Tag: Houston Astros

A new Astros sign-stealing clip may explain this 2017 George Springer home run

Makes sense now.

The Houston Astros will likely find themselves at the heart of an MLB investigation after a Tuesday report in The Athletic alleged that the team spent the 2017 season using outfield cameras to steal signs.

Shortly after the report ran, which included on-the-record comments from former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers, a Twitter video from Jomboy Media’s Jimmy O’Brien highlighted a banging noise that immediately followed signals for off-speed pitches. Then-White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar appeared to notice it at the time and conferred with the catcher to change the signs.

But O’Brien did even more digging, and it became obvious that these apparent sign-stealing tactics played out multiple times during 2017 Astros home games. On Wednesday, O’Brien tweeted a video from George Springer’s 433-foot home run off Chris Flexen.

Uh, yeah, that wasn’t exactly the kind of swing you’d see on an 0-2 count unless the hitter knew what to expect.

In the video, we could hear the banging sound immediately following the signal for an off-speed pitch. But keep an eye on how then-Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud tried to obstruct his sign from the outfield camera’s view. You rarely see that kind of effort to obscure signs when no runner is on base. The Mets clearly thought the Astros were stealing the signs at the time, and they had reason to be suspicious.

According to MLB.com, the Astros batted 10 balls off Flexen that had an exit velocity exceeding 96 mph in four innings (!!!). Springer’s home run, specifically, had a 107 mph EV. He grounded out earlier in the game on a scorched 106.9 mph grounder.

Just look at those emojis:

No wonder the Mets thought something was amiss.

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‘Jeopardy!’ coincidentally had a sign-stealing question on the same day as Astros accusations

What a coincidence!

The Houston Astros have come under fire for accusations of sign stealing using electronic equipment in 2017 season, a year in which they won the World Series.

Specifically, per The Athletic, former pitcher Mike Fiers and others said the franchise used a camera in the outfield to see opposing catcher signals and relayed them with loud noises to the hitter.

That report broke on Tuesday, and funny enough, there was a question about sign-stealing asked on that day’s episode of Jeopardy! in which Las Vegas sports gambler James Holzhauer played.

It’s a total coincidence, of course, since episodes are filmed months prior:

[jwplayer XnYZLASC-q2aasYxh]

WATCH: Report details how Astros electronically stole signs during 2017 championship season

In a report published Tuesday by The Athletic, four members of the 2017 World Series team detail the way the team stole signs during home games.

Four former Houston Astros players are confirming long-standing suspicions that the team steals signs. In a report published Tuesday by The Athletic, written by Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich, four members of the 2017 World Series team detail the way the team stole signs during home games.

The report does more than explain the tactics used by Houston to sign steal, it also asserts that sign-stealing — although deemed illegal by MLB — is rampant in the majors and is an issue that the league is not cracking down on.

In addition to three anonymous former Astros speaking to their experiences with Houston’s sign-stealing during its 2017 World Series season, pitcher Mike Fiers is identified in the article as a source. The group claims that the Astros positioned a video camera in the outfield at Minute Maid Park and used a video screen in the home dugout to decode signs that were being used by the opposing team’s catcher.

Conflicting memories of when in 2017 the Astros employed the sign-stealing tactics are included in The Athletic’s report, which says “Two sources said the Astros’ use of the system extended into the 2017 playoffs. Another source adamantly denied that, saying the system ended before the postseason.”

Houston has denied sign-stealing as recently as during the 2019 ALCS when the New York Yankees believed the team was using whistling noises to indicate a particular pitch was coming. The Astros also denied similar claims during the 2018 ALCS when reports said that the team was caught sign-stealing versus the Boston Red Sox.

The Astros declined to comment on The Athletic’s report and MLB’s statement in the article acknowledges teams and sign stealing in a general sense, pointing to changes in the MLB policy that were made before the 2019 season following league-wide complaints in 2017.

MLB is investigating the Astros culture, following the firing of assistant GM Brandon Taubman, and the deep dive could be expanded to find out which members of the organization were and are aware of the sign stealing.

New report details how Astros electronically stole signs during 2017 World Series Championship seaso

In a report published Tuesday by The Athletic, four members of the 2017 World Series team detail the way the team stole signs during home games.

In a report published Tuesday by The Athletic, four members of the 2017 World Series team detail the way the team stole signs during home games.

Video shows the Astros’ alleged sign-stealing tactics from the dugout in 2017

Not exactly subtle.

For much of this MLB postseason, there was speculation about the Houston Astros’ ability to pick up their opponents’ signs — whether it be from tipped pitches or actual sign stealing. But now, it’s looking more like the latter.

According to The Athletic, former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers and three anonymous Astros sources said that Houston spent the 2017 season — the Astros’ championship season — stealing signs at home games with the help of a strategically placed outfield camera.

MLB rules prohibit teams from using technology to steal signs, and while the Astros aren’t the only team to be accused of stealing signs in recent years, their efforts may have been the most brazen.

The Athletic report points specifically to an outing from then-White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar in 2017. Via The Athletic:

“There was a banging from the dugout, almost like a bat hitting the bat rack every time a changeup signal got put down,” said Farquhar, who is now the pitching coach with the White Sox’s High-A affiliate in Winston-Salem, N.C. “After the third one, I stepped off. I was throwing some really good changeups and they were getting fouled off. After the third bang, I stepped off.”

And the video supports Farquhar’s claim. Jomboy Media’s Jimmy O’Brien uncovered the footage and singled out the apparent banging on the dugout during an Evan Gattis at-bat.

The banging noise came immediately after — and only after — the changeup sign was shown, which was an obvious tip-off to Farquhar who grew frustrated on the mound.

The Astros weren’t even trying to hide their efforts. It was right there in the open and audible on the broadcast.

This will be something that the league undoubtedly takes a closer look at.

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