In the best MLB scandal since the Mitchell Report, the hits keep on coming for the Houston Astros. First, if you happen to be unaware, the Astros are caught up in allegations that they stole signs electronically and relayed them to batters in various ways since at least 2017.
Since the initial report came out from The Athletic, evidence has been dug up all around on the internet. While the Astro organization has been undoubtedly quiet while MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred collects information and details before ruling his punishment, former players and coaches have slowly found themselves in the spotlight.
First questions came on about current Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was a bench coach in Houston in 2017. Then a player from the 2017 World Series club was hired as the new manager of the New York Mets and faced questioning. Two former Astros players came on record saying that MLB needs to “scare the [expletive] out of everybody” when it comes to punishment.
Mets' J.D. Davis was oblivious to Astros' alleged sign-stealing https://t.co/I7sq94tb8D pic.twitter.com/ZVGbKoDf2t
— New York Post (@nypost) December 5, 2019
Now, another former Astro, J.D. Davis, denies having any knowledge of the alleged sign-stealing tactics.
“I have no idea, I was kind of the freshman among the seniors,” Davis told the New York Post. “I have no idea what was going on or what’s really happening. That is MLB’s investigation.”
“I wasn’t aware of anything and even if there was I wish I would have known, because I batted only .180 or .200 or something like that, but I really have no clue.”
Sounds believable enough.
And it makes sense that an organization so enveloped in illegal tactics would exercise caution before letting new people in on the secret.
However, Reddit user very_zesty_zach unearthed a video that brings Davis’ comments into question.
J.D. Davis denied knowledge of the Astros’ scheme. Here is a video of him benefiting from said scheme, and hitting a single (WEAR HEADPHONES) from r/baseball
Yes, that is a clear, audible bang sound in the video. While you may start to question the validity of some of these videos and examples as more and more turn up, but this one appears to pass the sniff test.
Furthermore, so very often with these audible bang clips, the Houston batter seems to obviously be ready to stare an offspeed pitch into the catcher’s glove.
Where do you stand on this? Do you believe Davis, or is he just looking to protect friends in old places.
