That's where I'm at. The only ones to claim they weren't cheating in 2019 are the Astros (who lied about it initially) and the MLB (who knew about it dating back to 2017 and tried sweeping it under the rug until it was exposed to the media).

 

I buy nothing either of them say.

 

Exactly! MLB has just as much reason to minimize the cheating as much as possible.

 

Personally I hope the Stros set a new HBP record this year.

If MLB did not thoroughly investigate 2017-19, then they need to go back in and dig deeper. If the cheating continued and is discovered, that would give MLB the PR cover they need to issue player penalties.

 

Regardless, steroids has been a much more significant detriment to MLB. History and records are a huge part of baseball and steroids has tainted that. Not to mention how many World Series titles have been impacted by steroids cheating.

Exactly, why quit if you won and didn't get caught? I think the only difference is they went from banging trashcans in 2017 to some other method in 2019.

 

Here's how I'd do it. I just did a quick google search for an image inside Minute Maid park. Looks like there's a Budweiser sign right above the batter's eye in center field. If I was going to come up with a different method, I'd get an electrician to wire me a circuit to that sign...or more specifically, a certain part of that sign (say the dot above i). If the catcher calls for the fastball, the dot stays lit. If an offspeed pitch is coming, the dot mysteriously goes out. Who in the world is going to suspect a flickering light? Heck, I might even have it go on/off during the other team's at bats...that way it'd look "normal". And all the batter has to do is take a glance over the pitcher's head to the sign.

If MLB did not thoroughly investigate 2017-19, then they need to go back in and dig deeper. If the cheating continued and is discovered, that would give MLB the PR cover they need to issue player penalties.

 

Regardless, steroids has been a much more significant detriment to MLB. History and records are a huge part of baseball and steroids has tainted that. Not to mention how many World Series titles have been impacted by steroids cheating.

 

Steroids was equal opportunity cheating. You had steroid users on every team, this was one or two teams gaming the system to win. Steroids was more widespread for sure, but it also brought baseball back for many casual fans that left after earlier strikes. Bonds, Sosa and McGwire energized the game and their HR races were massively popular. How many WS titles did they get during the steroid era?

 

I think when MLB batters know what is coming, it is a much bigger advantage than being stronger would be.

Here's how I'd do it. I just did a quick google search for an image inside Minute Maid park. Looks like there's a Budweiser sign right above the batter's eye in center field. If I was going to come up with a different method, I'd get an electrician to wire me a circuit to that sign...or more specifically, a certain part of that sign (say the dot above i). If the catcher calls for the fastball, the dot stays lit. If an offspeed pitch is coming, the dot mysteriously goes out. Who in the world is going to suspect a flickering light? Heck, I might even have it go on/off during the other team's at bats...that way it'd look "normal". And all the batter has to do is take a glance over the pitcher's head to the sign.

 

Know any electricians that do work at GABP? haha!

I think when MLB batters know what is coming, it is a much bigger advantage than being stronger would be.

 

Absolutely agree. I've tried to think how this would play out in other sports. In the NBA and NHL, I think there's a lot of "improvising" going on all the time, so it'd be hard to do. But, in the NFL? Can you imagine how much easier life would be for a defensive coordinator if he just knew whether the next play was going to be a pass or a run? You'd walk your safeties up into the box on every run, and no linebacker would ever get caught looking in the backfield on play-action, because you'd know they were going to pass in the first place.

 

Now, granted there are ways to protect against this (QB has 2 options when coming to the line), the same way the baseball teams do (multiple signs, indicators, etc.). But, that still doesn't mean that it's open season for teams to try to do it.

Know any electricians that do work at GABP? haha!

 

Haha! Unfortunately, no.

I think when MLB batters know what is coming, it is a much bigger advantage than being stronger would be.

 

Without a doubt. This isn't even debatable, IMO.

Without a doubt. This isn't even debatable, IMO.

 

When I look at Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa numbers, I think it is debatable.

When I look at Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa numbers, I think it is debatable.

 

Agree to disagree.

 

How many guys in MLB would have inflated HR numbers if they knew what every pitch was?

 

Steroids makes you stronger, it doesn't make you a better hitter.

Agree to disagree.

 

How many guys in MLB would have inflated HR numbers if they knew what every pitch was?

 

Steroids makes you stronger, it doesn't make you a better hitter.

 

Bonds had a lot of home runs before anybody suspected he was using due to the drastic changes in his physical appearance. He was plenty strong enough to hit it out of the park. It would be way more advantage to know that a fastball was coming than whatever benefit he gained from steroids.

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.

 

Was it really damaging? It basically saved baseball after the strike of 1994 by making it more exciting. If players weren't bashing those home runs, and players not putting up big numbers, who knows where baseball might be today. Yes steroids were very damaging to the legacies of the players involved. But I don't think the sport itself suffered...if anything it benefited in a time where they needed the help.

Oh, ok. Let's stop testing for steroids and let them go.

Oh, ok. Let's stop testing for steroids and let them go.

 

No one is saying steroids is ok. It just seems most fans and players think what the Astros did is worse.

No one is saying steroids is ok. It just seems most fans and players think what the Astros did is worse.

 

I think it is a media hype thing on the fan side because the talking heads are using it to drive ratings. As I posted above, I would like to hear more details about how much the cheating happened, when it happened, what players did it, etc. to decide penalties on the Astros players.