#4503712 - 01/14/20 03:22 AM
Houston Hammered
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
vonBaur
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
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No, I'm not talking about another hurricane. Nor is it in reference to the Texans' disintegration in Kansas City on Sunday and belong on the "The Other Football Tread". No, this is about Major League Baseball's Houston Astros and their now-tainted 2017 World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It's been determined that the Astros had a rather complex system in place to steal the Dodgers' pitching signals and relay them to their batters. This was long considered impossible because it would require reading the signal from the catcher, normally only visible in a fairly direct line from the catcher to the pitcher and then, theoretically, extending on forever. And while the signs are easily visible from the center field stands one would need optics with some serious magnification to see the catcher's fingers at that distance, and someone sitting there with binoculars or a telephoto lens capable of that would stand out like a sore thumb. Then there's the problem of letting the batter know what's coming within the few seconds from sign to pitch without having him take his attention off the pitcher AND without someone noticing the relay. So, yeah...not really possible. But where there's a will, there's a way.
It seems the system had someone with a camera hidden in the outfield, who would relay the sign by text message (probably simple numbers to indicate the type and location of the pitch) to a person in the dugout, who would then bang on a trash can to let the batter know what's coming. The noise was noticed by the broadcasters, but they didn't believe it could have been part of a scheme to steal signs.
Anyway, MLB has fined the Astros FIVE MILLION DOLLARS, the maximum allowable by League rules, took several draft picks, and suspended the manager and the general manager. The team took it a step further and fired both men. No players have been disciplined, but it's impossible for this to work without their being in on it. Personally, I think they should vacate the championship as well, with the players required to forfeit their winners' bonus and their rings.
My question in all this is will Roger Goodell follow Rob Manfred's lead and FINALLY take some serious, definitive action against the New England Patriots. The Astros got caught ONCE. The Pats HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT four times and there's no telling how many times they got away with it, but it stands to reason it was a LOT.
SALUTE TO ALL!
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#4503719 - 01/14/20 10:23 AM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: vonBaur]
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,113
KraziKanuK
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,113
Ottawa Canada
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I understood it was the center field TV camera that was used.
There was only 16 squadrons of RAF fighters that used 100 octane during the BoB. The Fw190A could not fly with the outer cannon removed. There was no Fw190A-8s flying with the JGs in 1945.
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#4503739 - 01/14/20 01:42 PM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: vonBaur]
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,671
Sunchaser
Member
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Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,671
Houston, Tx.
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What a crock, they got caught doing what all teams try to do, big deal!
And no, it is not because I am from Houston, I have not followed any sport since those guys started making more than people who actually matter, cops, fire, etc.
Five million....pocket change for pro sports teams paying players in the hundred millions.
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#4503740 - 01/14/20 01:47 PM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: Sunchaser]
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
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Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
Miami, FL USA
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I have not followed any sport since those guys started making more than people who actually matter, cops, fire, etc.
So basically since the 1960's then?
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 01/14/20 01:47 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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#4503846 - 01/15/20 11:42 AM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: Mr_Blastman]
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
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Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
Miami, FL USA
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Unless we're talking about boxing... Now there's a sport.
Even that has declined at the mainstream level. Which heavyweight boxers in recent years have been as famous as Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson or George Forman? I can't even name you who the current heavyweight champion is.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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#4503868 - 01/15/20 03:46 PM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: Mr_Blastman]
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,969
wormfood
Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,969
Texas
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Sports? What are sports?
Unless we're talking about boxing... Now there's a sport. No, that's the sweet science.
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#4503869 - 01/15/20 03:50 PM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: PanzerMeyer]
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,569
Mr_Blastman
Hotshot
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Hotshot
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Posts: 9,569
Atlanta, GA
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Unless we're talking about boxing... Now there's a sport.
Even that has declined at the mainstream level. Which heavyweight boxers in recent years have been as famous as Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson or George Forman? I can't even name you who the current heavyweight champion is. Heavyweights? Blech. The best fights are lightweights and middleweights. Heavyweights are hugging parties.
Last edited by Mr_Blastman; 01/15/20 03:51 PM.
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#4503870 - 01/15/20 03:52 PM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: Mr_Blastman]
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
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Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,383
Miami, FL USA
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Blech. The best fights are lightweights and middleweights. .
Those are even more obscure for the mainstream market! Wasn't Oscar De La Hoya a lightweight? I think he's the last one I remember from that class.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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#4503990 - 01/17/20 01:28 AM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: vonBaur]
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,332
Spidey
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Hotshot
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Posts: 6,332
Jersey Yo
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Its a slap on the wrist. The world series win shoukd have been vacated
"No power in the 'verse can stop me!!!"
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#4503994 - 01/17/20 02:21 AM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: Spidey]
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,215
NH2112
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,215
Jackman, ME
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Its a slap on the wrist. The world series win shoukd have been vacated I say suspend the entire team from league play for the whole next season, give them NO draft picks, and make the fine equal to their payroll.
Phil
“The biggest problem people have is they don’t think they’re supposed to have problems.” - Hayes Barnard
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#4504053 - 01/17/20 04:04 PM
Re: Houston Hammered
[Re: KraziKanuK]
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
vonBaur
Senior Member
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
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Alex Cora gets the big boot... ...as does Carlos Beltran, former Houston outfielder and current (well, until yesterday) Mets manager.
SALUTE TO ALL!
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