The Houston Astros hid from the media on Wedensday in Spring Training, blocking the clubhouse to all reporters and going as far as to use security to make sure that no player could be asked about the team’s disgraceful cheating scandal. On Thursday, the team finally addressed the issue that will haunt them for years to come – and team owner Jim Crane offered the lamest non-apology you could imagine.
Crane told reporters that he was “sorry” his team was that this happened, and promised that his organization wouldn’t be caught cheating again on his watch – but also claimed that the Astros’ elaborate cheating scheme had zero impact on the outcome of ballgames.
“You know our opinion is, you know, that this didn’t impact the game. We had a good team. We won the World Series, and we’ll leave it at that.”
And yeah, maybe this is why the punishment was a little to weak. Whats to stop any other team pic.twitter.com/v5XDI37rQa
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) February 13, 2020
Strangely, when asked to clarify his comment, Crane later claimed that he didn’t say the scheme didn’t impact the game.
"Our opinion is that this didn't impact the game." – Jim Crane
"I didn't say it didn't impact the game." – Jim Crane 55 seconds later pic.twitter.com/MnpPeeTUPL
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 13, 2020
When pressed by ESPN reporter Marly Rivera, Crane admitted that sign stealing “could possibly” give his team an advantage, but also “could possibly not.”
.@MarlyRiveraESPN just nails Crane and this is a complete embarrassment for the Astros. pic.twitter.com/v2bdND3PUp
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) February 13, 2020
Crane also argued that he feels he deserves none of the blame for the Astros’ scandal.
Jim Crane on idea that he is partially responsible for cheating because he hired Jeff Luhnow and A.J. Hinch: “I don’t think I should be held accountable. I’m here to correct it. It won’t happen again on my watch.”
— Andersen Pickard (@AndersenPickard) February 13, 2020
Baseball fans couldn’t believe Crane’s statements.
Jim Crane bragging about the Astros being the first team to win 100 games in 3 consecutive seasons at a press conference about how they cheated to win is the weirdest flex of all time.
— Gabrielle (@gfstarr1) February 13, 2020
Jim Crane is an absolute fraud and clown. Lies to your face and thinks you'll accept it. Don't.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) February 13, 2020
This press conference with Astros owner Jim Crane is a joke. MLB should have stripped their 2017 World Series title and he should have been forced to sell the team. To only blame the fired GM and manager and to not hold the players accountable is A JOKE. #Embarassing #Cheaters
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) February 13, 2020
“Well, everyone knows cheaters never win, and we won, so how could we have cheated? That’s just logic.” – Jim Crane
— Eric Meany (@EricMeany) February 13, 2020
It's shocking to hear Jim Crane say he didn't think the sign stealing impacting games. Of course, it did. Why else would the Astros have had such an elaborate system to cheat?
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) February 13, 2020
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