We had a big party Saturday and for some strange reason, the Astros were a major topic. I had this big plan to divert my conversations away to something else (I was asking people their biggest current prayer request.), but discuss the Astros we did. In one sense, it was great because it meant people we asking about what they knew interested me, and great in another because they cared what I thought. (Looking at you Ms. Tarzan.) I’ve been meaning to keep this blog going, but haven’t been as diligent as I could be.
As it turns out, the Astros thing really made me mad; so mad that I sent a email letter to their owner. Not sure he ever got it, but I wanted to do what I could to tell him this team was “the good guys” and he allowed that to be tarnished and its on him to fix it. The team has done some things the media (and social media) have not liked, but at some point bad behavior is cultural and not one bad apple.
The fourth rule from Whatever It Takes is roughly translated as “Ask people about their problems and try to help.” I used this to create my party question, and although my help in this circumstance was just to pray, the party reinforced how important it is when others care.
In the Bible, Job started out as the number one man in the East and when he had lost everything except his wife, who came to see him? Not the masses. He was a rich guy and the average Joe ignored him. But he had three friends who came and sat with him for a week before speaking. Have you ever gone to see a friend in need and just sat around with them? Having friends sit around with you when you are in need is great. Two friends came and just sat with me the night my mom died. It was what I needed.
So what about those Astros? Context is king. I’ve seen opinions on social media from people who spent no time understanding the Astros and jumped to the most vile conclusions from bench clearing brawls, to hitting batters with pitched base balls, to killing people throwing the ball at their heads. Any Astros fan one who saw Dickie Thon get beaned in the head all those years ago knows the terrible feelings that come along with that. Suggesting such things is both wrong and worse than what the Astros actually did. I have seen Astros fans jump all over such statments and sometimes with equally unacceptable responses. As the Lord’s Prayer shows us, we are to forgive those who trespess against us, therefore we are duty bound to forgive these outbursts as no different than any other sin committed by people who Christ died for.
For me personally, the funniest pieces have been when the Yankees have made negative statements about what the Astros did. I finally saw a piece yesterday that put two and two together and remembers that the Yankees also cheated using electronics in 2017 when Aaron Judge was a rookie and asked if he was going to give back his Rookie of the Year Trophy. The Red Sox have not been vocal because they too are under investigation for cheating in 2018, were caught cheating in 2017, and have their own meeting with destiny coming. Interestingly, it was these two cheating teams that the Astros beat to get to the World Series. How ironic is that? Note, I had put two and two together I 2017 and just hpoped the Astros had stopped when MLB sent out the memo in 2017.
The Astros played the Dodgers in the World Series in 2017. The Dodgers and their fans and organizations in that area have been the most vocal. The Dodgers have also been identified as a team that cheated in 2017 although no investigative reports have come out to confirm that yet. Irregardless (yes that word) the Astros won the World Series in 2017 and the Dodgers did not and any punishment to the Astros will never make the Dodgers World Champions in 2017.
The Astros thing breaks down into about eight pieces for me. Part one is the owner. Jim Crane is not a perfect man; I actually know little else about him outside he amassed enough cash to have a shot at owning a baseball team. It took him a while, but he finally threw enough cash around to get the Astros from Mclane. His next goal, win the World Series. Winning the World Series is not easy, but it’s what every owner wants and Crane wanted it enough to put crappy teams on the field for years. That sucked, but it worked. So Crane claims to have not known about the onfield cheating, but he created an environment where it could happen. Crane is fighting McLane over the Astros TV deal and there is no doubt the Astros TV income is much less than similar rivals. Crane should have paid less for the team. It was worth less than he paid and the fans got stuck with the results. Crane is at fault, but beyond money, there is not really much that can be done to him.
The seond part is the GM. Jeff Luhnow was credited with getting the Astros competitive again. Yes, his plan to play scrubbs for years got him the job and it worked; but beyond that high level decision, was he really good at what he did? Half his draft picks bombed. He traded for some great players, but the farm system isn’t much better than when he took over, and each deal has its negative take. In al of this, he simply had to read the memo about the cheating by the Red Sox and Yankees and tell the manager to make sure we do not do anything like that. End of story. He did not, he got fired, and he deserves to never work in baseball again.
The third part is the manager. I did not like Hinch as a strategest. (Well documented.) But he knew it was wrong and did not stop it. He deserved to get fired and I don’t want him to ever work for the Astros again.
The fourth part is the coaching staff. Based on what I know, Alex Cora should never work in baseball again. Everyone else on the staff is tainted. I did not want Espana to be the manager because he was bench coach and let cheating go on. That role should not have let that happen. I would prefer none of those coaches ever work for the Astros again and I question the need for them to remain this season once the season starts. (Yes, even Strom.)
The fifth part is the hitters who used the system someone else created. I don’t condone what they did in any manner, but I forgive them. The taint on them is the best punishment that could be given. Beyond culture, nothing else in all of this is relevant to me.
The sixth part is the players who did not create the system and were not able to stand up and stop it. I don’t condone what they did in any manner, but I forgive them. The taint on them is the best punishment that could be given. This is only relevant in the culture piece.
The seventh part is the front office people who participated. They should all be fired and never work in baseball again. No excuse.
The final part in all of the is Carlos Beltran. He was paid a ton of money, got at bats that should have gone to others, taught the kids how to play the game, and made the organization a bunch of cheaters. In 2004, I loved Beltran, until he signed with the Mets. In 2017, I loved Beltran until I found out what he did. If it weren’t for the example of Christ, I could never forgive Beltran. He singlehandedly brought shame on the organization. Not really, (See the seven parts above.) I expected better. He sinned, I forgive him, but I don’t think he should ever work in basbeall again. He doesn’t need money, but he can do good in this world if he follows the commands of his Lord and Savior.
In summary, the Astros behavior was no better than that of their competiors and they cheated. The Astros have taken brutal condemnation for their behavior and deserve condemnation, but not the uncivilzed aspects being dished out. The punishments never meet the desires of the unjust, but the penalty for sin is death and thank God Jesus paid the price for our sin. I hope baseball can elimiate this form of cheating from the game, but I know the game with always be full of sinners and they will sin in some form or fashion that prevents the game from being “clean”. I wish the league could get the same kind of honesty from every team and we woudl know hwo normal the Astros behavior was, but I know other teams and other players will not be forthcoming after what they have seen the Astros go through.
The thing with the Astros is a reflection of the society they live in. Without Mike Fiers ratting them out, no one would have known what happened. The same is with the sin all around us. Many companies and individuals cheat in every day life everyday. It is up to us to not participate, and to put a light on the sin around us. God didn’t leave us on earth to have a nice easy life, He left us here to do His work.