data-mm-id=”_idlza26db”>The Houston Astros have solidified themselves as one of baseball's best teams and a franchise with a large championship window after winning the World Series in 2017 and reaching it once more in 2019. That perception may be marred after a report from Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic emerged alleging Houston stole signs using a camera throughout the 2017 season. Former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers was the only source to go on record and confirm that the team used a camera in the outfield to steal signs. The camera was streaming to a television inside the dugout, out of view of any broadcast cameras. From the article: “A feed from a camera in center field, fixed on the opposing catcher’s signs, was hooked up to a television monitor that was placed on a wall steps from the team’s home dugout at Minute Maid Park, in the tunnel that runs between the dugout and the clubhouse. Team employees and players would watch the screen during the game and try to decode signs — sitting opposite the screen on massage tables in a wide hallway.”Once the signs were deciphered, those in the dugout would signal what the pitches were going to be by banging on trash cans. The overall tone of the article implies that this is a much bigger issue than the Astros, but so far, there have been no similar reports concerning other teams. This is a big deal for a few reasons. Stealing signs falls within the "all's fair in love and war" sentiment of intense competition, but using cameras violates that spirit. As Fiers noted, the impact goes much farther beyond just a win or a loss for Houston; players are demoted and promoted based on their performances, and the Astros could be derailing careers by using such underhanded tactics. It is important to note within the article that two sources from Drellich and Rosenthal said the practice extended into the 2017 playoffs, while one "adamantly denied" that claim. This is a big story, and the ripple effects could be far and wide.
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data-mm-id=”_1ps8fwv6q”>While the Los Angeles City Council can crow all they want about how the Houston Astros' cheating scandal robbed them of at least one World Series title, they're far from the only party affected. The line between making it in the bigs and getting sent down to the minors is razor-thin as it stands. The Astros knowing what pitch was coming may not have affected the bottom line for guys like Clayton Kershaw, but there were numerous pitchers they faced off with during the time they were cheating. Every pitch mattered for some of those pitchers. Mike Bolsinger was one of those pitchers. He played against the Astros in 2017, and in one third of an inning, gave up four runs, four hits, and three walks. He hasn't played in the major leagues since. USA Toda…
data-mm-id=”_o9jr1m366″>A quick search on Spotrac can turn a good idea into a great one, but it can just as easily turn a bad idea into a horrific one. Such was the case today, as I watched Max Kellerman explain why he thinks Carson Wentz should demand a trade from the Eagles since, you know, they just drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round. "If I am Carson Wentz, and I believe in myself, I'm going to demand a trade right now."—@maxkellerman on the Eagles' draft decisions ? pic.twitter.com/6NujQSkl6P— First Take (@FirstTake) April 27, 2020Kellerman goes on a long diatribe here explaining why the Eagles should have used their second-round pick, eventually used to pick Hurts, to trade up in the first round and select wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. He argues Wentz nee…
data-mm-id=”_deyj74h5i”>NBC Sports on Peacock is making a hard push for relevance in a crowded landscape. Debuting next week, the platform will feature PFT Live with Mike Florio, The Dan Patrick Show and The Rich Eisen Show. The first original sports talk show will then premiere in September in the form of Brother From Another, a two-hander featuring former former Boston Globe colleagues Michael Smith and Michael Holley. Outkick first reported Peacock was eyeing Smith for the role. From Variety:”“When coming up with our show’s name and thinking about the vibe we wanted to create, we kept coming back to just that — family — and to this brotherhood,” Smith said. “We want this show and the conversations between us and with our guests to feel relatable — literally. As in, if …
data-mm-id=”_svmw56svj”>In what can only be described as the game-of-the-year so far, the Dolphins stagged an incredible comeback not once, not twice, but three times in the final five and a half minutes against the Raiders thanks to their indelible backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. After replacing an ineffective Tua Tagovailoa with about 10 minutes left in the game, Fitzpatrick worked his magic on three consecutive drives, leading the Dolphins to a field goal, touchdown and field goal that ultimately gave the Dolphins a critical 26-25 win in Las Vegas as they seek a playoff spot. No moment of the game encapsulated the unbelievable performance by Fitzpatrick more than his 34-yard heave to Mack Hollins while Fitzpatrick's head was being twisted the other way. The play set up an…
data-mm-id=”_cu19oseiv”>Victor Wembanyama is set to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft this week, and on Tuesday night he was welcomed to New York to throw out the first pitch before a Yankees game. Seeing a 7-foot-4 future NBA star around a baseball field remains hilarious, but Wembanyama took it to the next level. Several pictures have emerged of Wembanyama hanging out before the game and they are something. He's so much bigger than everyone around him and he made a baseball in his palm look like a marble. Check these photos out:A baseball looks like a marble in Victor Wembanyama’s hands pic.twitter.com/39LNJrJPRX— Joon Lee (@joonlee) June 20, 2023The baseball looks positively tiny:A baseball in Victor Wembanyama’s hand 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eXcZqzK7…
data-mm-id=”_2hbjkrag9″>Welcome to The Big Lead's weekly start 'em, sit 'em column. It pairs wonderfully with our weekly waiver wire column. We are here to dig into the toughest decisions you may be facing for your fantasy matchup this week and give you answers. Some of those answers may even be right!Presenting our Week 4 start 'em, sit 'em calls.Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville JaguarsEtienne has been frustratingly inconsistent to start the year. Weeks 1 and 3 were quality, double-digit outings that suggest Etienne is capable of living up to his billing as a legit RB1. Weeks 2 and 4, not so much. And with a matchup against a tough Bills defense looming, it's fair to question if you might be better off looking elsewhere. Especially considering Etienne…
data-mm-id=”_r59g68a5d”>The Carolina Panthers are facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and weather has really mucked up the game. That, in turn, has let to things getting a bit headed between the division rivals. It boiled over in the third quarter when Panthers linebacker Brian Burns threw a punch and was ejected. Here's slow-mo video of Burns losing his head and punching Bucs offensive lineman Cody Mauch in the helmet, which is not smart for any number of reasons. ANOTHER EJECTION! Panthers LB Brian Burns has been ejected for throwing a punch. pic.twitter.com/WE9bEKxDgf— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) December 3, 2023Burns is one of the Panthers' best defenders and this came in the third quarter with his team trailing 14-10. Here's hoping that long walk back to the loc…
data-mm-id=”_9jyxretq8″>The NBA's All-Star Weekend is drawing rebukes from pretty much everyone in the media world on Monday. While the 3-point competition and dunk contest were entertaining, Sunday's actual All-Star game was kind of a joke. JJ Redick took to his podcast The Old Man & the Three to respond to it and his angle was slightly different. Redick's biggest problem with All-Star weekend? Nothing NBA-related starts on time. And dammit, he's right. Here's his rant:Can we please start things on time in the NBA? Watch @jj_redick’s live reaction to the #NBAAllStar Game and Weekend: https://t.co/KygzroEyxA pic.twitter.com/h7jQvkViSg— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) February 19, 2024It's hard to argue with this and I'm hoping more pe…
data-mm-id=”_2e2bc5a39″>A day after Tua Tagovailoa appeared on "The Dan Le Batard Show" to level some scathing accusations, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores used his weekly press conference as Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator to address them.He didn't exactly deny Tagovailoa's criticism.Still, Flores took the high road when asked about Tagovailoa calling him a "terrible person" while he coached the Dolphins QB in his first two seasons."Specific to the comments made by Tua, I just want to say, 'Look, I'm genuinely happy for the success that Tua's had," Flores told reporters Tuesday. "And I really wish him nothing but the best."#Vikings DC Brian Flores understandably takes the high road in responding to …
data-mm-id=”_h32yqo6ka”>Catilin Clark got so tired of breaking records on the basketball court that she decided to start breaking them off the court. Well, her trading card did.Clark's WNBA draft rookie card that she autographed sold for $84,000 after 79 bids at an auction, breaking a record for the most expensive women's sports card in history. The card depicts Clark holding up an Indiana Fever jersey moments after she was selected number one overall in the 2024 draft. Clark's signature on the card was guaranteed authentic by Panini America, a sports trading card company. Caitlin Clark's Signed WNBA Draft Card Sells For Record-Breaking $84K | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/J0GTm9YW3f— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) September 20, 2024Likely on her wa…