Astros' Sign Stealing Scandal Continues: Altuve and Bregman Allegedly had Buzzers Under Their Jerseys
Just when we thought the sign-stealing drama was over with the MLB handing out punishments, there are new developments showing that the Astros may have been doing even more.
Now there are reports that Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman had buzzers under their jerseys that would buzz whenever an off-speed pitch was thrown. The account that reported this originally has been correct on multiple reports regarding this saga in the past and there isn't a reason not to believe it's true.
In fact, people believe the account is actually a current MLB player's burner account that they are using to anonymously report the cheating. Just check out the link below which shows Altuve right after he hit the walk-off homerun this past season to take the Astros to the World Series.
In that video, he clearly tells his teams before getting mobbed to make sure his jersey doesn't come off. Then after that, he immediately goes to the clubhouse to change into the celebratory t-shirt in private. Meanwhile, every other player is on the field changing in front of everyone else.
This looks pretty damning to me, but we'll have to see if any actual proof can come about. If Altuve and anyone else was doing, they deserve to be banned for life.
LINK: https://twitter.com/MarcFarzetta/status/1217897217584963584
January 16th, 2020 at 4:22 PM ^
If true, these two should be served a lifetime ban from baseball and World Series title stripped from Astros.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
Agreed
January 16th, 2020 at 9:16 PM ^
The Asterisks
January 19th, 2020 at 11:59 AM ^
I hope this sticks. +1
January 16th, 2020 at 4:25 PM ^
Take away the trophy, title, and banners...yesterday!
January 16th, 2020 at 4:25 PM ^
Can we get Miggy a buzzer?
January 16th, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
Can we get Harbaugh a buzzer to alert himself of the game clock?
January 16th, 2020 at 4:41 PM ^
at least he wears a headset /s
January 16th, 2020 at 5:13 PM ^
....but how much good has that been doing, maybe he needs to hear football better without it.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:29 PM ^
Ironically, Alex Trebek noted that there's been a shortage of buzzers for Jeopardy contestants due to a dwindling supply. Ken Jennings donated a gross of them and saved the show.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
Source? Honestly, interested in this a Google did not return any obvious results.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:31 PM ^
This is so surprising and appalling. Both of these guys were such likable players, but no more. What a shame. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that we're constantly discovering cheaters in a sport known for cheating scandals. It's ingrained in the culture. Pine tar, scuffed balls, corked bats, sign stealing, gambling, drugs... Way to set a good example guys! Keep up the good work.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:33 PM ^
January 16th, 2020 at 4:37 PM ^
Yep, this is the twitter account I reference in my post. The Beltran family has come out and said that the account is not actually his niece. Garry Sheffield tweeted that it's an MLB player's burner account. Either way, this account is legit as they have been correct on previous reports regarding this situation.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:18 PM ^
The niece also tweeted that the Yankees are cheating with technology as well. I’m guessing a lot of the league is cheating, and it just so happens the astros got caught first.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:37 PM ^
Is JV still complaining about juiced balls and unethical beat writers?
January 16th, 2020 at 6:01 PM ^
I would actually love to know what Justin Verlander has to say about all this. I find it implausible that he didn't at least have cursory knowledge of what was happening.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:22 PM ^
Me too. Can't wait until somebody gets a mic in front of him.
January 17th, 2020 at 9:51 AM ^
He’ll have them banned from the clubhouse he’s done this before.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:38 PM ^
Wow, if true definitely could see the players involved getting a lifetime ban and the MLB would seriously have to consider stripping the world series from them.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
Only one move now, remove the titles, ban the players for some period of time.
January 16th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
Disappointing. Wouldn’t the punishment be similar to those caught using PEDs? If not, why would more or less be deserved?
January 16th, 2020 at 5:01 PM ^
I personally wont think the MLBs punishment is enough until the Astros title is stripped. A 5 million dollar fine is NOTHING. Taking away some picks from a team already loaded with talent is not as big of a hit as it would be for a team like the Tigers trying to rebuild
And suspending Hinch is a joke. Astros just fired him and hired someone new. Its like the punishment never happened
Altuve and Bregman deserve a year suspension for this if true
January 16th, 2020 at 5:02 PM ^
No champion that year just like '94. Need to make it official and strip the title. I can get past cameras, laptops, and banging on trash cans / whistling / using signals -- I can't get past buzzers attached to hitters immediately telling them when offspeed pitches are coming.
January 16th, 2020 at 5:06 PM ^
After this, Pete Rose deserves to be back in the game and the HOF.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:29 PM ^
Two wrongs making a right? It is precisely because MLB has upheld the bans on Rose and the Chicago Eight that they need to bring an almighty sledge hammer to all those involved with the current shenanigans, not to mention further investigations to explore just how prevalent and widespread are these practices and use the hammer on them as well.
January 16th, 2020 at 8:49 PM ^
Fuck that. He never bet against his team. Put him in before he's dead.
January 16th, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
Pete Rose should be in the HOF strictly based off his results as a player. End of story.
January 16th, 2020 at 5:07 PM ^
Fuck these guys - so pathetic
January 16th, 2020 at 5:42 PM ^
Altuve was asked why he didn’t want his shirt ripped off... he said because he’s shy and last time got in trouble with his wife.
Um, no. Pathetic
January 16th, 2020 at 6:31 PM ^
You could at least say you wanted the jersey as a keepsake or to donate to a charity auction or something, what a lame excuse.
January 17th, 2020 at 7:54 AM ^
Can you imagine if they did rip his shirt off and the buzzer was seen on national tv right after the home run? Wonder what would have happened.
January 16th, 2020 at 5:43 PM ^
January 16th, 2020 at 10:41 PM ^
Just wow.
January 17th, 2020 at 8:44 AM ^
I dont care one way or the other - I dont really follow MLB, but - see below. His teammates ripped his shirt off on a walk off before and maybe he didnt want that to happen - and it had nothing to do with a buzzer?
January 16th, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
It's all coming out now...
January 16th, 2020 at 8:25 PM ^
I was going to post this sight-unseen and realized that I'm not the only one who reads stuff on twitter. Floodgates are cracking open just a bit.
This surprises me not at all, btw.
January 16th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
I read that the MLB had already investigated the buzzer and wearable technology and found no evidence during their investigation...?
January 16th, 2020 at 6:00 PM ^
MLB Investigator: "Jose, did you wear a buzzer to tip you off on what pitch was coming?
Atuve: "Nope"
MLB Investigator: "Ok, thanks, the investigation is complete, no evidence to allegations of buzzer usage"
January 16th, 2020 at 8:26 PM ^
That sounds like an NCAA investigator. Maybe they're hiring the same people.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:09 PM ^
No do not ban altuve. He is great for the game.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:27 PM ^
Of all the posters on this site you have the weirdest morale compass, imo, to the point it is more likely you are a troll than not, once again, imo. But even if true, I admire the dedication to your craft.
January 16th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
He’s a coward and a cheater, his stats and “clutch hits” are bullshit lies...he reacts like a dbag in The Twitter video too fwiw
January 16th, 2020 at 7:20 PM ^
Bring them all to the Tigers.
January 16th, 2020 at 7:55 PM ^
January 16th, 2020 at 8:38 PM ^
I don't know how these fuckbags even had the nerve to celebrate after they won the title, if this ends up being true.
January 16th, 2020 at 8:44 PM ^
I bet its more widespread. I'm looking at you Cleveland. Back when the Tigers were good, they would get shelled in Cleveland, some of those mediocre hitters knew what was coming from JV and Scherzer. The swings were too comfortable .
January 16th, 2020 at 8:54 PM ^
We haven't won a World Series since fucking 1948, and the last one we were in we lost Game 6 and 7 at home.
You're right, if anyone's cheating, it's us.
January 16th, 2020 at 10:48 PM ^
Watching live, I wondered how in the HELL Altuve was sitting on an 84mph offspeed pitch against Chapman, when you almost have to be geared up for 100+. I could see a reactionary slap hit or something, but he was timed up perfectly to smash offspeed. Either he guessed right on a 2-1 pitch, or he knew it was coming.