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The Houston Astros still have a “2017 World Series Champions” banner hanging at Minute Made Park.
But it hangs there shrouded in controversy.
The Astros, of course, we embroiled in a sign stealing controversy that threw a black cloud over the baseball world. As it turned out, they had an intricate system to relay stolen signs to their hitters.
But they were not alone.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred granted all players involved immunity as long as they agreed to act as informants for the league.
‘Stros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for the entire 2020 season and eventually fired by the Astros, who also lost draft picks and were fined $5 million.
But the players faced no repercussions, which was a huge unpopular decision around the league. Now, Manfred says, it’s a decision that he regrets.
Rob Manfred Admits Mistakes In Astros Investigation
“There are some decisions that I would like to have back,” Manfred said in an with Time Magazine. “I’m not sure that I would have approached it with giving players immunity.”Once we gave players immunity, it puts you in a box as to what exactly you were going to do in terms of punishment.
“I might have gone about the investigative process without that grant of immunity and see where it takes us. Starting with, I’m not going to punish anybody, maybe not my best decision ever.”
Admitting as much now probably isn’t a great look. But it’s what everybody has been saying since the details of investigation were released five years ago.
Whether or not the league’s charges would have stuck is a decision for a different day. But ultimately, the decision to grant immunity to all players made Manfred and the league look weak at a time where it couldn’t afford to do so.
“There have been times, particularly in times of pressure, when I look back, taking a little more time might have led to a different outcome,” Manfred went on to say.
Though that doesn’t do much good so long after the fact.