Latest news with #Neris
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Announcer Takes Brutal Jab After Houston Astros Start Benches-Clearing Incident Over Sign Stealing
Tensions boiled over between the Astros and the Boston Red Sox when Houston pitcher Hector Neris intentionally balked to move Sox runner Trevor Story to third base. Why did he intentionally give the runner a free base? Neris suspected Story of relaying signs. After the inning, Neris exchanged words with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson, leading to both teams' benches and bullpens clearing. No physical altercation took place as cooler heads prevailed. The Astros pitcher was later asked if he thought the Red Sox player was stealing signs, to which he replied, 'Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe no.' Houston Astros Accuse Another Team of Sign Stealing The irony of this situation didn't escape anybody, least of all Red Sox player-turned-announcer Will Middlebrooks, who let fly with the obvious clapback. 'Imagine the Astros being mad about stealing signs,' Middlebrooks quipped. Middlebrooks, who won a World Series with the Red Sox back in 2013, pointed out that what Story is being accused of is essentially part of the game at this point. There is no way to keep players on second from watching the catcher or pitcher and then giving a subtle sign to the batter about what pitch is coming. 'But guess what, that's part of the game, when you can see the grip in a glove,' he continued. Using technology to steal signs – well, that's a completely different matter. And the Houston Astros would know. RELATED: Biggest Sign-Stealing Scandal in the History of the Game Indeed, 2017 was the year that the Houston Astros destroyed the integrity of the game by cheating in baseball. The Astros used a sophisticated sign-stealing system during the 2017 and part of the 2018 seasons, according to an investigation by MLB. Houston employed a camera in center field to decode opposing teams' signs. This information was then relayed to the dugout and ultimately to batters through various methods, including the now-infamous banging on a trash can. This method gave the Astros an unfair advantage. Major League players knowing what pitch is coming ahead of time? It cannot be overstated how much of a bonus that was for their hitters. The fallout included suspensions for General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager A.J. Hinch, both of whom were fired by the Astros, and significant fines and draft pick losses for the team. MLB, however, did not punish a single player on the team, instead offering them immunity for their cooperation. That's right, the league that, up until recently, banned Pete Rose for life for betting on his own team didn't punish any cheating players on the Astros. And that has left a bad taste in the mouths of many organizations almost a decade later. Ironically, current Red Sox manager Alex Cora was involved in the 2017 scandal, and his new team was accused of stealing signs themselves in 2018. Cora was suspended for the 2020 season due to his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing debacle. MLB found the Red Sox transgressions to be less impactful than those of the Asterisks. Also Read:: Teddy Bridgewater Making Return to NFL After Controversial Suspension Related Headlines Phillies Ace Dodges Serious Injury After Sore Shoulder Pushes Back Start 'New York Yankees Are Soft': MLB Analyst Suggests Roster Is Gutless as Slump Continues Philadelphia Eagles' Five Pressing Questions Entering Preseason Opener Against Bengals Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule Predictions 2025: Game by Game Steelers Predictions
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Astros Predicted To Cut Ties With World Series-Winning Pitcher This Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Houston Astros made a handful of moves at the trade deadline, headlined by the blockbuster addition of Carlos Correa, to push their team in the right direction. But the Astros have a few more moves to make in the coming weeks before their postseason push truly begins. Eric Cole of Climbing Tal's Hill recently predicted the Astros would move on from reliever Hector Neris at some point this season. Neris was a piece of the 2022 World Series-winning Astros team. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 02: Hector Neris #50 of the Houston Astros reacts after the last out of the seventh inning during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 02,... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 02: Hector Neris #50 of the Houston Astros reacts after the last out of the seventh inning during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 02, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. More"As nostalgic as it is to bring Hector Neris back once a year and see him show out versus struggling everywhere else, there are some real red flags with him," Cole wrote. "His fastball velo has ticked downward every year since 2022, and most of Neris' pitching metrics (other than his chase rate, which remains good) rank in the bottom half or worse in all of baseball. "We're betting that the loud contact he has been giving up, combined with the extra baserunners that Neris usually allows, catches up with him. In an Astros bullpen that is very strong, that should leave him as the odd man out." Neris is a nostalgic piece of the team, but he's not a good enough option at this point in his career to be a necessary piece of the roster. In fact, the Astros could explore other options in free agency or from their farm system in order to give their team the best chance moving forward. Neris is a decent innings-eater in the bullpen, but he's not the best option for the Astros. Houston could look to move on from him, but it's unclear if it'll do so at this point. More MLB: Aaron Judge Injury: Yankees' Aaron Boone Gives Update, Return Date
Fox News
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Red Sox announcer hits at Astros for 'being mad about stealing signs' after benches clear
The benches cleared between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox over the weekend, and it all stemmed from what appeared to be paranoia about sign-stealing. Astros reliever Hector Neris purposely balked to advance a runner to third, then had an exchange with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson that led to a dustup between the teams. As Neris made his way off the mound, he had words with Hudson and yelled toward the Red Sox dugout, causing both teams, including bullpens, to come on the field before order was quickly restored. Asked if he believed the Red Sox were stealing signs, Neris responded: "Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe no." Well, former Red Sox player-turned-announcer Will Middlebrooks thought that was a bit ironic. "Imagine the Astros being mad about stealing signs," the former infielder said. The Astros, of course, were the architects of perhaps the biggest sign-stealing scandal in the history of baseball, where they would bang trash cans to signify what pitch was coming. It helped them to a World Series in 2017, and there have always been rumors and speculation about further digressions. It is illegal to use technology to steal signs. "But guess what, that's part of the game, when you can see the grip in a glove," Midddlebrooks added. Ironically, the Red Sox themselves were accused of stealing signs in 2018, a year they won the Fall Classic, but it was revealed that the incidents were "far more limited in scope and impact" than the Astros' the previous year, and most of the clubhouse wasn't even aware of the wrongdoings. Alex Cora was the Astros bench coach in 2017 before becoming the Sox manager ahead of the 2018 season. He was suspended for the 2020 season due to his role in the Astros' scandal but returned the following season. The Red Sox won the game, 7-3.
New York Post
03-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Reliever's intentional balk leads to benches clearing in Astros' loss to Red Sox
BOSTON — Houston Astros reliever Héctor Neris intentionally balked to advance a runner to third on Saturday, then had an exchange with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson that led to a dustup between the teams. Neris surrendered Trevor Story's two-out RBI double in the seventh inning of Houston's 7-3 loss. Advertisement The right-hander then balked, moving Story to third, before Carlos Narváez bounced to shortstop for the final out. As Neris made his way off the mound, he had words with Hudson and yelled toward the Red Sox dugout, causing both teams, including bullpens, to come on the field before order was quickly restored. Asked if he felt the Red Sox were stealing signs, Neris responded: 'Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe no.' Advertisement 'But I still wanted to concentrate,' the 36-year-old right-hander continued. 'In (that) situation, I want to do what I'm feeling in the moment. That is the reason why I moved him to third.' Neris declined to specify what he said to Hudson that caused the benches to empty. 'Nothing. It's part of the game,'' he said with a grin. 'Something funny. People come into (the clubhouse) maybe to hear what happened, but nothing serious.' Astros manager Joe Espada, speaking to the media before Neris, had no insight into what caused the confrontation. Advertisement Umpire Gerry Davis and Christian Walker hold back Houston reliever Héctor Neris #50 after he thought the Boston Red Sox were stealing signs during the seventh inning of the Astros' 7-3 road loss to the Red Sox on Aug. 2, 2025. Getty Images 'I'm actually going to ask Neris,' he said. 'I really don't know what words were exchanged to be honest with you.' Asked what caused the benches to clear and if sign-stealing was the issue, Red Sox manager Alex Cora directed the questions to Neris. Pitching calls in the major leagues are relayed electronically through PitchCom, but a baserunner on second can determine what pitch is coming by looking for a pitcher's grip. A runner on second also can relay where a catcher is setting up to help a batter with pitch location. Advertisement Benches emptied as Houston reliever Héctor Neris is led away as he yells at Boston players, accusing the team for stealing signs during the seventh inning of the Astros' loss to the Red Sox. Getty Images The Astros were disciplined by Major League Baseball after it found the team used electronics to steal signs during their run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. Cora was the bench coach for Houston in 2017. In the wake of the sign-stealing scandal, he departed Boston in January 2020 in what was called a mutual decision. After serving a one-season suspension handed down by MLB, he was rehired as Red Sox manager in November 2020.
NBC Sports
03-08-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Astros reliever Neris intentionally balks to advance runner from second, then shouts at Red Sox
Former pitcher CC Sabathia joins Dan Patrick to reflect on his experience getting inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, sharing what the moment meant to him, why his trip to Cooperstown was unique and more. BOSTON — Houston Astros reliever Héctor Neris used a balk to advance a runner to third on Saturday, then had an exchange with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson that led to a dustup between the teams. Neris surrendered Trevor Story's two-out RBI double in the seventh inning of Houston's 7-3 loss. The right-hander then balked, moving Story to third, before Carlos Narváez bounced to shortstop for the final out. As Neris made his way off the mound, he had words with Hudson and yelled toward the Red Sox dugout, causing both teams, including bullpens, to come on the field before order was quickly restored. Asked if he felt the Red Sox were stealing signs, Neris responded: 'Maybe. Maybe yes, maybe no.' 'But I still wanted to concentrate,' the 36-year-old right-hander continued. 'In (that) situation, I want to do what I'm feeling in the moment. That is the reason why I moved him to third.' Neris declined to specify what he said to Hudson that caused the benches to empty. 'Nothing. It's part of the game,'' he said with a grin. 'Something funny. People come into (the clubhouse) maybe to hear what happened, but nothing serious.' Astros manager Joe Espada, speaking to the media before Neris, had no insight into what caused the confrontation. 'I'm actually going to ask Neris,' he said. 'I really don't know what words were exchanged to be honest with you.' Asked what caused the benches to clear and if sign-stealing was the issue, Red Sox manager Alex Cora directed the questions to Neris. Pitching calls in the major leagues are relayed electronically through PitchCom, but a baserunner on second can determine what pitch is coming by looking for a pitcher's grip. A runner on second also can relay where a catcher is setting up to help a batter with pitch location. The Astros were disciplined by Major League Baseball after it found the team used electronics to steal signs during their run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. Cora was the bench coach for Houston in 2017. In the wake of the sign-stealing scandal, he departed Boston in January 2020 in what was called a mutual decision. After serving a one-season suspension handed down by MLB, he was rehired as Red Sox manager in November 2020.
