Pancake Bear

Being reasonable means you end up in third place on every free agent you pursue. Arte and Eppler need to think desperately because they are in a desperate situation. If they approach their pitching need rationally, this season will be garbage. 

I think honestly it has more to do with staying healthy than anything else. I feel like Heaney is capable of that with a coach like Callaway. His big problem is always how much time he’s out. 

The key guys were definitely doing it. I’ve seen video of pretty much all of them (I don’t remember if I’ve seen Altuve, but I’ve directly seen it of the rest for sure). There are also things online arguing they found a way to cheat on the road also. Not sure whether that’s been confirmed yet though. It made an undeniable difference in their play. Guys like Bregman, Springer, and Altuve have basically been cheating their entire career. The league has been checking on newer ways that fans can’t verify for them to get the info other than trashcan banging. Their offense will be noticeably less super powered next year. No Cole will make them worse on pitching. No big FA’s will want to go there during the investigation  
The Astros won’t be much better than a 90 win team next season. Book it. 

Hope not. That whole design should be trashed and forgotten. It was the worst design I’ve ever seen across the board. I hated, hated, hated it. The thought of going back to it on any level makes me want to puke. 

3.1 projection for Heaney? 😲 
Geez, I hope Callaway is that effective with him. That would be amazing. 

MLB should estimate how much money the Astros gained from hosting post season games those three years and fine them that amount.
I like the monitoring idea, but make it longer, so every player on the roster has to turn over or re-sign with the team. This seems like a decent punishment for players.

This is why Are needs to whip his massive caramel colored nuts out and get Wheeler before even approaching Cole.
I don't think we're going to get both, but I can dream.

The Yankees lost in 7 games to the Astros in the ALCS. Without cheating, it’s them vs. the Dodgers. Awarding it to the Dodgers assumes they would have won if the Astros hadn’t cheated, but we have no idea if the Astros would’ve even made the playoffs without cheating.
The notion of giving the Dodgers the 2017 WS is nonsensical. There is no chance that will happen. I also guarantee at this point they would reject any fan push to award it to them. 

The Reds are still listed as the winners of the 1919 Series, even though it's assumed that the White Sox (Black Sox) threw it.
My thoughts on punishment:
 
1) Vacate the entire 2019 and 2020 Astros draft classes. The whole thing.
2) Ban them from international signings for three years.
3) Maximum fines.
4) AJ Hinch, 2 year ban
5) Lunhow, lifetime ban
6) Cora and all other coaches involved in 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons, 1 year ban (INCLUDING BELTRAN).
7) Three years of locker room / dugout monitoring for Astros organization.
 
Throw the book at them. This is the third or fourth time they've been caught doing something unscrupulous under Lunhow. If the Braves guy got a lifetime ban for messing around with signings in the Dominican...this should be the same level of punishment.
 
 

Yeah, there’s really no reason to do it. Everyone knows they cheated to win. They’re now the Barry Bonds of WS winners. They can never point to their championship as an achievement because nobody will take it seriously. Justin Verlander still has no WS wins. Neither does Carlos Beltran. It’s forever tainted. The only thing that could change that is for allegations to be disproved. That’s not happening.  

So, you're saying the Dodgers are locks to get the ring?  EDIT:   Just kidding.   I respect that you disagree with me that an argument can be made.  I'm curious to see what the MLB will do.

It makes no sense to give it to the Dodgers over the Yankees. There is no rational way to make that argument. 

there's no way you could award it to any other team.  The entire playoffs and regular season are different if the Astros aren't cheating.  It doesn't make sense to assume anything.  The title gets vacated and that's that.  they could melt the rings down in a trash can bonfire.  

I see what you mean.    But, there is no way you could award the title to the Yanks and it does no harm to them if the title goes to the Dodgers.     Honestly, I'm ok with anything that results in the Astros losing their rings.   Maybe they could have a melt-them-down ceremony at MM park that features recorded trash can banging noises.

No.

I’d sign Cole only rather than those three, personally. 

If they aren’t, F Arte. 

If they aren’t, F Arte. 

That only works if no one cares. Zero chance that happens. Luhnow and Hinch best case is a suspension for both. Could easily see both gone for life. Especially Luhnow based on the Goldstein email.  

That only works if no one cares. Zero chance that happens. Luhnow and Hinch best case is a suspension for both. Could easily see both gone for life. Especially Luhnow based on the Goldstein email.  

I doubt it. This is about punishing the Astros, not rewarding the Angels. I imagine those picks would just disappear. 

Yeah, but just think how much fun it’ll be to see Manfred take the comp pick away when he hammers them for their dirty cheating.

What I like about the news? The Pads and Sox are the two other teams most interested. No mention of Yanks or Dogs or Phils.  
Also, assuming they aren’t looking at him instead of Cole but in addition to him, I like that they’re being aggressive. 

Yeah but they're the superpower in our division so seeing them go down in flames and get stripped of some draft picks further helps the Angels chances going forward.
As sickening as it is to say, I would rather the Dodgers win the World Series than a division opponent.