MLB 2019-2020 Offseason Thread

[DMN in the House]

2 hours ago, Meacon say “Hi People!” said:

Red Sox allegedly used a “replay room” to apparently steal signs in 2018 because of course they did.

This comes out, what a day or two after they suspended a clubhouse attendant for raping a teenage boy. 
 

Sweet Caroline, indeed.

Do I get to feel extra indignant because both teams that won titles against LA cheated?

[Meacon Keaton]

11 minutes ago, DMN said:

Do I get to feel extra indignant because both teams that won titles against LA cheated?

I would not be happy, that’s fo sho.

[Maxx]

Steal is such an ugly word, I like to think of it as borrowing.

[Meacon Keaton]

54 minutes ago, Maxx said:

Steal is such an ugly word, I like to think of it as borrowing.

That’s very New England Patriots of you.

[Draevyn]

Does that mean we could ban Boston? #BanBoston

[Meacon Keaton]

If only. 

[Lowerdeck]

6 hours ago, Meacon say “Hi People!” said:

Red Sox allegedly used a “replay room” to apparently steal signs in 2018 because of course they did.

This comes out, what a day or two after they suspended a clubhouse attendant for raping a teenage boy. 
 

Sweet Caroline, indeed.

 

Let's see.  Alex Cora was a bench coach on the Astros in 2017, which has already been caught stealing signs.  Cora then goes to the Red Sox, knows what Houston's been doing, and starts doing something similar in Boston.  It would be zero surprise if the league came down with a major punishment against him just to make an example.

You'd think they'd have learned when the Yankees and Red Sox both were punished in 2017 for stealing signs.

[gunnar hendershow]

It's gonna come out that more and more teams have *something* in place, but the Astros were definitely heads and shoulders above the rest in its sophistication.

[GhostMachine]

With Cora being involved in both situations, is there any chance it leads to a one-year (or season) suspension or worse?

Edited January 8, 2020 by GhostMachine

[The Buscher]

About a third of the balloting has been revealed with the Hall of Fame announcement two weeks away.

Larry Walker and Curt Schilling are still ahead of the 75% threshold at 83.9% and 80.3%, respectively.  Both guys have seen huge jumps in their totals from a year ago.  That said the voters that don't unveil their ballots tend to be traditionalists who simply won't examine anyone's case - if the name doesn't immediately make them think HOFer, they're out...so these guys' numbers will drop, possibly very steeply in Larry's case.  I could see him only missing out by a few votes and having to wait for the Veterans Committee.

Jeter is still polling at 100% which is no surprise, I could easily see him being unanimous now that the seal has been broken for that.  A couple of voters have admitted to considering leaving him off strategically because they see more than 10 worthy candidates on the ballot and don't want to risk seeing someone drop off...but at the end of the day none of them could justify the backlash.  If someone doesn't vote for Jeter it'll be someone who doesn't publicly reveal their ballot.

[Your Mom]

Please don't leave us next year Kris Bryant!  

[GhostMachine]

I just hope Boston re-signs Mookie. A one year deal is not enough.

[Meacon Keaton]

Maybe they'll cheat again this year and he'll be swayed to stay? 

[RoHitman Reigns]

Astros Manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow both suspended 1 year for sign stealing scandal

[Meacon Keaton]

https://mobile.twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1216802507944538113
 

[Lowerdeck]

How long before Cora gets canned now?

[The Buscher]

54 minutes ago, RoHitman Reigns said:

Astros Manager AJ Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow both suspended 1 year for sign stealing scandal

The Astros also fired them both.  Joe Espada will manage the team in 2020 and possibly beyond.

Also, the Astros forfeit their first and second round picks in both 2020 and 2021 and the organization is fined $5 million.

[The Buscher]

Carlos Beltran will not face punishment as he was a player at the time, only the coaching staff and front office are being punished.

That said, the media is almost certainly going to ask him a million questions about it once camps open, not the best thing for a brand new manager to have to deal with in his first year.

[Meacon Keaton]

Beltran’s only punishment is he still has to manage the Mets.

[gunnar hendershow]

I'm expecting a slightly less but still severe punishment for Boston. Cora however will absolutely get the 1 year suspension that Hinch got.