Baseball cheating question

[Beebs52]

Not trying to stir any old shit up...but why aren't the yankees or red sox booed continuously during play, like Altuve?
Was the trash can thing so horrendous that it enabled Cora et al to be reemployed?

[Vandal]

I asked ChapGPT to clarify:

1. The Astros scandal was unique
MLB confirmed the Astros used a systematic, team-wide scheme with cameras and trash can banging to steal signs in 2017–2018.
It was described as giving them an unfair advantage in real time — altering the outcome of games.
The scandal broke all at once in 2019–20, with specific evidence (video, testimony). Fans had a clear villain.

2. Yankees and Red Sox infractions were smaller and vaguer
2017 Red Sox got caught using an Apple Watch to relay stolen signs — MLB fined them, but called it “a limited incident” and not an organized, ongoing scheme.
Yankees were fined earlier (2015–16) for improper dugout phone use. In 2019, a sealed letter from MLB was unsealed, but it showed nothing close to Houston’s scale — mostly miscommunication about replay room rules.
Fans often saw these as “slap-on-the-wrist violations” rather than scandal-level cheating.

3. Narrative & blame were different
The Astros’ players kept their 2017 World Series rings, and no one was punished individually because of immunity agreements — so fans felt justice wasn’t served. Booing became the only outlet.
The Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora (who was tied to Houston’s scandal too) and the Yankees didn’t have a central figure to target. That diffused fan anger.

4. Public perception & media
The Astros scandal dominated headlines, late-night TV jokes, and fan signs. It became a storyline.
The Yankees/Red Sox stuff was reported, but not in a way that captured national outrage. Many casual fans never saw it as “real cheating.”

So, in short:
Astros/Altuve = deliberate, team-wide, proven cheating that changed history.
Yankees/Red Sox = technical rule-bending, punished quietly, didn’t stick in the public’s mind.
That’s why the boos never became nonstop.

[Beebs52]

In other words, method. Again, bullshit. But, that's just me...

[Beebs52]

FWIW, we're sucking right now.

[BackInTex]

FWIW, we're sucking right now.

And FWIW, Altuve did not participated in the sign stealing.

[littlebeast13]

FWIW, we're sucking right now.

And FWIW, Altuve did not participated in the sign stealing.

LOL, I am reminded of a quote from 1992 about "not inhaling" that probably can't be said on this part of the Bored anymore....

And, FWIW, I love the fact that the Stros found a way to exploit the worst element of MLB's replay system... that the dugout has access to an instant replay room. Kinda sticking it to The Man(fred) there, and I say good job!

lb13

[Ritterskoop]

I have no opinion on the booing, though I did once boo Bryce Harper when he flipped his bat in an unprofessional way. It wasn't so much the actual flip as it was the whole body language. He's earned it, I get that. But ugh.

As for the signs, I have always thought that if you believe the other team has figured out your signs, change them. Change them mid at-bat if necessary. Change them frequently during a game.

[Beebs52]

I have no opinion on the booing, though I did once boo Bryce Harper when he flipped his bat in an unprofessional way. It wasn't so much the actual flip as it was the whole body language. He's earned it, I get that. But ugh.

As for the signs, I have always thought that if you believe the other team has figured out your signs, change them. Change them mid at-bat if necessary. Change them frequently during a game.

Yes. Thank you