By: Harold Klapper
Cheating has been around since the beginning of MLB's illustrious history. In comparison to other professional sports, cheating in baseball is looked at with little to no shame. A runner on second base stealing signs from a catcher is resourceful, and a savvy move on the part of the player. However, the Astros recently took it a step too far. In center field a camera was focused at the catcher and the feed was relayed to a monitor in a hallway between the dugout and clubhouse. At the monitor, personnel would decipher the pitch being called and bang on a trash can to alert the batter of an incoming off-speed pitch. The Astros used this system as they went on their 2017 World Series winning run. While it sounds silly, this is a serious accusation. Knowing what pitch is coming is one of the greatest advantages you can have as a hitter. Timing is everything, and when you don’t have to guess, the game becomes incredibly unfair for the pitching team.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that there will be repercussions for these allegations, but that an investigation is still taking place. Some call for a slap on the wrist while the most extreme views call for revoking the 2017 World Series title. Objectively, the Astros don’t deserve their championship status taken away, that’s ridiculous. Yet, they at least deserve a hefty fine, draft picks being taken away, and possibly a suspension for manager AJ Hinch. Now that we got that out of the way, what does this have to do with the AL East? Alex Cora.
It’s rumored that Alex Cora had a large role in this cheating scandal and at the least, he helped in some way. In the original report from the Athletic, it was explained that Cora was AJ Hinch’s right hand man. This essentially means he had a huge role in their cheating activities. In 2018, the Houston Astros went 2-0 at home against the Cleveland Indians. However, the Astros lost every single one of their home games in the ALCS against the Red Sox. Of course the Red Sox were better competition, but Cora also knew how to avoid sign stealing. Alex Cora was part of using the center field camera to cheat, so he could plan against this, making the game much harder for the Astros.
Seeing the success with the Astros in 2017, Cora more than likely brought some cheating into Boston, if it hadn’t been there already. Already with the Apple Watch scandal in their past, cheating isn’t new in Boston. Once the Astros investigation wraps up, there is going to be one regarding Cora’s involvement, and possibly one into what Cora might have brought into Boston.
All MLB teams cheat, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Red Sox are the next ones to be caught.
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