Former Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers has accused the team of using cameras and televisions to steal signs.Â
In an interview with The Athletic, the current A's pitcher said that signs are relayed electronically and that it's had a negative effect on young pitchers playing at Minute Maid Park.
"I just want the game to be cleaned up a little bit because there are guys who are losing their jobs because they're going in there not knowing," Fiers said. "Young guys getting hit around in the first couple of innings starting a game, and then they get sent down. It's [B.S.] on that end. It's ruining jobs for younger guys. The guys who know are more prepared. But most people don't. That's why I told my team. We had a lot of young guys with Detroit [in 2018] trying to make a name and establish themselves. I wanted to help them out and say, 'Hey, this stuff really does go on. Just be prepared.'"
The Astros have responded with a long-winded way of saying "no comment."
"Regarding the story posted by The Athletic earlier today, the Houston Astros organization has begun an investigation in cooperation with Major League Baseball," the organization shared in a statement. "It would not be appropriate to comment further on this matter at this time."
Unnamed members of the Washington Nationals organization who spoke to ESPN said they were on the lookout for recording equipment during their time in the park on the way to a title. While Fiers admitted that sign-stealing is a part of the game, he added that they went beyond the pale by bringing technology into their strategy.Â
"That's not playing the game the right way," Fiers said. "They were advanced and willing to go above and beyond to win."
One host of the Talkin' Baseball podcast broke down a sequence on Twitter where he believed the Astros were relaying signs to the batter by banging on the dugout.Â
Other commentators were quick to dismiss the story as yet another Astros conspiracy theory.
