I want to apologize to the game of baseball.
I'm not going to discuss the details of this scandal. I won't say whether some of us cheated, and some of us didn't. Every coach, player and team official who knew what was happening is responsible. It's that simple. The Houston Astros have undermined the game of baseball, and in our careers, and in our lives, this will never be forgotten. We may never regain the respect that we have squandered. That's on us. That's on me.
I want to apologize to all opposing players.
Specifically, I want to address all the pitchers who suffered at our hands without even knowing why. You didn't deserve to be humbled or humiliated, at times on national TV. You didn't deserve the hook, or the boos, or in some cases, to be sent back to the minors because our batters knew what pitch was coming. In the fog of our ambition, we stole from you and your families. If I could turn back the clock, I would.
I want to apologize to the fans.
Especially, I want to address all those around Houston who believed in us, who rallied behind us, and who now must try to explain to their sons and daughters how we failed you. We wanted so desperately to bring you a championship, a celebration, a time of joy and accomplishment. We wanted it so badly that we became blinded to what is right and wrong. If I could turn back the clock, I would.
Today, I see a country that is losing faith in its own democracy. We are heading toward a presidential election whose outcome neither side may accept. This is because of people who put wealth over honor, and put power over truth. It has been said that baseball is a metaphor for life. Well, what we did was taint the results of entire seasons - and the World Series, itself. It will take many years for restore trust in such institutions. If I could turn back the clock, I would.
But, as we all know, we can't go back. All I can say... to the game, to the players, to the fans and to America... is this:
Please do not give up. As painful as these revelations have been, the truth is always preferable than a history propped up by lies. We always need to know what is happening. Never imagine that a covered-up a scandal is better than an exposed one. Never blame those brave souls who come forward to tell the truth. Some players blame Mike Fiers for speaking out. He is a hero, like all whistleblowers.
Thus, today, I am donating my entire 2017 World Series share to the IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS caught Yankee fan blog, the lone voice of truth and dignity in the baseball universe. I urge all my current and former teammates to do the same. Only through righteous voices, such as this beacon of truth, can the national pastime be restored to its sacred, honorable status.
I thank you for your attention. I will now go out to the parking lot and sign autographs until every single fan is gone. It's what I will do tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. It's my new normal. I can't wait.
[sniff sniff] So beautiful and true ...
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, we will never, ever hear such a thing from any Astro or Red Sock player, coach, or front office boob. Ever.
ReplyDeleteDid you channel Carlos Beltran?
ReplyDeleteA million times better than the real "apologies":
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/CanfieldEli/status/1227984392871608321
Who told Bregman to do that with this hands?
They are remorseful that they got caught...God I can't hate that franchise any less now...maybe I accept their "apologies" but I WILL NEVER FORGET...
ReplyDeleteWell spoken, Comrade.
ReplyDelete- Vladimir
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!! F**k the ASStrolls! (and the Red Sux)!
ReplyDeleteNOW WHAT ABOUT THE TROPHY, AND THE RING?
ReplyDeleteBOTH MUST BE FORFEITED.
2017 AND 2018 WORLD SERIES WINNERS MUST GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS "VACANT".
TROPHIES RETURNED AND EVERY SINGLE W.S. RING MUST BE RETURNED.
THAT'S MY SOLUTION, AND I LIKE IT.
Amen, brother.
ReplyDeleteHere’s the thing that pisses me off the most: they're now starting to say how sorry there are. As if sorry is enough.
ReplyDeleteNot one of them has said what they did was WRONG. I don’t want to hear how sorry they are. I want them to admit they stole a championship, stole the winners share of the prize money, stole rings, AND GIVE IT ALL BACK.
Return the rings, surrender the trophy, donate the winnings.
Until then, it’s all posing. No apologies necessary. Just give it all back. Then we’ll talk about forgiveness. Until then: a steady stream of chin music.
ReplyDeleteVery good point included in the main post, that I didn't previously think of:
CHEATING = STEALING.
And not in a good sense, like stealing 2nd base.
Maybe, in the US of A in 2020, that can't be repeated enough times.
And from that line of thinking:
a. Mr. X stole $$$ from Mr. B and his family.
b. It makes sense that Mr. X would NOT be sorry, don't it?
c. After all, was it "wrong" for Mr. X to enrich himself and his family, at anyone else's expense?
Enriching yourself at someone else's expense is THE MAIN THEME of this country these days. This is not a socialist statement. When the execs at companies make more money in a month than 20-30-40 of their employees do in a year . . . and so forth.
[and what we all think about Hal S. puts him right in the center of this trend]
It all follows. It actually is all part of what goes on in the country every damn day. In every major, minor, and tertiary part of just about every person's life.
[BORING SIDE NOTE] Every once in a while, I waste time "looking into" things. I watch one of cable TV military-history channels -- a lot. There are commercials for the Wounded Warrior Project. I downloaded the WWP's financials (for 2017, I think) and ran the numbers. To summarize: Very few of the donated dollars are NOT used for advertising, marketing, consultants, etc. I was stunned when I did this work -- not believing they would be so blatantly obvious as to put the numbers in plain view. I rechecked my math, re-read the financials -- twice more. It didn't come out differently. Them's the facts, as I see them.
...so even this group, which plays on your empathy with famous people pleading for you to contribute, is all about something OTHER THAN what it says it is about.
Sorry for the side trip.
It is goddamn depressing -- to me, anyway -- that the obsession with $$$ in my country has spread to totally corrupt my absolute all-time favorite diversion.
Now I'm angrier...
ReplyDeletehttps://wfan.radio.com/articles/news/owner-jim-crane-astros-cheating-didnt-impact-the-game
Fuck you Crane!
One of the MANY hallmarks of Gilded Age 2.0 is the non-apology apology. Meaningless. There is no more honor or integrity, just greed - rapacious, unlimited greed as far as King Kong can piss.
ReplyDeleteJoe FoB, charities have to report their expenditures as a requirement for non-profit status. Never ever donate to any charity until you confirm that the charity puts most of its money into the actual mission. So many are just grifts to enrich the people at the top. I use https://www.charitynavigator.org/ before I give to anything. There are other rating sites, but I like that one.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Carlin, https://youtu.be/y2SVr9AXRzU
ReplyDeleteGreat speech, said everything that should've been said. Now good luck waiting for them to say anything like it. 2017 and 2018 are completely tainted, as far as I'm concerned. Those world series championships have asterisks on asterisks, multiplied and squared.
ReplyDeleteThe Hammer of God
Speak it THoG.
ReplyDeleteSomeone in another thread wanted to know when the Yanks would be on radio...
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/YankeesWFAN/status/1227644389931077632