C.: (knock, knock). d.: Come in, Cal.E.
C.: d.c., I have some of the research you asked me to do. I WAS able to find the New York Yankees record after the MLB all-star break. It was 15-25. I was NOT able, though, to determine what it was before and after June 13, 2022, when a court ordered the commissioner to unseal the letter he sent to the Yankees, specifying their punishment for stealing signs electronically. I also found that their 15-game winning streak ended the weekend you and your family went to an Astros-Yankees game at Yankee stadium. The streak ended June 24, the night before you and your son took in the game in the Audi Suite at Yankee Stadium.
d.: Thank you, Cal.E. I appreciate your hard work. Now, you may go back home and take a catnap, or read, or whatever your heart desires. Enjoy your holiday from working at The Kennel.
When Cal.E. handed me these statistics, my first inclination was to say that the Astros deserved a worse punishment than the Yankees (but the Yankees' punishment was still too light). However, after researching the facts, though, I changed my mind. To say that the Yankees only cheated “a little bit” As Rob (HE is NOT a) Man,Fred said, is ludicrous. The Yankees used their dugout phone that is supposed to be used to call pitchers to warm up in the bullpen to relay signs to batters. These phones have been in dugouts since the 1930’s.
. Rules have been in place since then to prevent “electronic sign-stealing.” The Yankees knowingly did something illegal., as did the Astros (and many other teams, but I will get to that in a minute).
To say that they are innocent of wrongdoing after receiving their letter and a court ordered it to be unsealed is misleading. IF you read the above paragraph when Cal.E, handed me her research, The Yankees went downhill quickly after the letter was unsealed on June 13, 2022. The Bronx Bombers had the best record in MLB at the All-Star break. Since then, they are 15-25. Hmm. In terms of law, this is called a “smoking gun,” a.k.a. circumstantial evidence that the Yankees were STILL cheating, and getting away with it. Circumstantial evidence should not get someone thrown in jail in a court of law, but this is not a criminal court. This is the court of public opinion. The Yankees felt protected by the "powers that be,” the MLB commissioner, so they continued to cheat, in my opinion. I wonder why a team that brings in billions of dollars in revenue from games and merchandise is protected by the commissioner? But, I digress. I have clearly stated my views on this matter before. Now, I would like to address the REAL issue. It seems that the self-righteous Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as New York’s “other team,” the Mets, have also been accused of stealing signs electronically by former players. It will come out, I’m sure, that most teams did the same. My guess is that only the Oakland A’s, The Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, and Miami Marlins will not be accused. These teams were more interested in getting high-round draft choices than winning games. In fact, these teams were more interested in LOSING games to improve their positions in the MLB draft is my guess. To get back to “The biggest Scandal since the 1919 Black Sox Scandal” (according to the man who fought to have the letter to the Yankees sealed); knowing what type of pitch is coming is, for the most part, meaningless.
The location is the most important thing. To prove my point, two of the Astros’ fireballers were extremely predictable. If the bases were loaded, and the batter had a 3-2 count (assuming the pitcher is protecting a lead) both Nolan Ryan and Billy Wagner would opt to throw a 99+ m.p.h. fastball 99% of the time. The batter KNEW what was coming, but hitting a fastball that is in or close to triple digits is the hardest thing in sports to do, according to most sports analysts. If you read this blog consistently, you know where I stand on the commissioner. Rob (he is NOT a) Man,Fred should resign immediately after it is revealed that an overwhelming majority of the MLB teams stole signs electronically, apologize to the Astros players he promised anonymity for testifying (who were not given that privilege); and fine the rest of the teams in MLB the same amount he fined the Astros: Five million dollars. Maybe the amateur draft should not take place next year, either, except to restore the Astros the two draft choices they were denied two years ago.
Then, to quote the pitcher who had the most to gain by punishing the Astros, Lance Lynn,* “Let’s just shut up and play baseball."
*When Lynn pitched for the Texas Rangers, he was an All-Star caliber pitcher, except when he pitched to the Houston Astros. He had an elevated ERA because of the games he pitched against the Astros. When he was traded out of the division, he asked the Astros’ players if he was tipping his pitches. The Astros explained to him that he was, and how he was doing it. That REALLY sounds like a group of rule-breaking outlaws
to me, Rob! MAN UP and disappear, permanently. The world would be a better place, and MLB would be fairer without your interference fo our preferred teams.
Comments