MLB - NEWS & NOTES

The Astros on Friday announced they have terminated the employment of assistant general manager Brandon Taubman, who came under fire earlier this weeks for in appropriate comments made in the clubhouse after the team's victory in the American League Championship Series.

The Astros also issued an apology to Sports Illustrated reporter Stephanie Apstein, who first reported Taubman's comments.

"Our initial investigation led us to believe that Brandon Taubman’s inappropriate comments were not directed toward any reporter," the Astros said in a statement. "We were wrong. We sincerely apologize to Stephanie Apstein, Sports Illustrated and to all individuals who witnessed this incident or were offended by the inappropriate conduct. The Astros in no way intended to minimize the issues related to domestic violence.

"Our initial belief was based on witness statements about the incident. Subsequent interviews have revealed that Taubman’s inappropriate comments were, in fact, directed toward one or more reporters. Accordingly we have terminated Brandon Taubman’s employment with the Houston Astros. His conduct does not reflect the values of our organization and we believe this is the most appropriate course of action."

After the Game 6 victory over the Yankees, Taubman yelled “Thank God we got (Roberto) Osuna! I’m so (expletive) glad we got Osuna!” about a half dozen times toward a group of female reporters in Houston’s celebratory, champagne-filled clubhouse following Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

Though three female reporters were present, Taubman’s anger was directed at one reporter in particular, the Chronicle has learned. In casual conversations at the end of the 2018 season, Taubman complained about the reporter to multiple people.

 

^ good move pal. you just lost your job because you're an asshole.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...e-one-more-shot-at-managing-just-not-in-2020/

Bochy wants to manage again but not in 2020. Wow. I thought he was done and retired? He has nothing left to prove.

 

This Umpire better NOT get another game in the World Series.........F-ing Idiot.

 

He apologized today.

 

Last night it was reported that that Rays VP of baseball operations Chaim Bloom was the frontrunner to become the Boston Red Sox’ next head of baseball operations. This afternoon Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Red Sox have finalized a contract with Bloom. The future of the Red Sox is in his hands.

Bloom, 36, worked with both MLB and the Padres before joining the Rays, where he has been for 13 seasons, three of which came in the VP of baseball ops role. Despite his age he is a widely respected executive who, just last year, was a finalist to take over the Mets front office. It was only a matter of time before he got a chance to run a team of his own.

He faces some challenges in his new role. Specifically, the challenge of keeping the Red Sox payroll below the Competitive Balance Tax level, which the Red Sox’ ownership recently said was a goal for 2020. Doing that while keeping Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and and handful of young stars in the fold, all while addressing a pitching staff that was the biggest reason the Sox fell short of the postseason in 2019, is gonna be no easy trick.

I’m guessing the Red Sox asked Bloom about how he might do that in interviews. Based on his hiring, I’d say he has an idea.

(NBC)

 

^ Best move they’ve made since promoting Epstein.

 

still shocked they fired their last GM who led them to the WS. Odd?

 

Pirates fire GM Neal Huntington...


Yankees fire Larry Rothschild
Larry Rothschild has been the Yankees pitching coach since 2011.

 

i think Larry is following Giraldi to Philly...

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...on-felony-charge-for-causing-injury-to-child/

this is really bad for Hamilton.

 

nope they hired someone else. haha.

 

Two teams with openings at the pitching coach position closed them today: the Arizona Diamondbacks hired Matt Herges and the Philadelphia Phillies hired Bryan Price.

Herges, 49, replaces Mike Butcher, who was fired at the end of September after serving four years on the job. Herges, you will recalls, pitched for 11 seasons in the majors and most recently served as the Giants’ bullpen coach.

Price, 57, replaces Chris Young, who was fired when Gabe Kapler was dismissed. Price has a substantial track record as a big league pitching coach, running the staffs of the Reds from 2010-13, the Diamondbacks from 2006-09, and the Mariners from 2000-05. He also was the Reds manager between 2014 and 2018, going 279-387 in parts of five seasons.

As is usually the case with pitching coaches, odds are that the next time you hear about them in this space is when they are fired. If you hear about them before that it’s either because they did something really, really bad or because they appeared on a reality show or something. It’s not the most glamorous gig.

 

HELLO CALIFORNIA!

 

Big news, though unsurprising news at that: MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports that starter Stephen Strasburg has opted out of the remainder of his contract with the Nationals to become a free agent. Strasburg had four years and $100 million remaining of what was in total a seven-year, $175 million extension.

Strasburg, 31, led the National League with 18 wins and 209 innings pitched along with a 3.32 ERA and a 251/56 K/BB ratio during the regular season. He was even better in the postseason, going 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA and a 47/4 K/BB ratio in 36 1/3 innings, helping the Nationals win a championship and earning World Series MVP honors in the process.

It’s fairly certain Strasburg will be able to find many more years and many more dollars in free agency, so opting out was a no-brainer. Now the rest of the league will be able to pursue his services. Fellow free agent starter Gerrit Cole will likely set the market, so don’t expect Strasburg to sign until after Cole does.

Worth noting: Both pitchers are represented by Scott Boras, who has advised his clients in the past to wait out the slow free agent market, even into February and March, in order to get the deals they deserve. That could very well be the case again with Cole and Strasburg.

(Hardball Talk)

 

DAMN............I was hoping he was going to stay in DC

 

He still might. It’s just gonna cost them more than 25m per

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...t-award-lindor-rizzo-among-repeat-recipients/

2019-Gold Glove Award Winners....