Fmr. Houston Astros Video Manager Speaks Out on Cheating Scandal | The Astros Edge | FRONTLINE (PBS)

[@CashisKingtrucking]

I hope he's at least honest with himself and says I did it for The money when he looks at himself in a mirror

[@JonathanAguilar-b2d]

He can’t do that he’s a worm 😂

[@OctPSfever]

This camera man whatever is a piece of crap. All his life he is going to repeat the backstabbing when he needs and justify why he needs that. He got his $. If he felt its wrong then he should not. Return the $ back to club. Btw Mike Fiers backstabber has not returned his WS ring back either.

[@Kangostone]

Exactly. I'm not buying hisiwas an innocent nobody bs

[@litojonny]

fuck i'd do it for the money too

[@drbryant23]

No team in history has cheated like the 2017 Astros. The increase in OPS by the Houston Astros from 2016 to 2017: 1B Gurriel .677 -> .817; 2B Altuve .928 -> .957; SS Correa .811 -> .941; 3B Bregman .791 -> .827; LF Gonzalez .694 -> .907; CF Springer .815 -> .889; RF Reddick .749 -> .847; C McCann .748 -> .759. Utility Marisnick .588 - .815 That's an entire lineup with improved OPS from 2016 to 2017. Five of the nine players set career highs that they never topped. It's insane. Nothing like that has ever happened in MLB history. Cheating at such a high level that it isn't even baseball any more. It's some other game. The worst was in the World Series. Just one example, Kershaw threw 51 off speed pitches and the Astros swung and missed at ZERO of them. Someone ran a computer sim, and the odds of that happening were 128,061 to 1. So it would take 4266 years and it MIGHT happen again. Just absurd - why even play the game. As more people retire or step away from the game, more confessions will come out. Eventually everyone will know how unclean and corrupt 2017 was.

[@ByGraceThroughFaith777]

Bro, take a good look at Altuve's 2016 season for example, it is so identical by all metrics to his 2017 season that he probably also cheated in 2016 too, right? 😂

[@ByGraceThroughFaith777]

Run the numbers across the league, not just the Astros.

[@drbryant23]

@@ByGraceThroughFaith777 I did. I actually reviewed the statistics for all of the most successful teams of the modern era, and none of them had the across the board improvements that the 2017 Astros did. No other team came close. For example, you would expect similar statistics from the 2018 Red Sox, which were alleged to have cheated and were managed by Alex Cora, who helped develop the cheating system as a coach with the 2017 Astros. But only three players from the 2018 Sox lineup improved their OPS over the prior year - Bogaerts, Benintendi and Betts - and only one player - Betts - had the best year of his career. Six of the nine regular players actually decreased. Even the 116-win 2001 Mariners, with eight all stars, only had one player (Bret Boone) who set a career high for OPS. The 2017 Astros stand alone - and it happened in a year in which we know they were cheating. I think it is difficult to come to any conclusion other than that they cheated, and it helped . . . a lot.

[@whyimsmarterthanyou]

At least they were held accountable by . . . oh . . . oh no . . . . Those banners are still up, man. Shady, SHA-DEEEEEEE, business. C'mon, MLB. These bums need to be stripped of the 2017 title at the least.

[@chuckwest7045]

@@whyimsmarterthanyou That'll never happen.

[@xwatson]

The only reason this is still a topic is because the Astros still dominate MLB 6 years later, and no-one can stop them.

[@JonathanAguilar-b2d]

No it’s a topic because they cheated my braves whooped them and the dodges would have too if you were stealing there ahit

[@DavidSlEePtOkEnSanchez]

@@JonathanAguilar-b2dso why have the dodgers failed every year? What’s the excuse for the last 6 years? Hate all you want but the Astros and the braves are the 2 best teams, has nothing to do with cheating. Quit being a snowflake

[@DavidSlEePtOkEnSanchez]

@@JonathanAguilar-b2dand they didn’t whoop the Astros? It was a great battle and the braves did better??? Where was the whooping?

[@JonathanAguilar-b2d]

@@DavidSlEePtOkEnSanchez wasn’t a great battle braves win in 6 and smashed them in game 7-0 was a whooping 🤣

[@JonathanAguilar-b2d]

@@DavidSlEePtOkEnSanchez doesn’t matter what’s happens after “they got caught cheating” the astros even cheated ca the Yankees vs cc they knew every pitch that was coming facts are they have no integrity while Astros organization is dog shit

[@lizandrorodriguez2377]

Astros make it to the post season again and then this airs 🤔🤔🤔

[@jmanuelvillalobos4971]

Yup and they got sent packing

[@Noodlezoop]

Can't win em all. But they sure as hell come close every year

[@jmanuelvillalobos4971]

@@Noodlezoop kind of hard when you can't cheat. Only reason they are still competitive is because there was no punishment.

[@lizandrorodriguez2377]

@@jmanuelvillalobos4971sure did and we’ll be back rangers fan#1

[@drbryant23]

The 2023 team has nothing to do with the cheating of 2017 - I think most of today’s Astros regard the 2017 team as a disgrace and as cheaters.

[@assassincreed670]

Now this is gonna be a good night. I always wonder beside the players who were involved in this scandal

[@H-Town_83]

I was part of the video team. We were not involved except to get them equipment. I turned down pbs and Frontline for interview. They wouldn't guarantee me that they would tell the full story. Like Jose Altuve didn't use it and if he heard a bang he would take a bat and smash the monitor. I replace it 25 times in 2017. Jose broke it 7 times and AJ Hinch smashed it at least 15 times. He also almost fist fought Alex Cora because Cora kept fixing it. The people who used it on a daily basis were Correa, McCann, Reddick, Marisnic, Beltran and Breggy. The real issue is they only used it at home and they were only able to decode the signs right about %22 of the time. It's the reason they stopped using it without being prompted to. It just wasn't working well and teams were switching signs so much. Also Beltran purchased the camera. He said it was the one they used in NY.

[@htownholdindown856]

Didnt realize Vinny froM Jersey Shore worked for the Stros..

[@duo315]

mlb needs to ban sign stealing if they have a problem with it

[@damonjohnson6598]

Bingo.. MLB is like we don’t have a problem if you steal signs like that just don’t steal them like this. Not to mention that the method in question was at home games and the Stros did the majority of winning on the road.

[@mboaz5611]

Stealing signs using a baserunner is one thing, but to go to the lengths the Astros did should be indefensible and treated like gambling and PEDs.

[@duo315]

​@@mboaz5611 "well using PEDs in this situation is fine, just not that situation" nope

[@christopherevans8340]

@@damonjohnson6598 The report made it very clear that they also cheated on the road.

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

​@@mboaz5611the Red Sox used individual share watches, that's much worse

[@GeraldHine-t9h]

The hate you get when you’re at the top and other teams keep losing. 6 years in a row and all they bring up is 2017. Stop smoking weed, let your mind expand !

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

7 straight trips to the playoffs

[@campbellsguitarsolos]

@@hakeemolajuwon43523 straight actually, cheating doesn’t count

[@campbellsguitarsolos]

@@hakeemolajuwon43523 straight, cheaters🗑🗑

[@campbellsguitarsolos]

@@hakeemolajuwon4352Trashtros suck

[@campbellsguitarsolos]

Houston Asterisks have never been at the top of anything nor will they ever. Nothing but a bunch of cheating scrubs

[@frankluna85]

Dang rat ! He sure didnt have any issues spending that money tho.

[@ajbarrios9694]

PBS probably gave him another bag to open up about it

[@H-Town_83]

I told people when working for the Astros that we didnt want to be the one to rock the boat. I do hope they tell all. Jose Altuve hated it. We replaced the screen probably 25 times. Jose smashed it with a bat at least 7 times. He would say he didn't want the sign and every once in a while he would hear a bang. It happened on only 9 at bats for him and he struck out 7 times so it pissed him off. Also AJ hinch broke it at least 15 times and literally almost had a fist fight with Cora at least 4 times. I told this to MLB investigators in 2020.

[@doyourbest999]

Cheating is their only legacy.

[@Korijenkins1414]

@@doyourbest999 Brainless take

[@H-Town_83]

@@doyourbest999 they've been to 6 straight ALCS. They have been to 4 WS and don't be surprised if they are there again in a few weeks. They won with pitchcom which is impossible to steal signs now. Every pitch is encrypted. 2017 is tarnished but everything since is just them being better than the rest of the league.

[@rks5457]

And everyone but Astros fans will only remember their cheating scandal.

[@joshua.snyder]

*

[@flamboyant_pickle]

6 years later and the Astros are still living rent free in a bunch of people's heads

[@DgurlSunshine]

CROOKS & FTX SCAM INC

[@rks5457]

Dumb saying. For most people who aren't Astros fans, they aren't thinking about them til they get mentioned. And when they get mentioned they think of the word "cheater".

[@flamboyant_pickle]

@@rks5457 🤣

[@adamant1015]

@@rks5457that’s because they’re butthurt morons.

[@ThinkGameTalk]

​@@rks5457and people still hate on LeBron and Tom brady, because greatness attracts losers

[@66hillary]

We were traveling in Texas at the time. I'm a Giants fan so I was having fun telling Texans that I was their newest fan and I'll admit that we were thrilled when the Astros prevailed. However, one of the teams was cheating and the other team showed nothing but class. Within the next day or two the Dodgers took out a full page ad in the Houston Chronicle, congratulating the Astros on winning the World Championship. The Astros kept the money, the WS rings, and the accolades, but they probably should have reimbursed the Dodgers for the cost of the ad.

[@John-ct9zs]

As a life long Houston Astros fan I've gone through several stages of emotions about the cheating scandal, perhaps more than the average Astros fan. It was first shock and disappointment, sadness, outrage at the organization for cheating and lying to the fans, and EMBARRASING the fans and the city. Then the holier than thou stuff came in from every. single. city. in. AMERICA. and CANADA!! I got sick of apologizing for the organization, I got sick of taking blame for the trash talk of other fans and the blame for something I had no idea was going on. No fan had any idea of what was going on. Now I'm like F it. Yeah, they cheated in 2017, but I'm done saying I'm sorry. The city of Houston suffered a lot for over 50 years with the Astros never winning a title, the city suffered through so many years of heartache and loss with the Rockets, Oilers and Texans. Even the 2 championships the Rockets won in the 90s gets written off as "well Michael Jordan missed those years". So it's like whatever. Could they have been classier? Yeah sure. Is every other fan in America acting like a tribal holier than thou jerkoff? You bet. Nobody knows what their favorite team is secretly doing. So I've just been enjoying the ride, they cheated, and probably cheated a little more than others were cheating in 2017. But the game of baseball is built on cheating. If anything the MLB should thank the Astros for creating some drama and giving the sport a villain to hate.

[@MattACastaneda]

Lmao

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

The Astros didn't cheat in the world series, and they won game 2 and game 7 in Los Angeles, that series was won fair and square. There was no TV in the dugout in the Dodgers stadium, but Jansen still couldn't keep the lead and the Astros had went thru their entire bullpen. Buddy, 2017 is just as legit as any ring

[@MattACastaneda]

If their was considerable evidence that other teams like the dodgers didn’t cheat then maybe they would. Astros took the fall for the league so they could keep the rings.

[@joesifuentes514]

Cry More while the Astros continue to kick the shit out of your favorite team. 😂

[@TheCommunicationCoach]

No backbone to stand up to what's right? How typical, but now you're online trying to assuage your guilt by bashing everyone else. Typical cheater actions...

[@LYBism]

As a born and raise Houstonian, and an Astros fan, I sure hate that this is part of the Astros' legacy. I make no excuses for what they did because it's deplorable. I'm just glad Dusty Baker helped to rebuild the team's legacy.

[@plebianpicasso7027]

Let me guess, it will be the NY journalist still whining 6 years later.

[@litojonny]

you realize the interviewer Ben Reiter is an astros fan right? he has even written a book about them

[@jesusavalos1946]

We’ll just let it go and there going to win it this years for all the crybabies out there

[@houtexmk15]

We can thank the Texas Rangers for choking on this division.

[@pistolwhip.4167]

Atleast the rangers have class

[@houtexmk15]

@@pistolwhip.4167 So having a champagne celebration and putting division champion billboards around the city before actually winning the division shows class? I really we play in the ALCS so we can settle this on the field with a WS berth on the line.

[@TheDgenX]

We can thank you guys for choking the series. LMFAO

[@drbryant23]

Guys this has nothing to do with the 2023 Astros. There are only 2 lineup players (Altuve and Bregman) left from the cheating team of 2017, and as far as we know the Astros of 2023 (and 2022 as well) won fair and honestly, without cheating. They are different from the cheating Astros of 2017, and deserve some respect for playing honest baseball.

[@johnpestano22]

asterisks commissioner Manfred didn't have the balls to do the right thing and strip them of the title

[@felixvelo]

Show me the incentive, and I'll show you the result.

[@rustyshackle917]

Players, teams, are so quick to cheat and are easily bought off these days. Win at any cost. Money above principles. And to think these people serve as role models to a lot of young people 😂

[@Noodlezoop]

Stealing signs and baseball go together like PB&J

[@rubencarrera2225]

Come on man let it go bro..every time the astros make the plays or in the playoffs they bring this up.. let it go and make on..

[@absaloncabrera1709]

haha you must be from texass 😂

[@Texansfootball713]

@@absaloncabrera1709bro it’s not even serious Astros are far from the only team that was doing it let it go or keep crying

[@Vertexp]

@@absaloncabrera1709You must be from Commiefornia or New Yuck

[@Mike_Goldberg]

@@VertexpI guarantee you’re probably the same people that disqualified the greatness of the Patriots and TB12 because of “spygate” and “deflategate”….

[@garychunn6726]

They cheated okay I believe it...but to say they are watching the broadcast and getting the signs bs this is not live there is a TV delay just go to the game and try to listen to the radio they are always behind this is propaganda

[@agreenexperience]

Just a guess as we don't know the details, but it might have been the stadium feed and not the TV broadcast so it might be live or very close to it.

[@MarshallHendrix-nx2gg]

They had a direct feed bro, lmaooo...they weren't tuned in to the TV broadcast

[@OvercomeComeOver]

SMH they had their own feed...your comment is propaganda.

[@MarshallHendrix-nx2gg]

@@OvercomeComeOver I love all the Astros bots trying to whitewash their cheating XD

[@OvercomeComeOver]

@@MarshallHendrix-nx2gg Back in the day I knew an Astros fan (not a real close friend) but a coworker in the Navy. He was going on and on about all these hitters must be on steroids...etc., and he even mentioned Bonds being suspicious, and I agreed. This was when Roger Clemens was lights out with the Astros. And I just say, "And for all we know, Clemens is on steroids too" just trying to get him riled up. Well, his brain melted, he started defending Clemens greatness, blah blah LOL. So the Astros fan delusion has ran strong for some time.

[@briannao9251]

I can’t wait for this to air tonight!!

[@hakeemolajuwon4352]

A 4 minute weak hit piece dramatized into a criminal minds video, that's what you're excited about?! 27 other teams did the same or worse including the Red Sox who were using smart watches... that seems worse than listening for a trash can and thru hometown minute maid raucous crowds!

[@guywebster8018]

Alex Cora I put to blame on that scheme but tbf it was prevalent across the league. As to its advantages, it was laughble. 0.35 advantage at bat at home- that doesnt even change batting averages. 😂 So for me it was more chicken s. Then anything.

[@drbryant23]

No team in history has cheated like the 2017 Astros. The increase in OPS by the Houston Astros from 2016 to 2017: 1B Gurriel .677 -> .817; 2B Altuve .928 -> .957; SS Correa .811 -> .941; 3B Bregman .791 -> .827; LF Gonzalez .694 -> .907; CF Springer .815 -> .889; RF Reddick .749 -> .847; C McCann .748 -> .759. Utility Marisnick .588 - .815 That's an entire lineup with improved OPS from 2016 to 2017. Five of the nine players set career highs that they never topped. It's insane. Nothing like that has ever happened in MLB history. Cheating at such a high level that it isn't even baseball any more. It's some other game. The worst was in the World Series. Just one example, Kershaw threw 51 off speed pitches and the Astros swung and missed at ZERO of them. Someone ran a computer sim, and the odds of that happening were 128,061 to 1. So it would take 4266 years and it MIGHT happen again. Just absurd - why even play the game. As more people retire or step away from the game, more confessions will come out. Eventually everyone will know how unclean and corrupt 2017 was.

[@Americannative1552]

Former video manager.😂😂😂😂

[@OctPSfever]

Yes he got his $ and share. Wtf...a piece of crap

[@jodywho6696]

Which soxes. White or Red.

[@SputnikCrisis]

Red Sox

[@mmsk2010]

I'm a journalist and I never see myself as an attorney. Frontline, you and your "reporters" are not attorneys. You seem to forget, your job is only to report what happens, not make yourselves part of the story. What a joke.

[@badkneesone]

Thank you

[@xwatson]

Win 2 WS and 4 Pennants in 6 years and then start talking Nnumbnutz. Rangers have 0 WS rings

[@Mike_Goldberg]

Maybe you should post factual statement instead of making assumptions before the WS even started… do you have mental problems I sense you’re ability to have a normal cognitive functionality is below avg.

[@ElegantHood]

@xwatson Rangers won the 2023 World Series 🤟

[@Arenjitame]

@xwatson Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series bro.

[@joesingleton597]

This guy has no personal knowledge of anything other than hanging the tv. He literally said, to my understanding.

[@rtex1636]

Seems like the Astros were vindicated in this. Best team won in 17.

[@drbryant23]

Yes, it made the 2022 World Series victory something to be proud of because it was won honestly without cheating. In fact, if you look at the lineup, only two players remain from that cheating team of 2017 - Bregman and Altuve. And, Correa said that Altuve was disgusted by the cheating and actually got mad when his teammates tried to get him to cheat as well. Altuve was apparently raised to be honest and to play fair, and he did not want success if it was achieved only by cheating. So, yes, the cheating 2017 team is a disgrace, a brown, crusty , smelly skidmark on the underwear of Major League Baseball, but the fact that they cheated makes the 2022 Astros, who won without cheating, even better.

[@rey8102]

MARY POPPINS SAYS WHAT 😅😮

[@Texasguy316]

6 years ago and we’re still talking about it? Crazy.

[@bobloblaw1180]

It's a watershed moment of baseball history. It's important that it's documented. This has nothing to do with team loyalties. The game is more important.

[@Texansfootball713]

@@bobloblaw1180 last time I checked stealing signs wasn’t illegal league should’ve done a better job at preventing it lol y’all call it the cheating scandal H town calls it we were better than everyone else scandal have to league was doing it to lol

[@smileyabk5683]

S*it so lame lmao who gaf ? 6 years ago and not like other teams werent doing it , people already dont like texas in general so of course they were the scapegoats, how bout Boston, ny , la , arizona , Etc etc ?

[@Hoodratsnextdoor]

Take their World Series win against the dodgers away

[@justinthomas8624]

Why? They brought a gun to a gun fight

[@JamesThomas-dn6ee]

Lol rumor has it the dodgers was cheating as well 😂

[@lazycalc2533]

Bro got gifted a $450k bag and he still out here snitching??

[@OctPSfever]

Exactly. A piece of garbage. Very greedy

[@mikeymikeemikee]

Why don’t they make a documentary on the dodgers or even Boston… stop trying to shame Houston. It’s always Houston vs everyone.

[@MrOmegaRabbit]

Hang on. This interview started off by asking Padilla if he went along with a perfectly legal, reasonable-sounding request to stick a new monitor into a space below the bullpen. Nothing inherently wrong with that if it isn't used for cheating, which Padilla had no way of knowing when he installed it. Toward the end of this interview, though, the interviewer started implying that Padilla was being pressured to do illegal things to earn his playoff share. That is some big league grasping at straws.

[@LCTM-e8c]

Talk about being ungrateful 🤣 he payed off all his debt and kept some Extra money. But now plays the trumpet and sniches on the whole thing.

[@d.99nightwing]

Snitches get stitches

[@g_mason8867]

Ask fiers

[@jestexan12]

People commenting that Padilla must not have felt that guilty when he got $450K the same goes for Altuve and other players on that team....They must have not hated those tv's too much because they haven't given those World Series rings back or the millions they made.

[@drbryant23]

The 2017 cheating Astros. Corrupt and dirty. Like a crusty, brown skidmark on the underwear of the Astros organization. I think that they can take more pride in this year's team that lost Game 7 of the ALCS but played honestly, than the 2017 cheating team

[@DalonCole]

Yeah. Don’t care

[@Whaleindowed]

Good timing! It makes their 2nd World Series even better. All eyes were on them and yet they still proved people wrong. It was the Astros vs the world and they won.

[@drbryant23]

Yes, it made the 2022 World Series victory something to be proud of because it was won honestly without cheating. In fact, if you look at the lineup, only two players remain from that cheating team of 2017 - Bregman and Altuve. And, Correa said that Altuve was disgusted by the cheating and actually got mad when his teammates tried to get him to cheat as well. Altuve was apparently raised to be honest and to play fair, and he did not want success if it was achieved only by cheating. So, yes, the cheating 2017 team is a disgrace, a brown, crusty , smelly skidmark on the underwear of Major League Baseball, but the fact that they cheated makes the 2022 Astros, who won without cheating, even better.

[@Arenjitame]

They won because the beat a 6th seed team(weak wildcard) also they weren't punished thanks to Rob Manfred but when Manfred steps down from commissioner becareful the new commissioner will vacate the 2017 world series champion.

[@MAZER0T]

Y’all still crying about this shit? 😂

[@MrGrandure]

I thought this was about adultery cheating. Lol

[@matthew-jy5jp]

Mate you got brain damage

[@MrGrandure]

@@matthew-jy5jp I agree with that. Lol

[@Gemnist98]

@@MrGrandure Well they do have Reggie Jackson in the front office, and he did a LOT of adultery cheating.

[@mboaz5611]

MLB effed this up. Once it was discovered and the investigation was complete, MLB should have vacated the WS win and snatched those rings. MLB screwed this up.

[@justinthomas8624]

I wonder why it wasn’t vacated…….

[@xwatson]

How about all the other cheating scandals? Why isn't anyone calling to vacate those wins?

[@JamesThomas-dn6ee]

Then you would have to vacate the Yankees wins during the steroid era

[@Nights0fAzure]

​@@JamesThomas-dn6ee Yankees still have more world series than any other MLB team while you Astros won 2(1 with cheating & 1 without cheating) in the end Astros are good with cheating

[@mikeymikeemikee]

This guy…. Now they have iPads they run to … Astros still won in 2017 and 2023! Give us our flowers!!!!! 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼

[@EthanAnthony907]

Snitch

[@g_mason8867]

Fiers is the lead snitch

[@backyardbirderhd4562]

For Astros fans, the fact that they cheated made the whole WS victory even better.

[@drbryant23]

Yes, I agree that the cheating of 2017 made the 2022 World Series victory something to be proud of because it was won honestly without cheating. In fact, if you look at the lineup, only two players remain from that cheating team of 2017 - Bregman and Altuve. And, Correa said that Altuve was disgusted by the cheating and actually got mad when his teammates tried to get him to cheat as well. Altuve was apparently raised to be honest and to play fair, and he did not want success if it was achieved only by cheating. So, yes, the cheating 2017 team is a disgrace, a brown, crusty , smelly skidmark on the underwear of Major League Baseball, but the fact that they cheated makes the 2022 Astros, who won without cheating, even better.

[@deansynan7424]

Cheaters gonna Cheat.

[@anthonymartinez0865]

Haters gonna cry.

[@adonaygallardo2142]

Just like your momma. Baseball purity crusader alert 🚨🚨🚨

[@justinthomas8624]

And they’re still winning 😆

[@Der_Dolmetscher]

„The coaches knew and the players knew“ then lock them all up. (After all, it‘s 2023. We can’t club them to death like a seal pup.)

[@AC_6]

“Lock them up” 💀💀 you need to relax buddy 😂😂

[@JTcfji6732]

Astros will always be cheaters

[@garyswearingen9387]

You mean winners. GO STROS!!! 2023 World series champions!!!

[@anthonymartinez0865]

The Astros live in your tiny head rent free. 🫵🤡

[@smileyabk5683]

I'm guessing we beat this guys poor team lmao ?

[@Texansfootball713]

Stealing signs is not cheating. You obviously don’t know baseball lol

[@Vertexp]

You will always be irrelevant to anyone

[@perropulgoso3351]

Cheaters.

[@D_isco_D_ancer]

What a cheaters

[@michaelallen2358]

They hurt baseball to the core, they should be banned for life.

[@xwatson]

🤡

[@fallstaffbrewingco2651]

Stay ddedd, Lucas Harrell's career.

[@eddiehaskell5578]

Alex Cora should’ve been banned from MLB for life.