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Altuve Accused of Wearing a Buzzer

wazzu31

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Astros reportedly used code-breaking computer program during games
Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 2/7/20

New reporting shows that the culture of cheating within the Houston Astrosorganization started at the top, and it happened long before any trash cans were involved.

New reporting by Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal shows that members of the Houston Astros front office originally devised a sign-stealing scheme in late 2016, and former general manager Jeff Luhnow was almost certainly aware of it.

On Sept. 22, 2016, an Astros intern presented a PowerPoint to Luhnow outlining a new program called “Codebreaker,” an Excel-based application that was used to decode opposing catchers’ signs. The program was used by someone watching a game on video who noted what sign the catcher put down, followed by the pitch that was thrown. This allowed the user to determine which pitch corresponded to which sign, and that information could be relayed to an intermediary, then to an Astros baserunner, who passed it on to a hitter.

This system was used during the 2017 season and part of 2018, and was used in both home and away games. The player-driven trash can scheme came into use in June 2017 on top of the use of Codebreaker.

Luhnow, who has denied any knowledge of sign-stealing schemes, was told of the program in its infancy and asked questions about it. Tom Koch-Weser, the Astros' director of advance information, sent multiple emails to Luhnow referencing “the system” and what Koch-Weser referred to as the “our dark arts, sign-stealing department.” Luhnow claimed that he did not read to the bottom of the emails because they were too long, and thus did not see those references. Luhnow admitted to remembering the PowerPoint but claimed that he thought it would be used legally to allow runners to share the signs in future games as opposed to doing it instantaneously during live game action.

Other Astros employees who spoke to MLB believed that Luhnow had to know about the Codebreaker operation. It was not hidden when Luhnow visited the video room, and the term “dark arts” was even included in the scouting department’s 2019 budget spreadsheet. There was also evidence that Koch-Weser used the “dark arts” terminology to try to convince Luhnow to extend his contract. Luhnow denied this and stated that he did not view the portion of the budget that contained the terminology and would have said something if he had.

There is significant evidence that Luhnow knew about this operation, or at least should have. Even if you believe his denials, the most charitable interpretation is that he wasn’t even close to thorough in reviewing emails or other pertinent data, so he looks bad either way. His denials do not hold any weight and clearly should not be believed.

One of the most interesting reveals is that the Astros were using this system on the road and into 2018 as well. It certainly supports Yu Darvish’s theory that something was amiss during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, and may well taint that Astros championship even more.

Still, to me, it’s nothing more than when Tony Gwynn started studying tape of opposing pitchers. It’s gaining an advantage but nothing a pitcher shouldn’t adapt too. Not saying it’s right but how is it any different than Kirk Gibson having a scouting department telling him Eckersley throws his 3-2 backdoor slider 100% of the time so he sat on it?
 

NWinAZ

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Still, to me, it’s nothing more than when Tony Gwynn started studying tape of opposing pitchers. It’s gaining an advantage but nothing a pitcher shouldn’t adapt too. Not saying it’s right but how is it any different than Kirk Gibson having a scouting department telling him Eckersley throws his 3-2 backdoor slider 100% of the time so he sat on it?

I don't think there is anything wrong with using numbers as a resource, but to spy on the signs given and then translating it to what it means then relaying that to the hitter during the AB is something totally different. If they want to legalize, then I have no problem with that either as long as every team gets that same opportunity. Of course M's would screw that up so...

And I am surprised that teams who suspected this happening didn't find ways to change things up like in football where they use multiple signs each play. I am not sure if it is legal, but Japan used electronic devices on the pitchers and catchers gloves to relay signs.
 

Duders

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I don't think there is anything wrong with using numbers as a resource, but to spy on the signs given and then translating it to what it means then relaying that to the hitter during the AB is something totally different. If they want to legalize, then I have no problem with that either as long as every team gets that same opportunity. Of course M's would screw that up so...:pound:

And I am surprised that teams who suspected this happening didn't find ways to change things up like in football where they use multiple signs each play. I am not sure if it is legal, but Japan used electronic devices on the pitchers and catchers gloves to relay signs.
 

kcden

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I don't think there is anything wrong with using numbers as a resource, but to spy on the signs given and then translating it to what it means then relaying that to the hitter during the AB is something totally different. If they want to legalize, then I have no problem with that either as long as every team gets that same opportunity. Of course M's would screw that up so...

And I am surprised that teams who suspected this happening didn't find ways to change things up like in football where they use multiple signs each play. I am not sure if it is legal, but Japan used electronic devices on the pitchers and catchers gloves to relay signs.


I'm just assuming that the M's are one of the other 7(?) teams that MLB knows were cheating and we're so fucking bad at everything that it still didn't help us.
 

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NWinAZ

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LoL what a crock of shit. Why say anything if this is what you are going to say
 

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The black Sox get banned forever for cheating and the Astros get to run around saying "oopsies! But we're the champs still haha fark you!". And the cheating players get no punishment.

A team like the mariners should cheat hard this year, the slap on the wrist you get is worth it for a title.
 

wazzu31

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I don't think there is anything wrong with using numbers as a resource, but to spy on the signs given and then translating it to what it means then relaying that to the hitter during the AB is something totally different. If they want to legalize, then I have no problem with that either as long as every team gets that same opportunity. Of course M's would screw that up so...

And I am surprised that teams who suspected this happening didn't find ways to change things up like in football where they use multiple signs each play. I am not sure if it is legal, but Japan used electronic devices on the pitchers and catchers gloves to relay signs.

Your last line is kind of my point. I’m not defending the Astros but I think fans should be more pissed off at their organization for not changing it up. What is the point of the pitching coach and catcher coming out to the mound if they are just going to do the same exact thing. They can only cheat if you do the same thing over and over much like how it use to be when a pitcher had a tell.
 

wazzu31

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The black Sox get banned forever for cheating and the Astros get to run around saying "oopsies! But we're the champs still haha fark you!". And the cheating players get no punishment.

A team like the mariners should cheat hard this year, the slap on the wrist you get is worth it for a title.

You can’t compare the Astros to the Black Sox though. The Astros cheated to win, the Black Sox cheated to stick it to their immoral douchebag owner.
 

wazzu31

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I don’t understand why they didn’t have a prepared statement that he just read off of. Take the heat for reading a script, not saying dumb stuff like that, that there really isn’t any coming back from.
 

NWinAZ

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I don’t understand why they didn’t have a prepared statement that he just read off of. Take the heat for reading a script, not saying dumb stuff like that, that there really isn’t any coming back from.

Funny thing is that they held a meeting with management, ownership, and players to go over what to say so they sound united and politically correct. They even screwed that up...losers.


Now this which makes me laugh:

 

NWinAZ

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And now Dusty Baker pleads with MLB to make sure his players aren't used as target practice during the year....lol
 

Cloud

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This Altuve thing is getting weirder and weirder, and hell I might even say suspicious. First it’s because his wife didn’t want him to take off his jersey, now it’s because of an unfinished tattoo. Why doesn’t he just come out and say it, rather than his teammates?

I don’t think there’s anything with him, but stuff like this kinda makes you want to investigate to find out the truth.
 

Cloud

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So Carlos Correa should probably explain this? Altuve doesn’t have a tattoo in July 2019.... the cheating in question is the 2017 season. Yikes!!!
 

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Mofo

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This Altuve thing is getting weirder and weirder, and hell I might even say suspicious. First it’s because his wife didn’t want him to take off his jersey, now it’s because of an unfinished tattoo. Why doesn’t he just come out and say it, rather than his teammates?

I don’t think there’s anything with him, but stuff like this kinda makes you want to investigate to find out the truth.
This is all part of the same reason why none of these players should ever have been said to have won a World Series: they have zero accountability.

The players read some BS statement that they're "sorry" and want to earn fans' trust back and move on, but none of them ever admit wrongdoing. Because any individual admission of cheating, whether by buzzer or use of the 'trash-can banging' would seem to invite punishment, and these assholes are more afraid of suspensions and being hit in their pocketbook than anything else.

Altuve should be booed loudly and long-- more than Ryan Braun, IMO.
 
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