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The video you see below is from a post-game press conference with Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros after he homered in the 2018 MLB Playoffs.
Bregman was asked, regarding his home run in the game, “Were you looking for him to make a mistake, or, what are you hunting there?”
After taking a few beats to think of his reply, Bregman says “I don’t know” with a sh*t-eating grin on his face, then adds “I don’t know what I was looking for… maybe that pitch?” giving every indication that he knew exactly what pitch was going to be thrown.
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) November 14, 2019
Remember, the allegations brought forth in the bombshell report by The Athletic by former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers and others in the Houston organization only referred to the Astros’ World Series-winning 2017 season.
As we have seen time and time again since then in videos compiled by several on the internet, the methods the Astros’ allegedly used to cheat appear to have continued to be used well into the 2019 MLB season.
Opposing pitchers Danny Farquhar, Trevor Bauer, and Carson Smith, as well as former MLB third baseman Trevor Plouffe have all indicated that the believed the Astros were cheating well before The Athletic report was published.
Bregman down 0-2. gets two offspeed pitches that come with the bang. spits on the first. homers on the second. pic.twitter.com/pM6i0UKgGH
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) November 13, 2019
Astros using cameras to steal signs, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/rncm6qzXxw
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) November 12, 2019
The New York Yankees also accused the Astros of sign-stealing during the 2019 American League Championship Series, after which one MLB team executive said, “Theyβve been doing it for years.”
A look at the home and away splits of several key Astros players during the 2017 postseason also appears to reinforce their suspicions.
Perhaps the most incredible part of the illicit sign-stealing accusations is the complete lack of a response from a single current player on the Houston Astros roster.
Former Astros outfielder Carlos Beltran claimed he knew nothing about any cheating, and his splits seem to confirm it, but he is no longer a player and has been forced to discuss it as he takes over the managerial job with the Mets.
Even more striking is the total silence from the previously very outspoken Justin Verlander, just won his second Cy Young Award at the age of 36, and has more than once publicly complained about keeping the playing field equal in MLB.
On the flip side, several of those who are not being silent are some of the MLB players who have had to face the Astros over the past three seasons.
@ABREG_1 pic.twitter.com/lgrBoUo1Wj
— β Mike ππβπβπβπΌ Clevinger β (@MikeClevinger) November 12, 2019
Wait… what….? https://t.co/z4i9MHTAVr
— Aaron Judge (@TheJudge44) November 12, 2019
π‘π‘
— Luis Severino (@LuisSeverino94) November 13, 2019
This Astros thing is bad!!! Guys lost jobs, got sent down, missed service time bc of how they were hit in HOU. Does anyone really think they only did this in 17? #getreal
— Kevin Gausman (@KevinGausman) November 14, 2019
Say it ainβt so @astros!!! Please no!
— Evan Longoria (@Evan3Longoria) November 13, 2019
Why are the pitch stealing allegations a surprise to anyone?? Do you know the stakes involved? Thatβs why guys still get popped for PEDs. The reward outweighs the risk for many. That goes for organizations and players.
— Coach Trev (@trevorplouffe) November 13, 2019
Wow wow wow. This is bad. Awful for the game of baseball man. Sheesh. https://t.co/r1TN2wTZay
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) November 13, 2019
This is crazy. https://t.co/DuknUCQaRb
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) November 14, 2019
π€·π»ββοΈ https://t.co/20TFYLyeNZ
— Lucas Giolito (@LGio27) November 13, 2019
Why am I tranding?
Do people finally realize I'm cool? pic.twitter.com/ji73rT9ram— γγ«γγγ·γ₯ζ(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) November 12, 2019
For what?
— γγ«γγγ·γ₯ζ(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) November 12, 2019
I sucked. That's all.
— γγ«γγγ·γ₯ζ(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) November 12, 2019
MLB is currently in the midst of an investigation of the Astros’ alleged sign-stealing, which has reportedly been expanded to include the Red Sox.