[NY Times] Cardinals under FBI investigation for hacking Astros

Definitely suspicious.

I suspect that they would not have awarded the Astros a first round pick anyway. A second and third appeases other teams because you can say that everyone got to pick at least once before the penalty picks.

I agree with those saying a 2018 first should have been on the table as an option.

 

That's somewhat misleading. Although true, the MLB Constitution also provides the Commissioner with authority to take "what preventive, remedial or punitive action is appropriate" to remedy actions "not in the best interests of baseball". The "best interest of baseball" clause essentially provides the Commissioner with unbridled decision-making over any issue that he deems not to be in the best interests of baseball.

The MLB Constitution also provides that the Commissioner will serve as an arbitrator with the "sole and exclusive right to decide...disputes and controversies and whose decision shall be final and unappealable."

Astros counsel was hoping for a settlement with a floor of $6MM. So, I think what happened is this:

The Astros proved up their damages around 6MM, and Manfred offered them two options: 1) take the $2MM max fine and the two STL draft picks ($1.85MM combined slot values + upside of the draftees being worth more later) or 2) take the $2MM max fine, and as arbitrator, Manfred could order a separate cash settlement around $4MM, or whatever damages the Astros proved up.

I also suspect that first round picks were not on the table because of other teams. And, I wouldn't be surprised if HOU opted for the 75th pick this year (last pick of 2nd round supplement) over STL's 2018 2nd rounder.

 

Should have been forced to give us Carlos Martinez tbh.

 

Unless they are already left handed. Then they must throw left footed.

 

Should've been docked a 1st rounder.

 

This article says we get their 18th and 56th pick. Bad journalism?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/there-...rdinals-astros-hacking-scandal-000257828.html
There are no winners in the Cardinals-Astros hacking scandal

 

If the Astros were presented with that as an option (and I don't think they were), I wonder if Luhnow may have anyway preferred these 2 picks in 2017 to give them 5 of the first 91 picks..rather than a single pick next year when the total pool of picks are still unknown.

Meaning we get basically $2M of draft pool money this year into a larger bonus pool given our other picks...vs. $2-$2.3M next year (depending on how the Cards perform), but possibly into a smaller pool for the team, so less flexibility.

 

Cardinals boards right now are hilarious. They're underratedly one of the most delusional fanbases. I do not understand why some media members coined them the best fans in baseball. If y'all want an update on the hacking situation: it appears that the Cardinals did absolutely nothing wrong!

 

The picks and the $$$ are fair compensation for the Astros loss ... but ... the Cards were not punished for their egregious behavior. The Cards at minimum should have lost their comp pick for the next five years.

 

state prison or club fed? If state which one?

 

Reading the released court documents is fascinating. I would love to have access to Ground Control. Seems like a stat nerd's wet dream.

 

WOW, based on that the Astros Got considerably less than what they wanted.

 

two picks and 2 million?? for having unfettered access to front office email for years?! give me a freaking break.

 

I wonder if we're actually underplaying that penalty.

Any Astros fan who was around for the Purpura debacle knows how one bad draft class can set an organization back two or three years. And, this draft class is going to be bad for the Cardinals. Very, very bad.

 

It was not one bad draft. Astros went through a ten-year period that they only had 1 draft (Hunter Pence, Zobrist [duh]) yield a combined career WAR better than Jason Castro's career WAR (year Castro was drafted had a couple of players with negative WAR).

 

After the owners did away with an independent Commissioner when they ousted Fay Vincent and installed Selig, I'm not sure the "best interests" clause effectively exists anymore.

But it's a good point, I stand corrected.

I don't think the Astros were given a choice in compensation, or even consulted about that phase of the investigation.

The biggest reason for the award not being more substantial is that, whether you believe it or not, neither the FBI nor MLB could find evidence of anyone else in the org accessing Astros' data. Of course, it was used by the org as a whole, so I'm not sure why that really matters.

On a somewhat related note, it's ludicrous that a team like St Louis receives competitive balance draft picks. "Small market" my ass, they have a massive regional fanbase.

 

It started with the last few years of the infallible Gerry Hunsicker's tenure.

 

Exactly. He oversaw some pretty bad draft debacles towards the end of his tenure... along with the non-trades of guys like Ward and Lane (who peaked in the minors, and were blocked in the majors) that may have helped fortify the Berkman/Oswalt core for several more years.

As far as this punishment goes... I don't think there would have ever been a perfect solution. I do like giving Luhnow more slot money to work with. Doesn't matter that its not a first round pick... they're going to consolidate their slot bonuses anyways, and go after the unsignable guys (as they always have).

 

Some of them are understanding:

 

'99: 42 picks. 5 played in the majors (11%). Total of 1.0 WAR, or 0.2 per major leaguer (Chris Sampson led in career WAR with 2.2)
'00: 43 picks. 8 played in the majors (18%). Total of 27.4 WAR, or 3.4 per major leaguer. (Michael Bourn - unsigned - 23.4, Chad Qualls 6.4)
'01: 49 picks. 8 played in the majors (16%). Total of -0.2 WAR, or -0.0 per major leaguer. (Matt Albers 2.1)
'02: 48 picks. 5 played in the majors (10%). Total of 7.5 WAR, or 1.5 per major leaguer. (Scott Feldman - unsigned - 8.6, Pat Misch 0.5)
'03: 41 picks. 8 played in the majors (19%). Total of 12.2 WAR, or 1.5 per major leaguer. (Drew Stubbs - unsigned - 8.8, Mike Dunn - unsigned - 3.0, Josh Anderson 0.4)

That's really hard to do.