-Ed-Mulholland-USA-TODAY-Sports-76
(New York, NY) – The Houston Astros’ cheating scandal in 2017 might seem like old news to some, but one of that team’s key players is opening up and providing fresh details.
Evan Gattis was with Houston from 2015-2018, and says he knew what pitches were coming during the 2017 World Series – including during a game in which the Astros beat up on All-Star lefty Clayton Kershaw. The future Hall of Famer gave up six earned runs in less than five innings of work, in a game 5 that Houston eventually won in extra innings.
Gattis made his admissions Monday night on Twitter.
Yankees fans will undoubtedly be furious to know Gattis admitted to having help against the Bronx Bombers in the 2017 ALCS. The catcher responded to a fan’s question as to whether or not he knew was what coming when hitting a key home run off CC Sabathia in game 7. “Yes,” Gattis responded.
The Astros infamously used a center field camera and a trash can in the dugout to alert batters when certain pitches were coming. For example, banging on the trash can might mean a changeup had been called, or a slider.
After an MLB investigation, GM Jeff Lunhow and manager A.J. Hinch were fired. Then Red Sox manager Alex Cora was fired, but then rehired after completing his suspension. Carlos Beltran, who was an active player with the 2017 Astros, was forced to step down after accepting the managerial job with the New York Mets. He’s the only player who received any discipline of any kind.
Amazingly, no players from that team were ever suspended, or even fined.
Perhaps Gattis is just attempting to ease his guilty conscience – since it doesn’t appear he offered to return his World Series ring.
Beltran worked for the Yankees’ YES Network after stepping down as Mets skipper. He’s since joined the Mets front office.
