Remember last month when the Yankees were upset at the Astros for whistling from the dugout to allegedly relay stolen signs during the ALCS in October?
Yeah, maybe they should have been flattered the Astros felt they needed to be that subtle.
Because, according to former Houston pitcher who has just come out as a public whistleblower, the team used far more blunt measures in 2017.
Pitcher Mike Fiers and three other unnamed sources have admitted that the Astros stole opposing teams’ signs during home games at Minute Maid Park during that season, with the aid of a camera positioned in the outfield. Then, when they figured out opposing team’s signs, they’d signal for a breaking ball by banging on a trash can with a bat.
Danny Farquhar, who had a brief stint in the Yankees organization this year before retiring, noticed the noise while pitching for the White Sox in Houston in 2017.
“There was a banging from the dugout, almost like a bat hitting the bat rack every time a changeup signal got put down,” Farquhar said. “After the third one, I stepped off. I was throwing some really good changeups and they were getting fouled off. After the third bang, I stepped off.”
If it is true, well, kudos to Farquhar for catching on—because as the age old saying goes—it ain’t cheating if you don’t get caught.
Source: New York Post