MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred REGRETS not taking disciplinary action against Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and other players during Astros sign-stealing scandal
The Houston Astros were caught sign-stealing during their 2017 World Series campaign. However, no player was handed any punishment by Rob Manfred. In recent reports it was noted that the MLB Commissioner regrets his decision and players should've been punished at that time.
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Jose Altuve, Rob Manfred, Carlos Correa [Image Credit: KHOU/BVM Sports/ESPN]
Rob Manfred has had to take a lot of decisions during his tenure as the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Not all decisions might’ve been according to the liking of everyone in the league and the fans. But that doesn’t mean Manfred would change those decisions to appease anyone. However, there is one decision that Rob Manfred feels wasn’t up to the mark.
Back in 2017, the Houston Astros were caught in the sign-stealing scandal. The organization was punished appropriately for its involvement in illegal practices but the players were given a clean chit by Manfred which he now regrets.
Rob Manfred said in a conversation with TIME magazine that the investigation process might’ve gone differently if he took another approach.“Starting with, I’m not going to punish anybody, maybe not my best decision ever.” Manfred also commented about the World Series trophy won by the Houston Astros which he wishes he could take back.
Following their involvement in the sign-stealing scandal, the team was stripped of their 1st and 2nd-round draft selections in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, the franchise had to pay a hefty $5 million fine and let go of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch.
What was the sign-stealing scandal?
The MLB world was shocked to its core when it was discovered that the Houston Astros were involved in the now-famous sign-stealing scandal. The Astros were found guilty of using electronic devices that would use artificial intelligence or similar technology to decode hand signals of the opposition’s pitchers and catchers.
The decoded message from the signals was then passed on to the hitter. This entire scandal took place during Hosuton’s successful 2017 World Series campaign. Former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers who played for the team from 2015-2017 testified against the team and revealed the details of the tech which started the league’s investigation.
MLB’s investigation revealed that the Astros used cameras to monitor the pitcher and catcher during the game. The report made by the league read that the Astros used this tech during the 2017 season and the start of the 2018 season. Despite controversies arising at that time, no severe actions were taken against the players.
Rob Manfred didn’t even give a slap on the wrist to the Astros players involved. He granted them exemption from any disciplinary actions in exchange for their testimonies. He also said that punishing players like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa would be “impractical” because of the sheer number of people involved in the scandal such as team staff and managers.
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Yash Karandekar
(1023 Articles Published)