May I be the first to ask the question, "How this any different (worse or not as worse) than Pete Rose betting on baseball?"

And although what Pete did was wrong he did only bet on his own Reds team...and always to win.

And although what Pete did was wrong he did only bet on his own Reds team...and always to win.

 

That's what most Cincinnati fans want to believe. But he lied every step of the way until he had no choice to admit wrongdoing. First, he never bet on baseball. That didn't work so then he never bet on the Reds. Wrong again. Then he never bet on the Reds as a player, only as a manager. Nope, that was false as well. Well, then he only bet on them to win. See, there is when he agreed to the lifetime ban. He didn't want them to dig any deeper. At that point he could still use his Charlie Hustle persona. No one that played that hard would ever bet against himself or his team, right? Except Dowd always believed that he did, and he wanted to prove it. But Giamatti, rightfully didn't want to do anymore damage to the game so he accepted Rose's admission of guilt and lifetime ban. If the investigation had went on what else would have come out? Even if it couldn't have been proven that he bet against his team should he get a lesser punishment? When he didn't bet on them what did that tell bookies? How did effect how he managed the game. If he didn't have money on the game does he use one of his high leverage relievers down a run in the 8th when that might make him unavailable tomorrow when Danny Jackson is pitching and he wants to bet a bundle? He richly deserves his ban from baseball and should never be reinstated. However, the Hall of Fame should get off their high horse and induct him for earnest he did on the field.... along with the players from the steroid era that baseball was a winning partner with.

And although what Pete did was wrong he did only bet on his own Reds team...and always to win.

 

I think the comparison is more to the Black Sox Scandal.

Back to the Astros...the more this goes on, the madder I get. Especially hearing/reading people defending the commissioner and what he's done. The fact that the Astros still have the trophy is mind boggling.

 

This is like somebody found guilty of insider trading still being allowed to keep the money they made off of it. Is it worth a few years behind bars? Well, how much money did you make? For ten bucks...no. For ten thousand...maybe still no. Ten million? Different story. You'll reach a certain point, and you say "absolutely, it was worth it".

I'm getting more and more annoyed with each dumb excuse that comes out and I think Manfred has only made it worse.

 

I'm glad the Astros are in the AL. Keep as much distance from that nonsense as the Reds can. Tell Bauer that he's said his piece, now let's focus on you.

Manfred serves at the pleasure of the owners, doesn't he? What is their take on this? What are they doing behind the scenes, if anything?

I can't wait until people start plunking everyone on the Astros, and then the league suspends them for it. :lol2:

Not saying this is a good thing, but when was the last time there has been national intrigue around baseball heading into Spring Training?

I am amazed that the Astros cheating has generated so much more venom than the steroids cheaters that went on for years. Undoubtedly steroids cheating was much more damaging to baseball.

I am amazed that the Astros cheating has generated so much more venom than the steroids cheaters that went on for years. Undoubtedly steroids cheating was much more damaging to baseball.

 

Everyone was using steroids. Hitters, pitchers, catchers, everyone. That's the difference, IMO.

 

What's the bigger advantage: Being excessively strong, or knowing what pitch was coming as a professional hitter? That answer is pretty easy, again IMO.

I am amazed that the Astros cheating has generated so much more venom than the steroids cheaters that went on for years. Undoubtedly steroids cheating was much more damaging to baseball.

 

At the risk of overstating the situation, it's turning into a public relations nightmare for MLB.

Everyone was using steroids. Hitters, pitchers, catchers, everyone. That's the difference, IMO.

 

What's the bigger advantage: Being excessively strong, or knowing what pitch was coming as a professional hitter? That answer is pretty easy, again IMO.

 

Also-----as I recall, the steroid problem came to light slowly over time whereas the sign-stealing problem came out over about 2 weeks or so.

Vacate the title or impose a 1-2 year postseason ban. That’s the beginning of getting serious with punishment. Manfred has already botched it though.

It seems like the first person to pluck an Astros batter stands to receive a harsher punishment than those that actually conspired to cheat their way to a World Series title.

It seems like the first person to pluck an Astros batter stands to receive a harsher punishment than those that actually conspired to cheat their way to a World Series title.

 

That will be true.