Houston Astros involved in cheating scandal

Before I start on this subject let me just say this.

I have played baseball my whole life and have always loved the process of stealing signs. Whether it be a runner at second base taking advantage of a sloppy catcher, reading his fingers and relaying the pitch back to the batter, or having players on the bench read the 3rd base coach to find any pattern from his hand gestures. It has been happening in the game at every level from youth ball to the majors and there is nothing wrong with it.
Which brings me to the Houston Astros and the news that they were allegedly stealing signs during their 2017 season, in which they won the World Series. Former Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers and several other sources told “The Athletic” about the organizational system, which used an outfield camera hooked up to a TV monitor in the clubhouse, followed by a team employee banging on a trash can or other object to alert batters to off-speed pitches.

Ex-Astros pitcher Mike Fiers – Team stole signs with camera

Here is what rival MLB players had to say about this on social media.

MLB Players Respond to Astros’ Allegations

In my personal opinion (and many others it seems) this is bush-league tactics. The game of baseball has begun to offer some great technology in the past few years, making the game better for players and fans but this is too much. Twitter user “@Jomboy_” has highlighted a breakdown of certain instances this has happened.

Astros using cameras to steal signs, a breakdown

The MLB says they are investigating the issue and this year has beefed up their rules in order to make sure teams do not use technology to steal signs. I’m not saying the Astros aren’t deserving of their recent run of success because they’ve had some great teams but this is clearly cheating. I’m not sure how this will stack up against the likes of “Spygate” in 2007 but the MLB needs to handle this fast so this does not linger. On top of it all, the behavior of former Houston assistant general manager Brandon Taubman toward a group of female reports last month is still fresh in the minds of the baseball world.

Astros Fire Assistant GM Brandon Taubman

Using technology to make your team and the game of baseball better is great. Even using binoculars to watch other coaches isn’t over the line but when you use outside camera and video surveillance I think it becomes something else entirely. Other teams should be able to know they’re being watched. Agree with me or don’t but the Houston Astros should let the MLB have a clean and open investigation. They’re the best franchise in the sport right now, apologize, take the punishment and go back to competing.

The Lighthouse: Review

“The Lighthouse” is director Robert Eggers follow up to his critically acclaimed debut film ” The Witch”, and easily cements him as one of the new must-see directors working today. While The Witch falls in line as part of the horror genre, this film almost creates its whole new genre entirely.

The film begins rather straightforwardly. Two lighthouse keepers, Thomas Wake (Dafoe) and Ephraim Winslow (Pattinson) are stationed at a lighthouse off of the New England coast. Their exact whereabouts are never specified. Dafoe plays Thomas Wake, the old sea dog who has total authority of the day to day operations at the post. He also farts a lot and is the only one of the two who is allowed to tend to the shining light at the top of the lighthouse. Pattinson plays Winslow, the younger of the two keepers who is just trying to earn some wages and begin anew. The performances these two actors give is nothing short of powerhouse. Pattinson’s performance in particular is jaw dropping, displaying every possible human emotion throughout the film. The two actors are totally committed to these roles and it results in multiple scenes that leaves you slack jawed by how far they are going for it.

Things really begin to take a turn after Winslow’s altercation with a seagull, which is incredibly bad luck according to the superstitious Wake. Watching the story continue to unfold after that moment is a truly surreal experience. As the two keepers fall deeper and deeper into madness due to their isolation and mistrust, the lines of reality get blurrier as the story progresses. The excessive amount of alcohol being consumed in order to cope with their loneliness probably does not help either.

The physical lighthouse, which was built for this film, is its own living breathing character as well. The viewer is totally immersed into the world these two characters are inhabiting. Floor boards creak and groan, seagulls squawk continuously off in the distance, and a giant foghorn blares throughout. As the film progresses it feels as though we are cramped into these tiny living quarters with them, ready to explode at any moment. The score by Mark Koven is haunting and drenches the whole thing with a thick layer of dread and forebodingness.

Do not expect to have every question answered however as this is not a movie that can be seen only once. There is a ton left up for interpretation, especially once the weirdness really kicks in. There is some research required if you are so inclined to do so in order to find some answer as much like his previous movie Eggers draws inspiration from folklore and myths of the time. Another issue viewers might have is the dialogue. Both characters have heavy accents and there are a few times throughout where it is hard to decipher what is actually happening. It is somewhat of a catch-22 as it adds to the disorienting nature of the film but it is ultimately hard to understand in parts, specifically Dafoe’s character.

Ultimately, these result in minor nitpicks in an otherwise top shelf movie. If you are in the mood for something truly different, weird, and funny (hilarious in parts actually) you should seek out The Lighthouse. It will stick with you long after it’s over, forcing you to ask yourself just what exactly it was you just watched.

Rating: 9/10