Tag Archives: Astros

Astros ticketholder lawsuit update

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I share because I care. The Astros have asked the state 14th Court of Appeals to dismiss a consolidated lawsuit filed by three groups of disgruntled ticketholders, repeating many of the same arguments in favor of dismissal that they presented … Continue reading →

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No Yankees letter yet

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

May we all keep following this, all the other news about baseball is terrible. The Yankees and Major League Baseball on Monday asked the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals to prevent public release of a 2017 letter from MLB commissioner … Continue reading →

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A twist in the sign stealing story

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how twisted it gets. A federal judge ordered the unsealing of a 2017 letter from Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred to the New York Yankees that, according to court documents, detailed a “more serious, sign-stealing scheme” than … Continue reading →

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Reopening 3.0

Posted on May 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Who wants to go to a water park? Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Tuesday announcing additional services and activities that can resume under his second wave of reopenings, allowing food courts in shopping malls to reopen immediately and giving … Continue reading →

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Arguments due this week in Astros sign stealing lawsuits

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Attorneys will submit written arguments May 25 to a Harris County judge in the Astros’ attempt to dismiss a consolidated lawsuit filed by season ticket holders upset by the 2017-18 electronic sign-stealing scandal. State District Judge Robert … Continue reading →

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How about an Arizona/Florida/Texas plan for MLB?

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Call it the MLB Plan 3.0 for having a season. With the spread of the novel coronavirus threatening Major League Baseball’s 2020 season, the league and the union continue to seek ways to salvage the year as best they can. … Continue reading →

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Manfred finally disciplines the Red Sox for their sign stealing

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the MLB press release, written as a letter from Commissioner Rob Manfred. Executive Summary Following an exhaustive investigation into allegations of improper use of the video replay room by the Boston Red Sox, I have come to the following … Continue reading →

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DraftKings lawsuit tossed

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for the Astros. A federal judge in New York mixed technical points of law with humor and theatrical flourishes in delivering a rousing defeat Friday to a group of baseball daily fantasy players who sued the Astros, Red … Continue reading →

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Won’t you join our lawsuit?

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to keep giving me content for years. After filing two sign stealing-related lawsuits against the Astros on behalf of Houston season-ticket holders, a Corpus Christi law firm is asking Dodgers and Yankees fans who attended 2017 postseason … Continue reading →

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Another lawsuit the Astros want tossed

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It was the first one filed against them relating to the banging scheme. The Astros have asked a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the team, owner Jim Crane and baseball operations employee Derek Vigoa … Continue reading →

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Astros move to dismiss season ticket holder lawsuits

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

How about some non-coronavirus baseball-related news? I got some for ya. The Astros have asked Harris County district judges to dismiss the three lawsuits filed against the ballclub by ticketholders who claim they were defrauded by the sign-stealing scandal in … Continue reading →

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MLB, Astros, Red Sox respond to DraftKings lawsuit over sign stealing

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s motion to dismiss time. As baseball’s electronic sign-stealing case joins the long list of sports-related court cases, attorneys for the the Astros, Red Sox and Major League Baseball all say that while fantasy sports bettors may be angered by … Continue reading →

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More Astros lawsuits

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This one was filed by a dissatisfied customer. An Astros season ticket holder has filed suit in Harris County District Court against the ballclub, accusing the team of negligence, breach of contract and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices … Continue reading →

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Astros offer an apology

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how it goes for them. Astros players issued their first public apology after being involved in a cheating scandal that rocked baseball in the offseason. “I am really sorry about the choices that were made by my team … Continue reading →

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Former MLB pitcher sues Astros

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. A pitcher who has not appeared in a major league game since getting shelled by the 2017 Houston Astros filed a civil lawsuit against the ballclub on Monday, according to USA Today. In the filing made … Continue reading →

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“You guys Codebreaking?”

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You thought the Astros sign stealing saga was over? It’s not over. Roughly four weeks ago, Major League Baseball disciplined the Houston Astros for what commissioner Rob Manfred called the “banging scheme.” The Astros were busted illegally stealing signs in 2017 and 2018. The … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed over sign stealing effect on fantasy baseball

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Major League Baseball (MLB) teams secretly distorted player statistics and deprived fans of an “honest fantasy baseball competition,” a lawsuit filed by a fan alleges in the fallout to a sign-stealing scandal involving the Houston … Continue reading →

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Documenting the bangs

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

You have to admire the dedication to craft. Like so many in Houston, Tony Adams and his family had to flee their inner-Loop home when Hurricane Harvey pushed Houston’s bayous out of their banks in August 2017. Weeks later, Adams … Continue reading →

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We have an Astros apology

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From a former player, not a current player. It’s still something. Twelve days later, an apology appeared on the south side of Chicago, from a bearded face that was constant throughout the Astros’ now-ruined renaissance. “Was it against the rules? … Continue reading →

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Is there an Astros apology coming?

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A “strong statement” of apology could be forthcoming from the Astros players involved in electronic sign-stealing during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, owner Jim Crane said Tuesday. In response to interviews given by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman on … Continue reading →

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You can’t move on from something you haven’t faced up to

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

That’s not how it works. Neither Jose Altuve nor Alex Bregman, two principal players on a 2017 team that executed what Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred described as a “player-driven and player-executed” system to violate baseball’s rules and defraud … Continue reading →

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Update on the little girl hit by the foul ball

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Man, this breaks my heart. The 2½-year-old girl who suffered a skull fracture when hit in the head by a foul ball at an Astros game May 29 continues to be treated for a brain injury that has left her … Continue reading →

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Luhnnow and Hinch suspended by MLB, then fired by Astros

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Astros owner Jim Crane fired manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow on Monday shortly after Major League Baseball announced the pair would be suspended for a year as part of the penalties for the investigation into alleged … Continue reading →

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It’s not just the Astros

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, boy. The Dodgers have not won the World Series since 1988. They have only appeared in the World Series twice since then, in 2017 and 2018. Both teams that beat them — the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox … Continue reading →

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A “most thorough” investigation

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an Astros update for you. The ongoing electronic sign-stealing investigation against the Astros is “probably the most thorough” ever conducted by the commissioner’s office, Rob Manfred said Wednesday. Addressing reporters during the final full day of the winter meetings, … Continue reading →

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Don’t shrink the minor leagues

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Bad idea, MLB. Last month, we learned that Major League Baseball proposed a radical reorganization of the minor leagues, involving slashing the number of teams by 25 percent — mostly short-season and rookie ball clubs. The New York Times has reported which … Continue reading →

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MLB investigating more than 2017 for Astros’ alleged sign stealing

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds ominous. Major League Baseball’s investigation into the Astros’ alleged sign-stealing will include the 2018 and 2019 seasons, commissioner Rob Manfred revealed Thursday, adding two more years to an inquiry already involving Houston’s World Series-winning 2017 team. “We are … Continue reading →

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MLB has had its eye on the Astros

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The story develops. Early in the 2019 season, Major League Baseball instructed video monitors working in Minute Maid Park to listen for banging sounds emanating from the Astros’ dugout, a person with knowledge of the directive said Monday. The Astros … Continue reading →

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Astros accused of stealing signs

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The post-season is off to a roaring start. Former Houston pitcher Mike Fiers told The Athletic that the Astros stole signs electronically at Minute Maid Park during their World Series-winning 2017 season, adding another inglorious instance to the franchise’s recent … Continue reading →

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Firing Taubman wasn’t enough

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Just putting down a marker. Major League Baseball’s investigation into the Astros will stretch beyond the World Series as the league looks into “aspects that go beyond” Brandon Taubman’s clubhouse incident. Taubman was fired on Thursday, five days after he … Continue reading →

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Astros fire Taubman

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. The Astros fired assistant general manager Brandon Taubman on Thursday afternoon and issued an apology to a Sports Illustrated reporter whom they falsely accused of fabricating a story about his clubhouse tirade. The Astros “proactively assisted” Major League … Continue reading →

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For shame, Astros

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I hate to harsh anyone’s World Series buzz, but this was and still is appalling. Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman apologized to “anyone that was offended by my actions” after directing an expletive-filled tirade toward a group of female … Continue reading →

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Astros to extend netting

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to hear it. The Astros are joining the growing list of Major League baseball teams that are extending protective netting around ballparks amid growing concern over fan safety. The team’s decision to extend netting beyond each dugout at Minute … Continue reading →

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More on stadium netting

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on that little girl who was hit by a foul ball at Minute Maid park recently. A 25-month-old girl who suffered a fractured skull when struck by a foul ball at an Astros game last month continues … Continue reading →

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