Considering all the people who had to be involved in their high tech sign stealing, to lose only two front office folks, a few draft picks and a measly $5 million, Houston got off with less than a slap on the wrist. The damage to the game's integrity is incalculable. Some folks should be suspended for life (like, everyone who knew about this or participated in it), and the owner should be forced to sell the team. If it turns out that Cora took his cheating ways to Boston for a similar reward, he should never work in the game again, and Boston should lose players and the owner forced to sell.

This wasn't the work of one or two guys selling themselves as some kind of sign-stealing wizards. This was someone installing a camera, putting a monitor in the dugout, someone reading the catcher's pitch signal, relaying that information to the guy who banged the bat on the trash can, the batter at the plate, and probably any base runners.

THAT would send a message.

... it's gotten more sophisticated over the years. I'll admit to some ambivalence about this and other forms of cheating in sports that arouse so much ire. I rather suspect that if every professional athlete who cheated in one way or another were thrown out of the HoF, there would be damned few left in the Hall. Where to draw the line is a touchy subject.

Cooperstown should have an exhibit of some of the examples of the various ways people have cheated over the years, including one of Babe Ruth's corked bats and Whitey Ford's ring. And maybe a can of pine tar.

-- Mal

...I really don't feel much indignation if the guys on the bench try to steal signs. But the Astros clearly went over the line.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28496773/mets-agree-part-ways-manager-carlos-beltran

Or, Beltran and the Mets have agreed to part ways. Beltran released a statement where he apologized, but actual remorse seems to be wanting. An excerpt from his statement:



Apparently Beltran's faith and integrity didn't stop him in the first place, and lay dormant for two years until the investigative report came out, naming him as one of the cheaters.