Astros owner Jim Crane talks about firing Hinch, Luhnow

Astros owner Jim Crane talks about his decision to fire A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow over a sign-stealing scheme.

[@xxchris]

There’s barely any reporters in the room, way too many empty seats for a scandal that is a huge deal

[@paskowitz]

The players knew and admitted what they were doing/told to do was wrong. How the hell do you root for that? I'm sorry, they might as well wear "Armstrong" on their jerseys.

[@tracym1208]

Paskowitz = NEIL or LOUIE

[@mnmaddict37532]

Be a man...Apologize and give back the trophy!!!

[@bryanw.429]

Crane knew what was going on, he was just saving face.

[@ruthless12street]

Bryan Werk everyone needs fallguys

[@legochickenguy4938]

If he did then don’t you think the commissioner would’ve found evidence of it?

[@samuelsandate9804]

@@legochickenguy4938 In all seriousness, I don't know why Jim Crane would want to allowed cheating to win. If he wanted to win, he would be open to spend on great players to help win a championship, instead of trying to cheat and be know as a cheater.

[@coldworldnoblanket9684]

MLB: it’s okay to cheat and keep you title

[@alexvanroth175]

All teams cheat moron.

[@SolitarySoldier]

DaBaby Yoda yes they do. They all cheat in some way

[@samuelbarrett5648]

The Yankees, maybe Dodgers, Red Sox, definitely White Sox, all have cheated during their histories. Likely all teams have but there is proof of those ones

[@carlhsieh2615]

The Huston Asterisks

[@alexvanroth175]

Might try spelling Houston right Einstein.

[@samuelbarrett5648]

@@alexvanroth175 And Astros

[@DDDKKK310]

Everyone in the organization needs to be banned. MLB needs to strip their championship title. What a disgrace to baseball and to Houston.

[@alexvanroth175]

Speak for your self. Houstonians are a proud bunch we have been through a lot. No disgrace here.

[@jaws407]

If we're being honest, baseball records are a disgrace to baseball lol. Though I am a Houston fan and disgusted with this cheating scandal, but I am glad they got punished as they did and that Crane took ownership and fired Hinch and Lunhow. However, don't pretend Steroids weren't a thing before, or when the Cardinals hacked the Astros minor league system, or the crap ton of other cheaters in baseball's history.

[@brucecao6686]

They need to force this clown to sell the team like they did with the Clippers owner. Threw his coaches under the bus and got away with a slap on the wrist

[@brucecao6686]

@words wpns True that

[@screwston713SUC]

Well Jim Crane didnt have anything to do with the cheating. The coaches and GM knew what was going on and let it happen. Thats not throwing anyone under the bus.

[@jamesanthony5681]

That depends. If Jim Crane knew what was going on and sanctioned the actions of the manager and the GM, then I agree. Otherwise, no. Crane is a smart man. He'd be a complete numbskull and utter fool if he participated in any way, shape or form. He's a businessman, and this would impact his other businesses, and not just the Astros. No question.

[@brucecao6686]

@@screwston713SUC True that, there is no known evidence of him knowing, but do you truly believe that? Also if you the owner, you still bear some responsibility for your employees especially your execs and as a good business owners you should know what is going on in your organization especially after the warning by MLB on such matter

[@jaddison1112]

The Astros should lose their World Series Championship for 2017. Their win should be vacated and no winner for 2017. I'm a Dodgers fan. I don't want the Championship the Dodgers did not win on the field. But, the Astros cheated and should not be officially recognized as World Champs for 2017.

[@claychelsea9890]

Dodgers won it!

[@alexvanroth175]

@Ian Lev Wrong,it's in the books .Watch the stro's win 100-+ games this year.Cant wait!

[@luisvara5942]

@Ian Lev Their is a reason why they didn't strip them of the world series 1. They can't take the rings away from that's team property 2. It happened you can't really change the out come because everyone saw it. This should have been the punishment ban them from playoffs for 3 years ban them having 1st round draft picks for 10 years. Ban manager for life Gm for 5 years

[@alecblair4747]

MEGATRON thank you sir...we’re just the better team every team steals signs from the second they get into live arm...

[@luisvara5942]

MLB can't technically take the rings away from the players that's team property they can take the trophy but I mean I don't they should strip them we all saw it the Dodgers had plenty of chances to win a title but would always choke. The Yankees have 27 world series championships from buying them so neither team really deserved those titles

[@billwolfe9048]

Will the Atsros still display their '17 Series trophy front and center for the public to see/spit at/knock over? They might want to mothball that thing. It's as tainted a trophy as there has ever been in US sports.

[@alexvanroth175]

He'll yes we will!!

[@billwolfe9048]

And there you go. Not a shred of honor in that organization.

[@samuelbarrett5648]

Patriots title during the deflate gate year?

[@MrFishingca]

How could the Title not be tainted??? It is extremely difficult to hit a baseball coming from a major league pitcher.

[@ndrwsrcht]

he should give the trophy back to the commissioner

[@patrickaungier3197]

So Crane disagrees with Manfred regarding the Astro's "culture". And the report concluded Luhnow didn't know about the cheating. Then how can Crane fire Luhnow knowing it will forever label him as a cheater. Wanting a clean slate is one thing but destroying an innocent man is despicable.

[@samuelsandate9804]

In all seriousness, I don't know why Jim Crane would want to allowed cheating to win. If he wanted to win, he would be open to spend on great players to help win a championship, instead of trying to cheat and be know as a cheater.

[@WOTT101]

Clean slate should be to remove the entire roster from baseball.

[@dadawesome784]

WOTT101 No. They should have to remain in the Astros and give them salary caps. That’s what those plates really fear....small paychecks.

[@MrJoeFlorida]

If he ever went to games, the owner must have known as well. Maybe the league should take the team back and put it up for sale. DQ the owner!

[@jamesamick2945]

If they did that no one would own a team in any sport.

[@nomercy9474]

Everyone involved with the Astros org should be banned 1-3 years, this a disappointment to the Beautiful game of baseball

[@Rikman56]

Baseball is a beautiful game but lets not kid ourselves, cheating has always been around. Spitballs, the Black Sox, pitchers scuffing up balls with contraband, corked bats, anabolic steroids, and amphetamines(greenies) just to mention a few. There's always going to be players and baseball personnel trying to find an edge that will involve cheating. Personally I think they should reduce the Astros' salary cap so that they have a very hard time resigning players or even signing new ones.

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@Rikman56 Hold on. Yes, cheating has always been around, however, I wouldn't include the White Sox players throwing the 1919 World Series with spitballs, corked bats and all the rest. The Black Sox is a separate category unto itself. I would go so far as to separate steroids (enhancers) from amphetamines (enablers). The latter distinction was made by Jim Bouton and other players.

[@thomaspaquette9991]

Are either of these guys someone who can be hired again once their suspensions are over. What I mean is will teams touch them? Obviously they’ve been successful but they will always have this floating over their heads. It’ll be interesting to see what their futures in baseball will be.

[@raycarlbrown-amory3509]

Dont think the owner would know because he the owner

[@samuelsandate9804]

In all seriousness, I don't know why Jim Crane would want to allowed cheating to win. If he wanted to win, he would be open to spend on great players to help win a championship, instead of trying to cheat and be know as a cheater.

[@MrFishingca]

Wining at any cost is not acceptable period!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ruthless12street]

When do I get my 2017 championship ring and parade 😒

[@kingralphie6857]

😫

[@pigjubby1]

You need to pay $5 million for that.

[@ruthless12street]

Edward Bernabe fkkkkk a handout we won . I knew something was crazy when we hit homers we get all excited. And when they did they hit homers they just trotted around the bases . They looked guilty

[@ruthless12street]

Ian Lev in that case so did the Baltimore Orioles. That was a stupid statement

[@ashleygunter4357]

Cb

[@Yooncelebtarot]

Sad how the manager and gm are scapegoated for player wrong doings... meanwhile, players get off scot-free.

[@jamesanthony5681]

I know what you're saying, but those players will be tainted for life for their participation. When Jose Altuve enters Cooperstown in 15, 20 years, what will be mentioned when he gets the call? They'll pay a price.

[@pigjubby1]

Firing a thief is NOT commendable. It is normal. What is honorable is ridding your team of cheaters. All of them. The Astros and MLB should refund all of the fans of opposing teams who paid to see a legit game, not this fiasco.

[@christianwright5215]

The players should be held liable. The MLB commissioners office admitted the reason they didn't punish the players was, "because it's too hard." Disgraceful to all parties concerned.

[@coronalime6777]

Crane should now extend reward for anyone who comes out with the proof of Yankees cheating. They all done it, but Astros got to made example of

[@TheBatugan77]

You're a loser, davor. Loo-HOO-hoo-HOO-hoo-HOO-ser.

[@-raist]

It’s okay, at least the Texans are going to the Super Bowl...oh wait they blew a 24-0 lead.

[@jamesanthony5681]

'They all done it?' Really? Who? Which other teams?

[@joeman425]

This w was as clearly a business decision.

[@thescatman5029]

Just reported that the front office laid the groundwork for the sign stealing. Time to punish the owner. If rules, these days, call for punishment at the very top, regardless of whether the very top knew, and it's on the very top's watch.....!

[@GSP-76]

Did he insinuate that the Astros will suspend players that took part in cheating? The MLB already said they aren't punishing any players...if Crane takes it upon himself to suspend players, I would respect that.

[@nickgall6098]

What I think the punishment should of been is quite simple get rid of the title and the mvp for that year and no one gets a title and the runner up for the mvp gets the mvp for that year, the report said they cheated in the Postseason too just look at how the Yankees got smoked in Houston but had the Astros chasing pitches and looking like idiots in New York, also if you think of it like this, if you automatically hand an L for every regular season game where it can be proved they cheated I think there record would be bad enough to the point they would miss playoffs and lastly altuve doesn’t deserve it cuz he used the cheating in his advantage and it made him look better then he is, he’s a good player but if he’s so good he wouldn’t have needed the cheating, you don’t see trout doing it.... it’s whatever tbh what’s done is done I guess, I hope that Cora gets punished as well cuz he’s a big part of this and the Red Sox cheating case

[@alexvanroth175]

Yankee fan butthurt. STFU!

[@samuelbarrett5648]

Altuve didn't use the system. He was avid on not wanting that to be sued while he was at bat

[@Jguzman-eo6jw]

must be embarrassing to be apart of a team that cheated their way to a World Series Championship!

[@vwavy_bot2175]

Very mature of him to do this and he doing everything right but it a bad look .

[@GSP-76]

He did everything he could to help the organization...it sounded like he will be suspending players too, from what he said in beginning of this interview...I really hope so.

[@Michael-pg7rv]

This owner has cheater written all over his face.

[@JoseFlores-nf1kq]

Take away the rings and trophy. Punish the players They are cheaters too. The Astros are going to be known for CHEATERS.

[@alexvanroth175]

Nope ,just winners! Can't wait till this season!

[@alexvanroth175]

Love it 2017 Champs. We have the trophy,you don't. Hahahahaha

[@JoseFlores-nf1kq]

2017 the CHEATERS!!!!!!if that’s the way they want to win. Your manager is gone ha ha.

[@alexvanroth175]

@@JoseFlores-nf1kq Didn't cheat last year and made it to game 7 of the world series. By the way i didn't like Hinch anyways he made some dumb decisions when it came to relief pitching. Who's your great team?

[@mlangfordcamper]

Nobody cares about him, we all just want to know why you think we need to look into bright light.

[@MrJoeFlorida]

You must return the 2017 World Series Trophy and title!

[@alecblair4747]

Joe Johnson lmao stfu

[@seabass450]

Come and take it!

[@seabass450]

@@MrJoeFlorida lol you know I'm a die-hard Astros fan. Game 5 or WS. If we were sign stealing that game so were the Dodgers!

[@TheBatugan77]

@@alecblair4747 Cram it, queen.

[@alecblair4747]

TheBatugan77 you a lil weird ngl

[@joenelsaracho4836]

Hit them in the first pitch every batters of astros PLEASE

[@stevenbishop8850]

Apparently, not smart enough to know sending highly dangerous and implicating emails out might cause some trouble. A ten-year-old knows that.

[@brantuga9915]

AJ Hinch shouldn't be punished honestly it should be the players punished AJ Hinch didn't deserve this

[@samuelbarrett5648]

Yeah probably but the players couldn't be punished because MLB granted the players immunity in order for them to continue the investigation

[@yanlee544]

F the Astros should’ve been suspended an entire year ( yes the entire mlb team and vaccay the tittle)

[@dianafisher8207]

Sorry doesn’t solve the problem😡

[@itsakeith6702]

There is like 10 people there. What the crap

[@stewbab8784]

looney luhnow said he didn't know what was going on !!! what a complete joke Luhnow is....

[@brantuga9915]

Yankees and red Sox are Guilty

[@braydenlouque1386]

Fax.

[@AngelMedina31986]

This is BS they should really suspend some of the players

[@MIZUNO22]

typical corporate hyperbole .... draft pick consequence isn't nearly as damning as NFL / NBA.

[@LJSJIUJITSU]

Yup a great team of cheats who disrespected and spit on the history of baseball.

[@Null64]

LOL @ people who thought and hope they were going to be stripped of the world series.

[@xwhysquared]

Pete Rose is banned for Life

[@dianafisher8207]

Refund all the fans their tickets and costs.

[@zekaierkal9432]

The entire thing was programmed to protect the future of the franchise. He got his championship. He keeps his team. His fine is nothing. The sport lost, but Crane won. Why are you apologizing to Astros fans you should be apologizing to teams you cheated and the bettors.Frikin cheater

[@ish7957]

*CHEATERS!!!!!

[@NYYNYG1]

He’s just trying to save face for the organization. And of course the title is forever tainted.

[@pigjubby1]

Are the Astros the Lance Armstrong of MLB or, is Lance Armstrong is the Astros of cycling???

[@billbailey9684]

Good wish the other teams that used tech do the same. Come on Astros come back strong from this an win it 20/20. Think other coaches on team should go to. Just get a fresh start.

[@MrJoeFlorida]

Well, the 2017 Title has been voided. The league must DQ them and take back the trophy.

[@buddyl3340]

Throw them under the bus! Who gave Cora the Ok ?

[@MrFishingca]

No legit Astro fan could look anyone in the face and say they won lol

[@00superstar]

Yankees should’ve won that year.

[@diegomurillo7629]

And 2018, when the red Sox cheated to win

[@geedaddy45]

Yankees suck!!!

[@babykevinxoxo]

Strip them of their title

[@wildernesswolff9350]

Strip the title

[@brantuga9915]

It's time for Jim Crane to goooo get him out we need a new Owner

[@JoseFlores-nf1kq]

Banned this cheaters

[@TonyWinston57]

The Players are just as guilty.

[@sergioalonzo3767]

Stripped the trophy , so is OK to cheat, just get fine,

[@imamisfit445]

Wow. Packed room. Ha. That just shows how nobody cares about this cheating team.

[@ninjapirate123]

Who came here because of his ex wife franci neely

[@LAGarza-zk9pg]

“One of the best baseball operations in the business “........obviously not! Crane should meet with Robert Kraft & take pointers on cheating properly 😉🤣

[@yasielpuig9991]

That's a classy move. He didn't have to do that.

[@jamesanthony5681]

He had no choice. He HAD to do it. To show the fans and the baseball establishment that there are consequences to these actions.

[@robertx8741]

AJ Hinch had to go, too many mistakes plus he cost us the 2019 World Series

[@MrFishingca]

Crane knew what was going on, Astros got caught and now he is like oh crap.

[@Pinkyrecordshop]

You think he knew about banging trash cans in the dugout? From his suite? Does he even go to the games? I doubt he knew.

[@samuelsandate9804]

@@Pinkyrecordshop Of course nobody would let Jim Crane or Luhnow know about the cheating because they know they would've stop put a stop at it. In all seriousness, but I don't know why Jim Crane would want to allowed cheating to win. If he wanted to win, he would be open to spend on great players to help win a championship, instead of trying to cheat and be know as a cheater.

[@imperialtrader5848]

all teams should be, investigated doubt it was just the Astros stealing signs.

[@jamesanthony5681]

I'm sure Rob Manfred is looking at all teams to see if this wasn't isolated to just the Astros. He's be a fool if he didn't.

[@hatzzmcgeetheobsessedastro3010]

Go Astros for life gained respect Jim Crane....Farewell Hinch and Luhnow

[@Intheknow12]

Hatzz McGee the Obsessed Astros FAN 😂😂😂

[@hatzzmcgeetheobsessedastro3010]

paul kim dont know why your laughing

[@LouLou-cm3pp]

Respect? He dodged every significant question, failed to be honest about the player's involvement, and LIED about the tainted 2017 World Series!! He's a scumbag.

[@hatzzmcgeetheobsessedastro3010]

Chris Hall because did you ever think maybe all that was done behind his back thats why they were fired your just full of hate the only scumbag i see is yoy

[@hatzzmcgeetheobsessedastro3010]

Chris Hall also IDIOT its prettu obvious the whole league is doing it to its only a matter of time

[@elvisfan6475]

Should be banned for life. CHEATING ASTROS

[@shiweicai4872]

Astros will go back to bottom again.

[@joenelsaracho4836]

CHEATERS

[@epix8012]

I'M so embarrassed to be an Astros fan, what a scam the 2017 world series was! The players are just as guilty as AJ Hinch and Luhnow.

[@randythompson5154]

We won’t miss you when you’re gone.

[@Mccawsome1]

All the teams do it in one way or another Astros just got caught.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Really? Using technology to steal signs and relaying them to the hitters on a REALTIME basis? Which other teams?

[@coldworldnoblanket9684]

James Anthony he’s just an Astros fan in denial

[@TheBatugan77]

Derick... You're a delusional duushbag.

[@-raist]

How about them Texans beating the Chefs......

[@jaimea1396]

I’m not baseball coach, so I’m sure there is more to it. However, either you can hit a curveball or you can’t.

[@billwolfe9048]

But if you know a breaking ball is coming, and you've studied the specific pitcher's breaking ball, you have a far better chance to move your bat through the correct swing plane. If you know you're getting a Tanaka sinker, or a Sale slider, you know the difference and you know where your bat placement gives you a better chance at making contact.

[@tigerlillyb5492]

You missed the point entirely..........

[@jamesanthony5681]

Ask Johnny Bench. He's said he LOVED if he knew what was coming, i.e., fastball, curve, slider, change. Some pitchers had tells, and Bench and Rose benefited from that knowledge.

[@legochickenguy4938]

If there was conclusive proof that the cheating actually statistically benefited the Astros in any major tangible way then I could see there be heavier punishment but there isn’t so I can see why they didn’t punish harder

[@scottywayne]

HUge kudos to this man for firing Hinch and Luhnow. Boston and New York should fire Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran. It would be an embarrassment for ANY organization to retain people who disregarded the rules and cheated anyway.

[@mr.intensity2685]

The Mets haven't won since '86. They're desperate.

[@screwston713SUC]

Cora will be suspended as well

[@tt007pt5]

Yeah let’s see how far your team gets this season... CHEATERS!!!!

[@Jboy19916]

Forever a tainted world series , put an asterisk near Houston's name because everyone knows the dodgers were clearly the best team in baseball in 2017 followed by the Yankees lol pathetic organization

[@versatiletitan2466]

I like this guy Nutz of steel knows he can keep winning Astros are my Team lets go Houston!!! 🤘🏆⚾️ yall gonna learn haters

[@philbelichick24]

NOT EVEN A HARSH PUNISHMENT LIKE THE MLB STATED IN NOVEMBER!!!! EVERY LASTROS PLAYER SHOULDA BEEN BANNED FOR 1-3 YEARS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ISSUED THEM TO USE THEIR FARM SYSTEM THRU OUT THE YEARS OF PLAYERS BEING BANNED! SO PITIFUL! ALSO, SHOULDA FINED THEM $40 MIL FROM WINNING THE WS IN 2017, STRIP ALTUVE FROM HIS MVP in 2017 AND STRIP ANY ACHIEVEMENTS FROM EVERY PLAYER from 2017-2019!!!!! -Pissed Rangers fan

[@acidfruitloops]

Born in fort worth, grew up watching rangers. Even went to the last 2 games at the ballpark in Arlington. Have lived in htown now for 20 years. Will die a ranger fan, but don't particularly think this was as huge of a deal everyone else made it out to be. Was obvious none of the players were going to be suspended nor was the world series win over going to be taken away lol I was hugely surprised they were promptly fired after the fact. That I did not see coming.

[@philbelichick24]

@@acidfruitloops Serious letdown in my eyes by the MLB. This was nothing but a scratch towards teams cheating. The punishment needed to be more than this. Vacating the Title was never in my book because it doesn't mean anything. The Astros lived it, they have the rings, shirts, hats etc. Players need to serve something, they participated in the cheating and are a big part of it all. I understand where you are coming from, but this could been a lot more harsh in my eyes. Go Rangers!

[@joseurena3640]

I think they should have been fined another decimal point, but as far as team punishments in pro sports goes it's very harsh. The Saints in football had player suspensions over Bountygate vacated, lost only one draft pick, and their GM and head coach are still with the team and popular.

[@acidfruitloops]

@@joseurena3640 The max fine applicable is 5 million. The bounty gate comparison falls apart with players actively seeking to injure other players for financial gain. In my mind that is infinitely worse than using a camera MLB deemed within the rules to steal signs.

[@joseurena3640]

@@acidfruitloops with that being said then, I'd say the punishment was harsh enough for baseball.

[@Bats10]

CHEATERS!!!!

[@emitsumasu1]

CHEATERS