CHEATERS NEVER PROSPER

By:  Holly Horning

Ah, yes, the Houston Astros. Their brand continues to take a beating.

But today’s blog is not so much about the cheating scandal as it is about the human components that allowed this to happen. And it is a cautionary tale about the people you really want to hire to run your organization. And not being tempted to hire people with winning records who lack moral fortitude.

Afterall, when you have a GM, manager and also an Assistant GM (remember BrandonTaubman?), who are suspended and fired, it says a lot, doesn’t it? I mean, on what other team has this happened?

But before we dig in, let’s explore the facts….

The first directive from MLB about using electronics for the purpose of cheating was issued in 2000 with reminders coming in 2015, 2016, 2017 (several, in fact) and 2018 (in which teams were once again warned that video equipment was illegal).

The Astros received at least one direct warning based upon complaints other teams had filed. They were warned after being spotting illegally filming the opposing team’s dugout. Every team was told by MLB back in 2017 that they would be cracking down on cheaters with punishment being handed down directly to management.

Over the past 2 years, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wrote to each team’s GM and told them that they were personally responsible for ensuring that their organizations were aware of the rules and in agreement. The onus was placed on the GMs.

Except for Jeff Luhnow, who felt he was exempt.

And the Astros ignored all the warnings, especially in 2017. They continued to cheat.

In the meantime, Manager AJ Hinch knew what was going on. He saw it happening. He knew who the primary instigator was – Bench Coach Alex Cora. He even damaged the tv monitor several times to show his displeasure.

But he said nothing. To anyone. He did not issue a mandate for the cheating to stop. In his report, Manfred said, “As the person with responsibility for managing his players and coaches, there is simply no justification for Hinch’s failure to act.”

Maybe he would have if Jeff Luhnow had enforced MLB policy against electronic cheating and led by example.

Since when do you acquiesce to your bench coach? He’s supposed to be reporting to you. Instead, Hinch finds out that Cora had a team video technician install electronic equipment immediately outside of the dugout. And he does nothing to stop it.

Rob Manfred issued a statement that condemned the Astros baseball operations department, overseen by Luhnow.

It’s the same department that has been criticized by many for how poorly (“lacking humanity”) they deal with people. Domestic abuse issues, taunting reporters, verbally-attacking women and slandering professional positions in order to win. Let’s not forget a certain reporter who was banned from Justin Verlander’s press conference because they didn’t like him.

Manfred called their culture “very problematic” and described it as one that “valued results over other considerations.”

The Commissioner also stated that the GM and manager “are responsible for ensuring that the players both understand the rules and adhere to them.” Of Luhnow, he said he “failed to take any adequate steps to ensure that his club was in compliance with the rules.”

Which is why both of them were punished.

And in his statement to the public, we see that Jeff Luhnow still doesn’t get it. It was the “non-apology” apology we often see – one in which the person doesn’t apologize for their actions but is sorry for how people feel. It was a statement that threw everyone else on the team under the bus while propping up his candidacy for future employment.  Sorry, but not really sorry.

And if you think this man would be a good candidate for your baseball team, be careful for what you wish.

This is a man who hasn’t come to terms with cheating and so far, refuses to do so. He is a man who lacks integrity.

Is this the guy you want directing your team?

But Luhnow also lacks leadership – the essential quality you want in anyone running your program. He’s the top guy in your organization and everyone takes their lead from him.

Which is why AJ Hinch did nothing. He is also not a leader. But he was a facilitator.

It’s also why Brandon Taubman was able to do what he did and got defended by the Astros until they were forced to address it after overwhelming public outrage and the first MLB investigation into the Astros.

Leaders would have stopped this whole debacle in the beginning instead of only setting their sights on that ring. A ring that now is tainted.

Manfred went on to state in his report that the Astros actions were “a failure by the leaders of the baseball operations department and the field manager to adequately manage the employees under their supervision, to establish a culture In which adherence to the rules is ingrained in the fabric of the organization and to stop bad behavior as soon as it occurred.”

It’s not only a team that cheats. It’s a team that lacks leadership. It’s about a lack of character.

It’s about a lack of integrity.

It’s a team that has a toxic corporate culture and allowed it to spread. Not just within their own organization but also within the Red Sox, given that Alex Cora went there to manage and oversee a similar cheating scandal.

It’s a team that lacks a culture of accountability.

Seriously, are these the people you want running your team? Even the Tigers? Would you be that desperate? Are you willing to risk integrity for winning?

When you don’t have integrity, leadership or human compassion (to name a few admirable qualities) to form and guide your moral compass, you are just as likely to do the same thing again.

Luhnow and Hinch have weak characters. And now they have a tainted award to show for it. They are probably unemployable within baseball going forward and have deep-sixed any chance for the Hall of Fame.

Historically, baseball shows that those within management who were also found guilty of egregious behavior, do not go back into positions of power once their suspensions are over. Many have been guilty of much less and find themselves jobless even after years away.

Just look at the careers of Steve Phillips (an inappropriate personal relationship 11 years ago) and Jim Bowden. The latter has been trying for 12 years to find a home with a team after fleeing the Washington Nationals due to an FBI investigation.

And many Nats fans feared that their team would suffer as a result of not having him. But his Assistant GM, Mike Rizzo, took over – and took this team to the playoffs many times, culminating in a World Series championship. To date, there are no rumors about the Nationals cheating.

In the case of Luhnow, his reputation in baseball is as a guy who is admired for his intellect but found to be unlikeable as a person. Of course, this will further complicate any new job opportunities for him.

And just think how the fans would react if they were told the guy who destroyed the Astros was their new GM. If fans show outrage over a certain controversial player being signed, imagine the depth of their vocal concern over someone like Luhnow being hired to run the entire organization.

Additionally, any team owner will be thinking twice about hiring him. They won’t want to hire someone they need to monitor for fear of putting their team at risk.

Houston’s owner Jim Crane, in one fell swoop, lost $5 million, the maximum penalty allowed by MLB. He has also lost his 2 top Front Office people and top manager. Add to this, lost salaries of over $20 million. And those 4 top draft picks.

Then there are the losses that cannot have a monetary value put on them. The faith of the fanbase. The integrity of the team. The reputation as one of baseball’s top teams. Media and advertising contracts. Merchandise marketing.

And a monetary value put on the Astros.

The list goes on.

And that trophy and rings are now really tarnished.

No other owner will risk this.

Let’s also not forget the other GM in the crosshairs – Dave Dombrowski. He was the GM in charge when Alex Cora was managing the team. He’ll be put under the same microscope by Rob Manfred. Afterall, MLB told him he was in charge of ensuring their team was complying with observing the regulations put on electronic cheating.

And as this blog goes to press, both Cora and the Red Sox have agreed to part ways before MLB hands him his sentence.  The writing is on the wall.

Yesterday was a dark day in baseball but it was also a good one. Justice was served.

Baseball has been saved, for the moment, just as MLB launches into a joint betting venture with MGM. All the more important.

Don’t undo the good that has just been done by hiring Jeff Luhnow as your GM when he comes off his suspension.

The people who should be recognized, and rewarded, are those like Mike Fiers. The only brave soul who, after seeing that his reports about cheating were ignored by both the Tigers and the A’s, gave the story to a national paper with the hope that something would finally be done.

“That’s not playing the game the right way,” said Fiers … “They were advanced and willing to go above and beyond to win.” A quote that mirrors what Rob Manfred said above.

It was also done to save the careers of multiple young pitchers. Fiers saw many of them being pummeled by Astro hitters and demoted or passed over as a result. Humans being sacrificed for a chance at that almighty ring.

Does Fiers have integrity? Character? Leadership?

You betcha.

And he’s the guy you want to hire for your Front Office or dugout when it’s time for him to retire.

Not Jeff Luhnow.

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