.”
Drelich went on to explain that he approached Astros GM Jeff Luhnow, who brazenly and angrily blew him off, telling him there was nothing he would find. A year after the fact, following the 2018 Red Sox elimination of the Astros in Houston. Drelich went to the scene of the crime, the tunnel at the Astros dugout. He saw the protruding cables where the TV monitor once was. Unbelievably the banged up trash can was still there. He talked to MLB officials and told them what they had. They feigned some concern and said the Commissioner would be on it. MLB officials were surprised to hear that Drelich had quotes of Astro players admitting to their dirty deeds, but in the end, MLB did nothing. They wanted no part of the scandal. Even after it blew up following the admission of pitcher Mike Fiers when they had no choice but to investigate, they did so reluctantly.
Drelich was the beat writer years earlier covering the Astros for the Houston Chronicle (2013-16). He claims that the organization had bullied him for writing anything controversial on the team in what were rather tame circumstances. He cited that in 2015 Jim Crane, Houston’s owner, attempted to have him removed from the Astros coverage, but his editors supported him. He mentioned that taking on the Astros in his current situation in 2018 would be difficult as they (the Astros) would put all their resources out in full force to attack him. Drelich prodded on with caution. He felt he didn’t have adequate backing from his current employer in Boston to take on this monster story. When Drelich released a rather tame article on electronic sign stealing in November 2018, an article that didn’t name names or make specific accusations, NBC Sports Boston fired him within a week.
I read just a few snippets available online and have not received the book yet, but here we are, five and a half years past that scandal, and it still grates most Dodger fans. Would the Dodgers have won in 2017 without Houston cheating? That is debatable. But we do know that the cheating took place, and though the full extent of how it impacted the World Series and ALCS is up in the air, Drelich’s book quotes current Red Sox manager and then Houston hitting coach Alex Cora as admitting that they stole the World Series. That’s all I need to realize we got screwed.
“We stole that f@$%ing World Series,” Cora was quoted as saying. A Red Sox player from 2018 was quoted by Drelich as saying “We knew the Astros did it [steal signs} because Alex Cora told us. He said that when they played the Dodgers, ’We already knew what everybody was throwing before we even got on base.’” It is no surprise that the one pitcher that dominated the Astros at Houston during the three-game away stretch when the Dodgers were in town was Alex Wood. He was the lone Dodger pitcher that took precautions and concocted an elaborate sign-changing system with Austin Barnes to keep Houston from detecting what pitch was coming. The result was 5-2/3 innings of no-hit ball by Wood. Why other Dodger pitchers, specifically Kershaw, didn’t follow suit is beyond comprehension.
Are the Dodgers over it? Not Dave Roberts. “If we would have won in ’17…that’s two on six years. I hate to sound like sour grapes, but we got ’17 stolen from us. They admitted it. That’s a fact.” Now with the Drelich book out, the whole thing resurfaces just as we were moving on from the fact that we were robbed of a victory parade, flag raising, and ring ceremony. We were completely ripped off of the bragging rights that Dodgers fans so richly deserved to have. We are left with defending that 2020 championship that 90% of the baseball world calls illegitimate to this day.
Now Justin Turner joins the fray over in Boston, where he goes to work under Alex Cora. When Dave Vassegh questioned JT if he had discussions with Cora over 2017, Turner replied negatively, but “that’s a conversation we’ll have in-person right when we get there and move on.” How I’d love to hear that conversation. Considering the great Dodger that Turner was, I hope he gives his new manager an earful. Though I doubt, he will… out of interest for his job protection.
Cora has a reputation for being quite emotional and unsteady, according to accounts cited in the Dreloch book. These included off-the-field skirmishes in ’17 between Cora and A.J. Hinch – much having to do with his lack of respect for the manager, erratic behavior, and an angry streak whenever he got drunk on team flights, which was said to be often. There was even consideration of Hinch dismissing Cora during the season, but star players Alex Bregman and Carlos Beltran interceded.
Baseball is a small fraternity of men that understand the unwritten rules of the game and the line that can’t be crossed. What Houston and Cora did in 2017 was way past that line. That is shown by the vitriol spewed by players on various teams that got jobbed by the Astros. Cora should be seen as persona non-grata in baseball clubhouses. Why he has not is an embarrassment to the game. His slap on the wrist one-year suspension was an absolute joke to the integrity of the game.
The fact that he bragged about cheating after the series was over and done was proof-positive that he didn’t care what he did. There is no remorse from him whatsoever. That puts him amongst the lowest of the low in my book. Top that with the fact that he did it against the organization that brought him up and allowed his weak bat to make it to the major leagues, it just makes it more egregious.
“I made a big mistake in ’17. I’ve paid for it. I’m still paying for it…I knew it was coming…I’m not here to talk about the book.” – Alex Cora, February 14, 2023
He paid for it? What a joke…
There’s no honor among thieves.
I do not give a rats-ass what 90% of baseball thinks about the 2020 title. The Dodgers at that point had to win more post season games just to get there, 13, than any team in history up to that point. They swept Milwaukee and San Diego, and then had to climb out of a 3-1 hole just to make it to the series. They deserved the title. Twice in baseball history the Dodgers have won in seasons that were shortened. No one complained much except the Reds in 81, who had the best record in the league and did not make the playoffs. And no one said much about the World Series because the Dodgers beat the Yankees. And were down 2-0 in that series. Houston cheated, that is obvious. And the punishment handed down by Major League Baseball was a joke. Now, like most Dodger fans, I did not want the title on a forfeit. But I thought Houston should have been stripped of the title, a no champion been declared and serious suspensions to the architects and the players who benefited should have been imposed. If the Black Sox had 8 guys banned for good for gambling, the Astros coaches and manager, the video guys and GM should have gotten much stiffer penalties than they did. I am still steamed about the whole damn episode, and I consider it as much of a black eye on Major Leagues Baseball as the PED crap and the Black Sox. It also shows what a tool Manfred is. One other thing about 2020. It had to be one of the hardest seasons, even though only 60 games long for players to navigate. No fans, restrictions on social distancing, teammates opting out, cardboard cutouts and piped in fan noise. Way more distracting than one might expect. One last note, Tio Albert is returning to the Angels in a advisory capacity. It was part of his Angel contract. He will be in camp with the Angels.
In 2020 every team had the same opportunity, same number of games, same shortened season, and they all wanted to win! It’s just as legitimate to win a 100 yd dash as it is to win a marathon.
The Dodgers earned it as much as any other year.
And … no home field advantage … games were played in Texas, not Los Angeles.
Additionally, without the Asstros cheating, Dave Roberts would have won 2 World Series, instead of one, leaving the Roberts Bashers speechless.
Michael,
I have no disagreement with you regarding the 2020 season. Didn’t mean to strike a nerve. I get quite perturbed at people who claim to be baseball fans and their lack of knowledge about the difficulty of that season. What the Dodgers did to win in 2020 was a feat that few understand in its difficulty. In a game that depends on repetitiveness and routine., there was nothing repetitive or routine about that season. The Dodgers adjusted better than any team in MLB and by far we’re the best team that year under the most difficult of circumstances. Additionally they are the first World Series champion to have won in the post season without a home game. Thank if that.
No problem Evan. I am simply disgusted with the way it was handled. I always thought that baseball should have stripped them of the title and had a no champion posted like they did in 94 because of the strike. Stealing signs has always been part of the game, but going to the lengths they did to steal a championship and then sit there an lie to everyone afterwards when the proof was out there, well I lost any respect I had for the commissioner’s office or the Astros as an organization. Even them beating the Phillies on the up and up has not erased that. I was pulling against them the entire series,
MLB.Com list Max Muncy first as one of 5 hitters in MLB who will “bounce back” in 2023:
Max Muncy, Dodgers
Key stat: .227 BABIP in 2022
Put simply, lingering injury issues and a lack of luck conspired against Muncy last year. The slugger’s strong 2021 ended with a torn left UCL as he attempted to catch a throw at first base that took his arm into the path of a baserunner on the final day of the regular season, costing him that October and impacting his performance well into 2022. In fact, he went on the injured list in late May due to left elbow inflammation. His average at the time? Just .150.
Even when he returned two weeks later, it took Muncy a while to find his groove. He was slashing .161/.310/.303 with only 10 doubles and nine homers in 83 games as of July 31. Here’s where the bad luck must be highlighted, because Muncy’s BABIP at that point was a laughably low .190. From Aug. 1, he slashed a more Muncy-like .247/.358/.500 with 12 doubles and 12 homers in 53 games — thanks in part to a more reasonable .282 BABIP.”
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From Houston Mitchell:
I probably get more emails asking if James Outman will make the team than I do for any other player. Well, if you are an Outman fan, some bad news. On Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts said that Jason Heyward is the early favorite for what will probably be the final outfield spot.
“The swing mechanically is a lot more clean,” Roberts said. “I was impressed with the live pitching, how he was on time and the rhythm of it. He’s worked really hard this winter and it looks a lot better than it has in the past.”
The Dodgers are expected to carry five outfielders, and if a spot goes to Heyward that means the outfielders will be: Heyward, Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, David Peralta and Trayce Thompson.
The key words are Trayce Thompson. This is a classic case of a reporter going with conventional wisdom. It’s Heyward OR Thompson, not both.
I still think AF will make a move for an outfielder against LHP and only 1 of the 3 stick.
I think you are wrong, simply my opinion. If he trades at all it won’t be until the deadline. They are going to carry five outfielders. Betts, Heyward, Thompson, Taylor and Peralta are going to be the guys. They are not going into the season with two rookies in the starting lineup. Outman will be at AAA playing everyday so he can be ready in case of an injury or lack of performance. Thompson makes the roster simply as a reward for what he did last year.
From The Athletic:
As the Dodgers prepared for the NLDS last October with a series of simulated games, Gavin Stone was one of the arms they called on. He immediately drew rave reviews, including from former MVP Freddie Freeman.
In his first inning, what had been baseball’s best-regular season lineup hit Stone around, running up his pitch count. As Stone steadied his nerves, Roberts opted to “roll” the inning, ending it before three outs to keep the game moving.
“I wanted to see how he responded to that,” Roberts said. “He went into the dugout, came out and went three up, three down with a couple punchouts. It fired him up. It was good for me to see that from him. … I learned something from him.”
Stone conceded he was nervous and that it was a “dream come true” to face a lineup that included the likes of Mookie Betts, Freeman and others in his future ballpark. Now, he’s got something in mind if his number gets called this summer.
“It is a lot easier to visualize how that’s going to look now that I’ve been out there,” he said, before stopping.
I’ll say it.
Lying and cheating is a way of life in our country. Win at all cost? Hell yes. Who’s going to stop you? Nobody.
The Astros got away with it. Big surprise.
Until you punish those who cheat, it will continue.
I totally agree with that. People cheat all the time and continue to do so without anyone doing anything about it.
Maybe the Dodgers should just proclaim themselves 2017 World Champs. But then why would any of us want to drag a boat anchor around.
I think more people get caught cheating that you’d imagine. Life is, for the most part, quite just and fair.
The issues I have is where unethical behavior is legitimized. Through consolidation of wealth, regulatory capture or crony capitalism
Unlike all the ethical socialist leaders!
“I think more people get caught cheating that you’d imagine. Life is, for the most part, quite just and fair.”
Good point. It’s called karma. What goes around comes around. If not in this life, then in the next life, or the ones after that.
If “KARMA” is real it is the most disgusting thing about in nature. I’ve seen too many examples of the most unjust, ugliest things happen to the complete innocent to a point where it makes me want to show how I could prove it doesn’t exist in any mystic manner other that what is man made about it. My examples are so painful to revisit it makes my blood boil at the mentioning of that crap. You are saying the Dodgers didn’t deserve to win the 2017 championship when you speak a small example of karma. The 2017 championship is not e3ven a blip on any scale of what I’ve seen. You are saying Jews deserved Hitler when saying karma is real. As screwed up or evil as a person can get they are able to effect what happens. Karma huh? If karma is real karma kills the innocent so the guilty might feel hurt.
joke or no?
Speaking of Robert’s/Dodgers post season results, should we take into consideration the terrible luck of Muncy getting injured on the last day of the 2021 regular season, followed by the Dodgers, without maybe their best hitter, losing three games to the Braves by four runs ?
Muncy killed the Braves and Giants, losing him in 21 was huge.
Yes, Muncy was playing well before the injury. His second half was solid–and that injury was a real blow….Just brutal.
That compounded the fact that the bench was pretty bad, with the slumping Gallo and the overmatched Vargas. AF should have done much better with the roster, but he was outplayed by his peers in San Diego, Philly, New York, Seattle, Houston.
Just occurred to me that Edwin Rios was healthy. He wasn’t called up because Gallo also hit lefthanded and could play OF. But Rios would have been a logical sub for Muncy. Of course, nobody could have anticipated Muncy’s injury.
He is talking about 21,
I live in the south now where most are asstros fans and none of them have the slightest bit of remorse, for some it never happened and some even think it’s cool and funny they got away with it. They can’t get a grip at all on why I’m so angered and despise their team so much
it’s not just you. Every fan base in America hates that trash
Michael is right. They don’t give a schitt down there. F’ all y’all.
It wasn’t just the Dodgers. Every team Houston defeated in the playoffs have a complaint.
I like the idea of declaring the Dodgers co-champions and awarding MVPs accordingly.
No co Champs.No champs at all.
Not for a instant would I pretend to be morally superior but if my beloved Dodgers pulled such a stunt at the very least be ashamed and definitely wouldn’t brag on winning that series like their fans have til last year and would think my dedicated fandom of the team would never be the same
I think I agree with that. But I wonder how I would have felt if Piazza hit 73 home runs and we found out later he used roids. I know a lot of giant fans who at the time were telling me “hey, everyone is doing it, our guy just did it better”. There is a rather large kernel of truth to that point of view.
I still think bonds should be in the HOF. Everyone knew it, and most players were doing it to… to some extent.
There were whispers about Piazza, but Gagne did it!
Pitchers did it too. Did that level the playing field?
Not sure how I’d feel if Piazza did that but do know be a empty achievement
It’s still accepted as the record.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Miguel Vargas will play second base in today’s game on Field 1, but won’t swing the bat. #Dodgers
Muncy did that for most of last season
Ha
Yeah Gagne did it and I sure enjoyed the short game over era, that was awesome but he’s tainted for life and he knows it. I reckon it’s on him how he wants to feel about it
There are no huge insights there, but it does give us a little peek into how the LA front office views Cartaya .Jim. Bowden’s comments also give an idea how some outside the organization see the young catcher, including one remarkable comparison coming from a former Dodger backstop and longtime manager, Mike Scioscia .
“In my view, Cartaya is the best catching prospect in the sport. Signed as an amateur out of Venezuela in 2018 for $2.5 million, Cartaya is certainly living up to that bonus. He’s an above-average hitter who knows how to work a count. He uses the whole field, with strong opposite-field power. (Overall, he has 20- to 25-home run power.) He’s an above-average defensive receiver with a plus-plus throwing arm. I’ve mentioned this conversation before, but it bears repeating: When I talked to former manager Mike Scioscia during the Futures Game last July at Dodger Stadium, he compared Cartaya to a cross between Buster Posey and Salvador Perez. Keep in mind Perez has five Gold Gloves, four Silver Slugger awards, seven All-Star appearances, and he won a world championship. Posey won a Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP, five Silver Slugger honors, a Gold Glove and three World Series. Not bad company. For Scioscia, a former All-Star catcher who played 13 years in the majors and managed for another 19 years, to make that type of comparison was eye-opening. Based on what I’ve seen, I might not go that far, but I did rank Cartaya as the third-best prospect in baseball last August.”
I agree with most of that, except that I think he has 30-40 HR power, and I also think there is a good chance he changes positions… especially if Will Smith is re-signed. If not, he is the catcher… along with Dalton Rushing.
Are the Mariners the only team that has not been to a world series all other teams have been. Seems like they keep in getting better and better and then the Astros get in there way.