As MLB's investigation of the Astros' alleged electronic sign-stealing continues into the new year, Joe Musgrove, one of the heroes of their championship season, said he does not believe the allegations taint the Astros' 2017 World Series victory.
Musgrove was in Houston last weekend for an autograph show and was approached by reporters for his thoughts on the investigation. His full comment can be found here:
Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove was w/the 2017 Astros,hasn’t been contacted by MLB,didn’t c the rules violations that were alleged:“Everyone always accuses people of something-Everyone heard how we cheated-but no one sees the work we put in every day..to give ourselves an advantage” pic.twitter.com/rpUGi8e4BR
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 5, 2020
"Everyone is going to have thoughts on stuff regardless. Everyone always accuses people of something. That stuff goes around the league all the time. Everyone is trying to get an advantage somewhere.
"But that doesn't affect me at all, I don't think that taints [the championship] ... Everyone hears that we cheated, and they hear that there was the whole trash can deal going on, but no one sees the work that we were putting in every day to prepare ourselves and to give ourselves an advantage."
The allegations against the Astros do not extend to any of their pitchers, so Musgrove is not in any danger of facing any discipline from MLB's investigation.
Musgrove was one of the heroes in the pivotal fifth game of the 2017 World Series, pitching a scoreless frame and getting the win in the Astros' 13-12, 10-inning victory.
Musgrove was traded from the Astros to the Pirates in the Gerrit Cole deal in January 2018, alongside Colin Moran, Michael Feliz and Jason Martin. Moran had 12 plate appearances with the Astros in 2017 and Feliz pitched out of their bullpen.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said during his MLB Winter Meetings press conference on Dec. 11 that Major League Baseball is investigating the Astros for using a camera in center field to steal signs during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. While some teams had suspected the Astros of stealing signs in recent years, pitching very cautiously and changing signs often to try to combat them, former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers acted as a whistleblower in November, confirming the suspicions to Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic.
The league has not yet announced any disciplinary actions against the Astros, their front office or manager A.J. Hinch, but it is expected to be severe, including fines, potential loss of draft picks and possibly suspensions and other sanctions.
