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2020 MLB Season Discussion Thread
- Thread starter AustinIllini
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The Cubs still rule in Chicago. Ready for another WS appearance this year! (Wishful thinking with the state of the pitching staff.)My White Sox have had an amazing offseason. I'm so ready for this to start.
When he prevails in his grievance, I suppose, but for a lower return value at that point.
Houston Astros' Jeff Luhnow, AJ Hinch suspended 1 season
Seems like the Astros get off easy.
With the news that the Red Sox had a replay room dedicated to stealing signals, I wouldn't be surprised if the Cora gets a stiffer punishment.
Seems like the Astros get off easy.
With the news that the Red Sox had a replay room dedicated to stealing signals, I wouldn't be surprised if the Cora gets a stiffer punishment.
Disclaimer: I am a Red Sox fan. But I honestly don't care what happens to Cora. If he gets a lifetime ban, I will forget he ever existed pretty quick. I think the role of managers in general is overrated by fans and sports media.
But more importantly: No amount of punishment will deter future cheating by electronic sign stealing. The people responsible should be punished as retribution, but not for reason of future deterrence.
Why? It's just too dam easy to cheat this way and too dam tempting. As the stats show, it could make a huge difference, and since signs themselves are so unsophisticated, it's suuuuper easy to cheat. All punishment will do is incentivize future cheating by electronic sign stealing to be more sophisticated to reduce the chances of being caught. In other words, the lesson of the punishments will be: don't be stupid like the Astros and Cora: don't do it in the open and get caught.
For example: Battery-powered camera hidden in the outfield wirelessly transmitting video signal of the catcher to someone outside the park (in a neighboring building or a van), who reads and steals the signs, and then communicates the sign wirelessly to small battery-powered vibrating devices worn by the batters somewhere under their uniform - inside of their thigh or something. It would be nearly invisible and undetectable. A computer-science and electrical engineering undergrads can whip up that kind of system in a few days using off-the-shelf parts; none of it is overly difficult. No amount of officials in the dugout or the clubhouse or any other anti-cheating measures I've heard proposed would be able to find it.
The ONLY way to actually stop this kind of cheating is to eliminate the need for using hand signs. Amend the rules to let pitchers and catchers wear electronic devices to communicate with each other without using signs, if they want. It can be wireless earpieces and mics in the gloves, or it can be small vibrating wrist-bands with buttons for a pseudo-morse-code. Whatever it is as long as it's relatively invisible in their uniforms/pads/gloves and it doesn't delay the game at all. No signs means no easy and tempting way to cheat. It's the only way.
But more importantly: No amount of punishment will deter future cheating by electronic sign stealing. The people responsible should be punished as retribution, but not for reason of future deterrence.
Why? It's just too dam easy to cheat this way and too dam tempting. As the stats show, it could make a huge difference, and since signs themselves are so unsophisticated, it's suuuuper easy to cheat. All punishment will do is incentivize future cheating by electronic sign stealing to be more sophisticated to reduce the chances of being caught. In other words, the lesson of the punishments will be: don't be stupid like the Astros and Cora: don't do it in the open and get caught.
For example: Battery-powered camera hidden in the outfield wirelessly transmitting video signal of the catcher to someone outside the park (in a neighboring building or a van), who reads and steals the signs, and then communicates the sign wirelessly to small battery-powered vibrating devices worn by the batters somewhere under their uniform - inside of their thigh or something. It would be nearly invisible and undetectable. A computer-science and electrical engineering undergrads can whip up that kind of system in a few days using off-the-shelf parts; none of it is overly difficult. No amount of officials in the dugout or the clubhouse or any other anti-cheating measures I've heard proposed would be able to find it.
The ONLY way to actually stop this kind of cheating is to eliminate the need for using hand signs. Amend the rules to let pitchers and catchers wear electronic devices to communicate with each other without using signs, if they want. It can be wireless earpieces and mics in the gloves, or it can be small vibrating wrist-bands with buttons for a pseudo-morse-code. Whatever it is as long as it's relatively invisible in their uniforms/pads/gloves and it doesn't delay the game at all. No signs means no easy and tempting way to cheat. It's the only way.
The Astros were were also fined $5 million and lost their first and second round draft picks in 2020 & 2021.
Edit: clarify the loss of draft picks
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I want to see them fire Cora preemptively. Send a strong signal that regardless of what the investigation turns up the guy cannot be trusted to manage again.
Then make Varitek manager and Pedroia player coach!
Other than some contractual obligation, I really don't see any reason not to do it. Maybe they need the MLB to make an official ruling before they can invoke some out clause in his contract, but other than that, there are only upsides from doing it ASAP and not waiting.
They most likely need to see MLB come out with their findings first. He has to be fired. The Red Sox will get a huge fine as well.
Honestly, the fines so far support what I wrote above about punishments in this cheating scandal.
If the $5mil Astros sets the universe of what the MLB things is punitive for this cheating scantal, then it's not going to be effective at preventing future cheating at all.
Red Sox revenue is $500+mil / year recently. If the fine is 7 figures, the Sox can probably pay it in Ortiz jersey sales alone.
What will hurt is firing the manager and the draft picks. $5 million on top of their luxury taxes will hurt. I expect a harsher punishment for Cora.
Agreed, the loss of draft picks for two years will hurt. Astros should just clean house and get rid of all the managers/coaches.
Not to mention the label of cheaters, that will live much longer than a fine or draft picks.
Luhnow will get a job first. Hinch might get a coaching job but not manager for a while. Eventually some team will be desperate enough. These guys are poison right now. Cora might never get another coaching job.
Cora is the one that orchestrated the whole thing. Hinch knew about it and didn't stop it.