The MLB says that the Astros were watching and not spying on the canoes during the playoffs

The Houston Astros did not cheat. They did not want to be deceived.

That's their story and the Major League Baseball is in agreement.

After an investigation into two incidents in the playoffs, the MLB stated that the World Series defending champions were conducting surveillance – not espionage – when an accredited Astros employee directed his mobile phone to visitors to the playoffs in Cleveland and Boston.

The Indians filed a complaint following the third game of the AL Division series after the employee was seen aiming his phone in their shelter and taking pictures or video. A few days later, the same man was expelled from an area of ​​Fenway Park during the first match of the ALCS.

According to a person familiar with the situation, the Red Sox had been warned before the series about the Astros employee, who was standing near the Cleveland dugout for several rounds on Oct. 8, prior to the event. be returned by security. This person spoke to the Associated Press under the guise of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

On Wednesday, the MLB issued a two-paragraph statement stating that its investigations department had conducted a thorough and determined investigation "that an Astros employee was monitoring the pitch to make sure that the opposing club did not "Broke no rules". The MLB has asked all clubs still in series "to refrain from this type of effort".

The MLB went on to state that it considered "the case closed".

But while the Astros feel absolved of any wrongdoing, the incidents that occurred during the most important month of baseball raised questions about the theft of signs and ethics in the era of high-speed and high-definition cameras.

Speaking in the Boston canoe before the fourth game in Houston, Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said there were more layers to undo.

"I do not think the person in front of the camera was stealing placards, so I understand that this has been solved," Dombrowski said. "First of all, there was a violation, a person was in the box of letters of credence that should not have been there, it was not supposed to be there. Not like the involvement of the Boston Red Sox all that is illegal, and I do not think the problem is actually closed for Major League Baseball, according to what the Commissioner's Office had me informed, so there are many more related steps. "

Before the playoffs, the MLB said "that a number of clubs" have called on Commissioner Rob Manfred to voice concerns about the use of video equipment to steal placards. To address these concerns, the Commissioner has introduced a new ban on the use of certain cameras in stadiums, enhancing MLB security during games and monitoring video rooms.

After the Astros employee was removed from play at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the team attempted to place a second person next to the canoe, two people were told about the problem. The Astros employee had received an assistance card that day.

Following MLB's decision, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said the team had been proactive in controlling other baseball fields for "suspicious activity" and that the team had discovered several times ". Luhnow said the club would abide by the MLB guidelines and any prior surveillance was done as a protection.

"We were playing in defense, we were not playing in offense," said Luhnow before the fourth match.

Dombrowski, whose team was fined last year for using an Apple Watch to try to steal signs from his rival, the New York Yankees, is not convinced that Houston was not using this employee to gain a benefit.

"I do not think that person stole signs in himself," he said. "I will also tell you that in the other series against Cleveland, this person was told that he should not be there, and yet he went back in. So for me, when they say that they are not there. they do it to protect themselves, well do not listen to the authorities from above either. "

Flying Signs is part of baseball since the invention of the game. Teams are always trying to gain an advantage by trying to detect patterns, be it a receiver who shows signs to a pitcher on the mound or a third goal coach who transmits signs to the batter.

However, new technologies may have provided unfair advantage to teams because the use of high-definition high-speed cameras allows teams to compare themselves when they could not before.

"The advancement of technology has unintended consequences," said Astros Director, A.J. Hinch said. "It's a league-wide conversation that needs to take place on time.This is happening right now in a very important series and I just think it's bigger than us." It's bigger than any team.It's bigger than any series.It needs to be corralled because of the state of concern at that. topic.

"Today, the competitive advantages are so narrow.You are trying to find everything you can.It's about tilting pitch, pitch sequencing, modifying your panels, from the position of your advocates, it's about a larger subject that will require a lot more time than an overnight story and the worry and curiosity of the people ".

In the first rounds of Match 3, the Indians learned that the man standing next to their canoe in Progressive Field was aiming his mobile phone in their dugout canoe. He stood out by the fact that he was wearing a suit jacket in an area reserved for photographers, member of the team's social media department, and where television reporters are allowed to introduce themselves, said one of the sources.

The Indians were concerned that he was trying to see their scouting reports on Houston players.

There have been suspicions about the Astros.

Indian pitcher Trevor Bauer consulted Twitter earlier this season and hinted that Houston pitchers may be using pine tar to improve spin rate on throws. Bauer was not accurate, but Astros pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Collin McHugh defended themselves on social networks.

Yahoo reported that Oakland players thought that Astros players relayed stolen signs during games and the team asked for an investigation.

After the third game, the Indian starter Mike Clevinger alluded to the advantage of the Astros. Clevinger allowed one run and three hits in five innings, but was defeated by defeating the Indian 11-3.

"Many things, many things," Clevinger said when asked what had happened. "I'm going to stay very short, we were a little, I do not know, we were sort of against the wall before it started, on the analytical side, but everyone was giving their all, they just had very good arms to support him. "