MLB players react to new Astros conspiracy theory with anger, disbelief
January is typically the calm before the storm for Major League Baseball.
Not this year. The Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal has taken center stage in the sports news cycle.
The “buzz” hasn’t died down one bit since the league announced its punishments on Monday. In fact, it has only continued to build over the last 72 hours as A.J. Hinch and Jeff Luhnow of the Astros, Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox, and Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets, all lost their respective manager and general manager jobs due to their connection to the scandal.
Now, there’s a new conspiracy theory making the rounds after a Twitter user that claimed to be Carlos Beltran’s niece suggested Astros players wore buzzers under their jerseys that would signal which pitch was coming. Keen observers and Twitter sleuths alike quickly jumped on the bandwagon, leading to another uproar of anger and disbelief from around the league.
Here are some of the reactions from current and former players:
For the sake of the game I Hope this isn’t true.. if true, there needs to be major consequences to the players. That Completely ruins the integrity of the game!!!
— Cody Bellinger (@Cody_Bellinger) January 16, 2020
They shouldn’t feel comfortable looking at any of us in the eye let alone on the field and any other MLB player feel different, they can get it too✌️🌞
— ❂ Mike 𝕊𝕌ℕ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼 Clevinger ❂ (@Mike_Anthony13) January 16, 2020
This is where throwing hard has its MF perks BB❄️❄️❄️ so either police it @MLB or I’ll get back to my training 😈
— ❂ Mike 𝕊𝕌ℕ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼 Clevinger ❂ (@Mike_Anthony13) January 16, 2020
Best part is their fans still actin with the same pompous ass attitude those boys walked with, while taking millions of dollars from boys and jobs completely, staring at the camera, carrying a bat to first, maybe some don’t get it.But this is worse than steroids.
— ❂ Mike 𝕊𝕌ℕ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼 Clevinger ❂ (@Mike_Anthony13) January 16, 2020
I would rather face a player that was taking steroids than face a player that knew every pitch that was coming.
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) January 16, 2020
What happened to the term “cheaters never prosper”?
— Evan Longoria (@Evan3Longoria) January 16, 2020
I’m in a mood right now after hearing the latest bs teams have been up to. 😡
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher22) January 16, 2020
Sheeeeeeeeeesh.
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) January 16, 2020
Yes: there’s a lot of craziness in the baseball world right now. At the end of the day, we have to do our job on the field and win the battle between the lines. Great things are to come this year. The boys will be ready. #LFGM
— Pete Alonso (@Pete_Alonso20) January 16, 2020
These reports of cheating from the @astros are next level. What a joke. If it is in fact 💯 % true then the WS in 17 should be stripped as well as all individual awards. 🤥🤥 Don’t @ me.
— Danny Valencia (@dannyvalencia19) January 16, 2020
** Houston Asterisks **
— Danny Valencia (@dannyvalencia19) January 16, 2020
Using computers and buzzers and such is an entirely new level and indefensible if you’re on the other side of it. This is wild and miserable for our game.
— Tucker Barnhart (@Tucker_Barnhart) January 16, 2020
Whats worse sign stealing or Pete Rose? I have my opinion i just want to hear the community.
— Ryan Sherriff (@KingSherriff) January 17, 2020
First time I log in since April. What did I miss?
— Jose Ramirez (@MrLapara) January 16, 2020
Jose Altuve, the three-time American League batting champion and AL MVP in 2017, has been at the center of the new allegations. He issued an immediate denial on Thursday, saying he’s ‘never, ever’ worn an electronic device designed to tip pitches.
MLB says it "explored wearable devices during the investigation but found no evidence to substantiate it,” but that hasn’t stopped players from taking shots at Altuve and his teammates.
That includes the always outspoken Trevor Bauer.
I’ve heard this from multiple parties too, for what it’s worth... https://t.co/zDlp0x4bKs
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) January 16, 2020
Y’all had to know it was coming 😂😂 limited edition. Get yours before it gets suspended from my shop for a year. https://t.co/HjB9T9ZTVh
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) January 16, 2020
https://t.co/4Z5j457jOe pic.twitter.com/kGAemy4Fqe
— Tommy Pham (@TphamLV) January 16, 2020
Needless to say, this story isn’t going away. With spring training less than one month away, the anger is not going to subside before the new campaign officially begins. In fact, it could keep right on building as new information comes to the surface. If that proves true, this might be the most tension-filled season in MLB history.
This is getting good! pic.twitter.com/RHg2qQRODV
— Kevin Gausman (@KevinGausman) January 16, 2020
More from Yahoo Sports: