Trevor Bauer and other MLB players react to Astros' punishment in sign-stealing scandal
Major League Baseball came down hard on the Houston Astros on Monday after the team’s electronic sign-stealing scheme from 2017 was uncovered this offseason. The Astros were hit with a $5 million fine, plus one-year suspensions for general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch — who were subsequently fired — and the loss of their top two picks in the next two drafts.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora — who was the bench coach for the Astros in 2017 — is still awaiting punishment, as MLB is now investigating sign-stealing claims against the Red Sox. The league said its punishment for Cora’s role with the Astros will come there.
This scandal has had Baseball Twitter buzzing for months, so the next chapter was sure to get a reaction. So here’s a collection of the best social-media reactions from the world of baseball and beyond.
Trevor Bauer, a longtime Astros nemesis, was one of the first players to chime in — of course, he was — with this video of Hinch dismissing the chatter around the Astros’ cheating months ago.
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) January 13, 2020
Here are some reactions from current and former MLB players:
Didn’t really expect the punishments to be this harsh. Good for MLB stepping up. Still don’t know what’s more frustrating tho, an ex teammate of the WS title team talking publicly about his team cheating or so many guys being down to use a damn trash can lol. Should take the ring
— David Freese (@david23freese) January 13, 2020
Fascinated on how MLB came up with punishment. How much does a big market team hurt by losing a 1st & 2nd round pick back to back years?
66% of 1st rounders make it to MLB & 51% in 2nd round.
Lastly, doesn't the org save $ by not paying for the slot value of those picks?— Kevin Youkilis (@GreekGodOfHops) January 13, 2020
Kershaw, Jensen, Dre, JT, Dave Roberts etc. Legacies were altered because the stealing of signs didn’t occurred on the field of battle man to man but it was off the field, in a tunnel, using technology. #SMH #MLB https://t.co/aXZeRLyeQ2
— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) January 13, 2020
I’d like my career numbers against Altuve, Springer, and Correa erased from the record books. Seriously though, it’s bad. Can they do that?
— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) January 13, 2020
Just like in the PED era the reach of those affected by the offenders runs deep. Opposing pitchers and teams are obvious ones but there are only 30 managerial jobs. The people who have battled for those jobs have lost out to some who have fraudulently elevated their status.
— CJ Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) January 13, 2020
This will be bad, and not just for Cora the destruction of this concussion wave will be felt by all who are close to him. https://t.co/QyuB6uoFHm
— Preston Wilson (@PrestonWilson44) January 13, 2020
https://t.co/HnVapJpxZw pic.twitter.com/AmKCXx4Fpx
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) January 13, 2020
https://t.co/ACL3y5UT48 pic.twitter.com/lvq3OTnEPQ
— ❂ Mike 𝕊𝕌ℕ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼 Clevinger ❂ (@Mike_Anthony13) January 13, 2020
And here’s one Astros player, Myles Straw. Want to guess how many words those emojis are worth?
😨😓
— Myles Straw (@myles_straw) January 13, 2020
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