{"id":2060172,"date":"2023-10-09T03:37:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T07:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-documentary-probes-the-cheating-scandal-that-rocked-baseball-fans-everywhere\/"},"modified":"2023-10-09T03:41:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T07:41:00","slug":"new-documentary-probes-the-cheating-scandal-that-rocked-baseball-fans-everywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-documentary-probes-the-cheating-scandal-that-rocked-baseball-fans-everywhere\/","title":{"rendered":"New film investigates baseball&#8217;s cheating scandal"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-documentary-probes-the-cheating-scandal-that-rocked-baseball-fans-everywhere%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2060172&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"article-content\">\n<blockquote>\n<p>A good documentary will take events\u200c that most viewers know\u2063 and chronicle\u2063 them in a new light. A new Frontline film does just that, peeling back the layers of a basic story most Americans have \u200dheard \u2014 the Houston Astros stole signs during their 2017 World\u200c Series-winning \u200bseason \u2014 in a way that allows \u2063viewers to understand the culture that led to the cheating.<\/p>\n<p>Some might reasonably\u200c wonder \u200bhow a team managed to engage \u200cin systemic cheating without\u200d anyone finding out. But as &#8220;The Astros Edge&#8221; \u200dexplains, the more appropriate question might ask how \u200cand why they finally got\u2062 caught.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-703158070\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-cf450df31eefc42f9d7659af9c0a8d88 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-cf450df31eefc42f9d7659af9c0a8d88\"><\/div>\n<h2>Technological Edge<\/h2>\n<p>The film, reported by the same writer (Ben\u2062 Reiter) who correctly predicted in a \u200dnow-prescient-but-then-controversial May 2014 \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/352547477055221809\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sports Illustrated cover story<\/a> that the Astros would win \u200dthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/mlb\/2017\/10\/24\/houston-astros-sports-illustrated-world-series-prediction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2017 World Series<\/a>, \u200cspends roughly the\u200c first half of its 90 minutes focusing on the events that preceded the\u200d scandalous season. It tells the story of how a franchise that \u2063had become a baseball laughingstock did an about-face\u2062 that allowed it \u200bto become a champion \u2014 albeit one that tarnished its own reputation in \u200cthe process.<\/p>\n<p>Upon taking \u200bcontrol of the Astros in 2011, owner Jim Crane handed General Manager Jeff Luhnow the\u2063 keys to the franchise. Luhnow proceeded first to &#8220;tank.&#8221; He got rid of old and\/or expensive players and made no pretense of fielding a competitive team \u2014 at least in the short term. Instead, Luhnow focused on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-documentary-probes-the-cheating-scandal-that-rocked-baseball-fans-everywhere\/\" title=\"New film investigates baseball's cheating scandal\">stockpiling draft picks<\/a> to build the team of the future.<\/p>\n<p>To build and manage his\u2062 new team,\u200c Luhnow turned to technology, taking the Oakland A\u2019s &#8220;Moneyball&#8221; strategy of the 2000s to the next level. A heavy focus on analytics, from hiring data\u2064 geeks \u200cas front-office employees to\u200c using cameras to analyze players\u2019 batting \u200cand pitching techniques, attempted to replace the traditional role of evaluating talent \u2014 the proverbial &#8220;eye \u2062test&#8221; \u2014 \u200butilized by scouts and managers. \u2063The results from things like shifting fielders resulted in more efficient baseball but also eliminated some of the joy from the game.<\/p>\n<h2>Culture of Silence<\/h2>\n<p>Of \u2063course, technology also took the joy out of the\u2062 game once the Astros\u2019 cheating \u200bwas finally exposed, angering baseball\u2062 fans around the\u2062 country. \u200bThe documentary highlights how the Astros tried \u2062to push boundaries to obtain\u2062 a competitive advantage, for instance\u2064 by signing\u200b pitcher Roberto Osuna even as he\u2063 served a suspension for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/richard-sherman-arrested-on-burglary-domestic-violence-charge-denied-bail\/\" title=\"Richard Sherman Arrested On Burglary Domestic Violence Charge, Denied Bail\">alleged domestic violence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-b286346fa71b0ccef0987257e099c76a fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-b286346fa71b0ccef0987257e099c76a\"><\/div>\n<p>That same mentality led to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-astros-catcher-admits-participating-in-cheating-scandal\/\" title=\"Former Astros Catcher Admits Participating In Cheating Scandal\">sign-stealing system<\/a>. &#8220;The Astros \u200dEdge&#8221; features the first public interview with Antonio Padilla, who at the time \u200bserved as a video\u200b manager for the Astros. Two months into the season, he installed the video monitor by the team dugout\u200b that players eventually used to discover the opposing pitcher\u2019s signs and transmit that information\u2062 (via drum bangs and \u200cother loud noises) to their teammates in\u200b the batter\u2019s box.<\/p>\n<p>Padilla <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/frontline\/documentary\/the-astros-edge\/transcript\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> \u200bthat once he figured out what\u2064 the players were using the monitor for, &#8220;it was definitely\u2063 something that\u2019s kind of on your conscience \u2026 so \u200dyou start \u200bto feel more guilty about that.&#8221; But the film also explained that Padilla and his co-workers had reasons\u200b to keep silent \u2014\u200b lots of them, in fact.<\/p>\n<p>In a little-known part of baseball, team employees\u200b can qualify\u200c for\u200d a &#8220;share&#8221; \u2014 a portion of the team\u2019s earnings from its \u200bpostseason appearances. In 2017, when Houston won its first World Series, Padilla received a full &#8220;share&#8221; of the Astros\u2019 earnings. The \u2063sum came to a staggering $450,000 \u2014 this \u2062for an employee earning\u2062 $45,000 per year.<\/p>\n<p>As the documentary \u200cnoted, the\u2063 sums involved amounted to Astros employees\u200b winning the lottery, which makes \u2064it less surprising that it took two years for the cheating scandal to become public. \u200dIf someone gave you 10 times\u200b your salary in part because you \u2063keep their wrongdoing a secret, would you? I sure hope\u2064 I would do the right thing, but I certainly\u200c understand the temptation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-86f5e9bc6fe4320a9422730c7a6c3efc fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-86f5e9bc6fe4320a9422730c7a6c3efc\"><\/div>\n<h2>Quantitative Arms Race<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;The Astros Edge&#8221;\u2064 highlights \u200da modern morality play, in which\u2062 technology places the old Olympic motto of &#8220;Faster \u2014 Higher \u2014 Stronger&#8221;\u200b to the test. Teams increasingly attempt to use computing power \u200cas much as muscle power to build the ultimate &#8220;superteam.&#8221; \u200dBut the threat of crossing\u2063 the\u2064 line \u2014 \u200dfrom searching\u200d for an edge to stepping over the edge, and losing one\u2019s integrity in the process \u200d\u2014 looms as\u200b large as ever.<\/p>\n<p>It seems somehow fitting that the Astros\u2062 scandal first emerged in 2019, a century after the Chicago &#8220;Black Sox&#8221; threw the World Series\u200b as part \u2062of a gambling conspiracy. The mechanics that undermine\u200c the integrity of sport \u2014 and the integrity of us\u200c as \u200bhumans \u200b\u2014 may have changed, but the temptation never does.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<em>The Astros Edge&#8221;<\/em> <em>will re-air on PBS stations (check your local \u2064listings) or is available via the PBS app.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-f04e295222ec0b516836e470e0e213a2 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-f04e295222ec0b516836e470e0e213a2\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What broader\u200c questions about \u2062the \u200dculture \u2063of professional sports does &#8220;The Astros Edge&#8221; raise, and how does it \u2062encourage viewers to reflect on preventing future scandals<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The tight-knit and highly competitive\u2062 world of baseball, the culture of \u2063silence can be strong. Players and staff members are often hesitant to speak out\u2063 against their own team, fearing the \u200cconsequences and backlash that may follow. This \u2063was certainly evident within the Astros organization during their sign-stealing scandal.<\/p>\n<p>The documentary sheds light on how the Astros&#8217; cheating scheme was initially discovered\u200b and exposed.\u200b It was not a single whistleblower or an anonymous tip that \u2064brought\u2064 the\u2063 truth to light, \u2062but rather a combination of factors and brave individuals who were finally willing to speak \u200dup. Journalists, former employees, and even players from other\u200d teams played a crucial role \u200cin unraveling the Astros&#8217; web of deception.<\/p>\n<p>One particularly striking \u200caspect of the documentary is the portrayal of the psychological toll that the cheating took on some\u2064 individuals within the organization. Antonio Padilla, the former video manager for the Astros, admits to feeling guilty about his \u2064involvement in setting up the sign-stealing system. He expresses remorse for \u200chis actions and the ethical\u200b implications they \u200ccarried. This glimpse into \u2062the emotional turmoil experienced by those involved adds a human \u2064element to the\u200b story, reminding \u2063viewers that the\u200c consequences of\u200b cheating \u200breach far beyond the game itself.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Astros Edge&#8221; not only exposes the corrupt practices \u200cwithin the Astros \u200dorganization but also \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nascar-criticized-over-apparent-discrimination-in-diversity-internship\/\" title=\"NASCAR faces backlash for alleged diversity internship discrimination.\">raises important\u2063 questions<\/a> about the\u2064 broader culture of\u200b professional sports. The relentless pursuit of victory, the pressures \u200dto excel, and \u2064the temptation to gain any \u200dadvantage possible\u2063 are all factors that\u2062 contribute to an environment where cheating can\u200d thrive. The documentary encourages viewers to\u2064 reflect on \u2062the systemic issues\u200b within the \u200dsports\u2063 industry and consider the measures that can be\u2062 taken to prevent such \u2064scandals in the\u200c future.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, &#8220;The Astros Edge&#8221;\u200c serves as a powerful \u200dreminder \u200cof the importance of integrity\u2063 in\u2064 sports.\u2062 It \u2063emphasizes the \u2064need for \u200dtransparency,\u200d ethics, \u200band fair play. While the scandal may have tarnished the Astros&#8217; \u200dreputation, it also\u2063 serves as an opportunity for reflection and growth. The documentary invites viewers to engage in a\u2062 broader conversation about the values \u2063we should prioritize \u2062in sports and \u2062how \u2062we \u2064can ensure that the pursuit of victory\u2063 does \u200bnot come at the expense of honesty and integrity.<\/p>\n<p>As the baseball world \u2064continues to\u2063 grapple with \u2062the fallout from \u2064the Astros&#8217; cheating scandal,\u200b documentaries\u2064 like &#8220;The Astros Edge&#8221; play a crucial role \u200cin shedding light on \u200bthe\u200d underlying issues\u200b and sparking meaningful discussions. By delving into the culture that \u2062enabled and \u200bconcealed the cheating, \u2063this \u2062film challenges viewers to reevaluate their perspectives on sports and \u200bconsider the changes necessary to uphold the \u2062integrity of the \u200bgame.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A fresh Frontline documentary sheds new light on a familiar story. It delves into the Houston Astros&#8217; sign-stealing scandal during their victorious 2017 World Series season. By peeling back the layers, viewers gain a unique perspective on this well-known event, offering a captivating viewing experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":521,"featured_media":2060173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2060172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/521"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2060172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2060172\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2060173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2060172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2060172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2060172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}