American Scandal: Houston Astros – Caught Stealing | Bottom of the Ninth | Episode 4
Host: Lindsay Graham
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Introduction to the Scandal
In the spring of 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, the stage is set for a deep dive into one of Major League Baseball's most notorious scandals. Lindsay Graham, the host of American Scandal, begins by setting the scene where two employees from a rival team's traveling party are covertly investigating the Houston Astros for potential cheating involving electronic sign stealing—a practice strictly prohibited by Major League Baseball (MLB).
Lindsey Graham [00:00]: "It's a spring afternoon in 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Hours before the players are scheduled to take the field, two employees from a rival team's traveling party are wandering around the Astros home ballpark."
Uncovering the Sign Stealing Methods
The investigation centers around a bizarre method allegedly used by the Astros to communicate stolen signs using a massage gun. This method involved creating vibrations against a concrete wall to relay signals silently from the clubhouse to the dugout, and eventually to the batters.
Transcript [00:00]: "According to this tipster, there's a wall separating the clubhouse from the dugout, and when a particular pitch is coming, the person in the clubhouse gets the sign from the video replay room, then passes it to the dugout by pummeling the wall with a massage gun."
Despite their efforts, the rival team's employees find no conclusive evidence, leaving them with lingering suspicions about the Astros' integrity.
Organizational Culture and Controversial Trades
Delving deeper into the Astros' front office, the episode highlights Jeff Luno's aggressive strategies to transform the team into a powerhouse. Luno's "win at all costs" mentality led to questionable decisions, including the controversial signing of Roberto Osuna, a pitcher with a history of domestic violence allegations.
Luno [Trade Conference Scene]: "Don't you see that Osuna's suspension is an advantage for us? We'll be getting him at a discount because he's accused of domestic violence."
Kevin Goldstein, an Astros executive, expresses strong opposition to signing Osuna, highlighting the ethical dilemmas within the organization.
Goldstein [Trade Conference Scene]: "I think he's bad for the team, bad for the clubhouse that he sets up a bad vibe, and that can affect the whole team's performance."
Despite internal resistance, Luno secures Osuna's signing, leading to immediate media backlash and internal turmoil within the Astros' organization.
The 2018 Season and Rising Tensions
As the 2018 season progresses, the Astros continue to perform well, making it to the playoffs once again. However, tensions escalate during the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Boston Red Sox. Alex Cora, the Red Sox manager and former Astros bench coach, suspects ongoing sign stealing tactics by the Astros, leading to conflicts on the field.
Cora [ALCS Incident]: "Concocting sign stealing strategies with the Astros in 2017 was one thing. Being on the receiving end of them in 2018 is another, and Cora doesn't like it, not one bit."
An incident involving an Astros intern, Kyle McLaughlin, allegedly filming Red Sox signs, intensifies the scrutiny on the Astros, although MLB's investigation at the time does not find concrete evidence.
Media Investigations and Revelations
Journalists Evan Drelich and Ken Rosenthal embark on a relentless investigation to uncover the truth behind the Astros' sign stealing. Their persistent efforts focus on interviewing former players like Mike Fiers, who eventually agrees to on-the-record disclosures, providing substantial evidence of the Astros' illicit activities.
Mike Fiers [Interview with Rosenthal]: "There were guys, young pitchers, who are losing their jobs because they're going in without knowing what's really going down in a game."
Their groundbreaking reports in The Athletic expose detailed accounts of the Astros' schemes, leading MLB to launch a formal investigation.
MLB Investigation and Official Report
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred oversees a comprehensive investigation, culminating in a nine-page report released on January 13, 2020. The report implicates key Astros figures:
- Jeff Luno: While lacking conclusive evidence of his direct involvement, Luno is reprimanded for fostering a culture that enabled cheating.
- A.J. Hinch: Criticized for being aware of the sign stealing but failing to take corrective action.
- Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran: Named for their pivotal roles in orchestrating the schemes.
- Carlos Beltran: The only player singled out by name, severely impacting his career prospects.
The report leads to significant repercussions within the Astros organization and beyond.
Aftermath and Consequences
The fallout from the scandal is swift and severe:
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Organizational Shake-Up: Astros owner Jim Crane fires manager A.J. Hinch and General Manager Jeff Luno. While Crane is later exonerated from knowing about the schemes, Luno faces personal backlash.
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Carlos Beltran: Released from his management contract with the New York Mets and faces public scrutiny. Despite attempts to retain his role, Beltran is ultimately dismissed and later acquires soccer teams in Spain and Mexico.
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Alex Cora: Suspended for the entire 2020 season and subsequently removed from the Red Sox managerial position.
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MLB Sanctions: The Astros are fined $5 million and forced to forfeit their first and second-round draft picks, though their 2017 World Series title remains intact.
Carlos Beltran [Mets Conference Room Scene]: "Yeah, I do know that what we did was wrong. There were times when we weren't really sure what the line was with all the new tech in the replay room."
Luno's attempt to defend his integrity leads to a lawsuit against the Astros for wrongful termination, which is ultimately dismissed. His career in MLB effectively ends, and he transitions to purchasing soccer teams internationally.
Long-Term Effects on the Astros and MLB
The scandal leaves an indelible mark on the Astros and MLB. Fan trust erodes, as evidenced by the Astros being booed when returning to their first road games with fans in attendance. New players inherit the stigma of their predecessors' actions, complicating team dynamics and public perception.
MLB responds by tightening regulations to prevent future incidents:
- Replay Room Restrictions: Visits to the replay room are banned, with only time-delayed feeds allowed for monitoring games.
- Technological Implementations: Introduction of Pitchcom, a wireless device for catchers to communicate signs to pitchers, aims to modernize and secure sign communication.
- Artificial Intelligence: Teams explore AI to enhance baseball analytics, striving to stay ahead in fair play without resorting to illicit methods.
Jeff Luno [Interview with Vanessa Richardson]: "I did not know about either the trash can banging scheme or the video decoding scheme in the replay room."
Conclusion: Reflection and Future Outlook
As the scandal fades into history, its ramifications continue to influence baseball's landscape. The Houston Astros, once dubbed the "Disastros," remain a talented team but are perpetually shadowed by their tarnished legacy. MLB remains vigilant, understanding that the integration of technology in sports demands constant oversight to maintain the integrity of the game.
The episode concludes by emphasizing the delicate balance between innovation and ethics in sports, warning that without proper regulation, future scandals may loom on the horizon.
Lindsey Graham [Conclusion]: "So as technology continues to become a more integral part of the game, Major League Baseball will have to stay one step ahead of how that technology is being used, or it won't be long before baseball finds itself caught up in its next cheating scandal."
Looking Ahead
In the next episode, Lindsay Graham will speak with Evan Drelich, author of Winning Fixes Everything, discussing how Drelich and Ken Rosenthal unraveled the sign stealing scandal and its implications for baseball's future.
Recommended Reading:
- Winning Fixes Everything by Evan Drelich
- Cheated by Andy Martino
Credits:
- Host, Editor, Executive Producer: Lindsey Graham
- Editing: Christian Paraga
- Sound Design: Gabriel Gould
- Music: Lindsey Graham
- Writers: AJ Marichaux
- Producers: John Reed, Olivia Fonte, Andy Herman
- Executive Producers: Jenny Lauer, Beckman, Marshall, Louie, Erin O'Flaherty
This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details based on historical research.