Astros punishments: Hinch and Luhnow suspended and fired, team loses 1st and 2nd picks in 2020, 2021

[Voight]

What a joke. MLB has given the green light to cheat at will with this pathetic slap on the wrist.

Also $5M to a team like the Astros is chump change.

Not far off from the DOJ giving billionaires million dollar fines for illegal activity.

Crane will shit out that 5 million by the time I get home from work today.

 

[Preds Partisan]

Joke.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Also hearing that all opposing venues will be required to play the below on repeat whenever the Astros visit:

 

[Voight]

Typically The GM and coach will be held accountable since they are the captains of the ship, but its very clear based on what Passan tweeted that Cora was the center of this. His idea, he was the one who put the plan in motion - obviously Hinch had to approve it but it seems like this was all masterminded by Alex Cora.

Lifetime ban 100%. Anything less is a joke. Does not help that he continued this kind of crap when he went to Beantown.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

I think the real limitations of the punishment will be even clearer when the Cora punishment is delivered. He'll either weirdly get something more than a year, or they'll make him the major scapegoat and ban him for life for doing it twice. Either way, I think that will put more emphasis on how these are harsh but not as harsh as they could be.

The language in the report is pretty clear in attributing clear blame and painting the (by now obvious) picture for how deep it goes, and while these suspensions aren't nothing, there's really nothing they can do for teams who lost to the cheaters in the playoffs/World Series. And the possible "rationalization," namely that everybody cheats if not to this extend, doesn't make MLB as a whole look much better.

I think they should have just went for the jugular and banned Luhnow for life. Manfred really goes after him in the report, and it's the furthest possibility for a severe punishment that stops short at messing with the titles, etc.

 

[MMC]

 

[bobholly39]

Honestly i still don't even understand how this can be a thing in 2020. Baseball should evolve, it sounds archaic to me.

Don't want to get signals stolen? Don't use them. Allow pitchers/catchers to wear a bluetooth earpiece and exchange info that way by speaking instead.

I think if you get your "signals stolen" - that's your fault and shouldn't be a punishable offense in 2020.

 

[DJ Spinoza]

Sounds like Crane just fired them like 10 minutes ago.

Here's a link to the conference if anyone wants to watch: Watch LIVE: Astros address MLB's decision

 

[Timeless Winter]

Wow. Didn't expect that but they deserved it.

 

[Timeless Winter]

Honestly i still don't even understand how this can be a thing in 2020. Baseball should evolve, it sounds archaic to me.

Don't want to get signals stolen? Don't use them. Allow pitchers/catchers to wear a bluetooth earpiece and exchange info that way by speaking instead.

I think if you get your "signals stolen" - that's your fault and shouldn't be a punishable offense in 2020.

You're allowed to steal signs, but not allowed to use technology to steal signs.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Sounds like Crane just fired them like 10 minutes ago.

Here's a link to the conference if anyone wants to watch: Watch LIVE: Astros address MLB's decision

Which is funny because they can get a new GM and manager for the 2020 season. So really, all they lose is the picks.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Wow. Can't believe both are gone just like that. 2 of the best at what they do.

 

[DougieSmash]

Remember when Astros was so likeable?

 

[DJ Spinoza]

Watching this conference and all I can think is that Cora is gonna get a lifetime ban. He's at least getting suspended as long as Hinch/Luhnow, and after that, what can Boston do? They have to fire him given this precedent.

I think the door is open to make Cora the major scapegoat for the entire scandal across baseball.

 

[Kane One]

So effectively, the penalty was 5m and the loss of draft picks. Seems light af.

 

[David Dennison]

Watching this conference and all I can think is that Cora is gonna get a lifetime ban. He's at least getting suspended as long as Hunch/Luhnow, and after that, what can Boston do? They have to fire him given this precedent.

I think the door is open to make Cora the major scapegoat for the entire scandal across baseball.

 

[Voight]

They are both canned.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Baby shit soft punishment.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

Ok, so Hinch and Luhnow are fired now. That changes my opinion on this slightly. I still think Manfred is a coward, but the Astros themselves threw down the hammer. Good job Houston owner.

 

[Terry Yake]

both will have jobs by the 2021 season

 

[Voight]

Man I cannot WAIT for Mad Dog to explode on these guys tonight

 

[Terry Yake]

part of the punishment should have been placing an asterisk on their WS title

 

[Static]

I wonder if the players will take any public accountability seeing as they get zero formal punishment. Probably not.

 

[Tecumseh]

Honestly i still don't even understand how this can be a thing in 2020. Baseball should evolve, it sounds archaic to me.

Don't want to get signals stolen? Don't use them. Allow pitchers/catchers to wear a bluetooth earpiece and exchange info that way by speaking instead.

I think if you get your "signals stolen" - that's your fault and shouldn't be a punishable offense in 2020.

You do know how baseball works, right? The catcher is set up inches away from the batter. He would hear any verbal signals from the catcher.

 

[Halladay]

They are going to start using apple watches for signals in the near future.

Bill O'Brien outlasted Hinch .