Marwin Gonzalez Addresses Media, Expresses Regret

Complete bs. Only reason for the regret is because he along with that cheating team got caught.

The punishment was a joke and the commish has zero clue when dealing with anything baseball. I will stay on topic but times like these I want Selig in there.

The MLBPA would have fought any punishment the commissioner tried to levy against players, and the commissioner would have lost such a fight because the burden of proof would be so high. (A lot higher than counting the number of "bangs" in each player's plate appearances.)

 

The commissioner was able to punish the teams, front offices, and managers because their employment isn't protected by a union and collective bargaining agreement. There's a much lower burden of proof involved.

Great point but why not at least attempt to be more harsh and than when it doesn't work you can have the punishment that you have now?

I appreciate that he discussed it at all. However...

• "...he communicated through the Twins that it would be the last time he addressed the topic this season."

"I'm sorry. But now that it's behind us, let's all just move on. I'm remorseful. I'm just not *that* remorseful."

Complete bs. Only reason for the regret is because he along with that cheating team got caught.

The punishment was a joke and the commish has zero clue when dealing with anything baseball. I will stay on topic but times like these I want Selig in there.

I don't know if Selig is the best example of someone to dole out punishment. He did everything he could to ignore the PED issue.

Smart move by Marwin to just get out there and apologize and now he can move on and focus on 2020. Which is what we all want him to do....right?

I for one am all for punishing the Astros organization and stripping their World Series banner from the rafters. But, as others have said, there's no way you can just suspend 20+ major leaguers without hurting their CURRENT teams (aka the Twins) who had nothing to do with these shenanigans.

If I were an opposing team's catcher with Gonzo up, I'd be muttering about hearing somebody banging a trash can every other pitch. Fastball, high and in. 

So basically, go ahead with a lawsuit that you know is frivolous? Plenty of reasons not to do that. Many are probably the same reasons why Selig didn't come down hard on steroid users before the testing procedures were in place.

It's not frivolous at all, there is inarguable evidence of wrongdoing and putting all of the evidence in public light and trying to hold the players accountable not only has value but seems pretty clearly the right thing to do. To me the ONLY reason not to do that is you want the story out of the news cycle asap.

If there was video evidence of players injecting themselves with steroids I would bet that even Selig wouldn't have given the players immunity. 

This whole thing is very sad and Marwin Gonzalez is the first Twins player that I have ever disliked. 

I would love it if ONE time a player would say, "I'm sorry I got caught cheating." They would look bad, but at least in a refreshingly honest way!

There is probably less than 1% chance the Twins drop Marwin. I know this discussion was in another thread. The more I think about it, I would be okay if they did drop him. Maybe THAT'S why we sold that draft pick! To Pay for Marwin and drop him! 

I mean, he's the first position player to apologize, so that's something. Bregman and Altuve's comments were disgusting and really made me dislike both of them even more.

I'm still convinced they used buzzers (and/or some other way of using codebreaker in real time to the hitter without using banging) but the commissioner's report did not mention that. 

I think the MLB is trying to sweep this under the rug as quickly as possible. I think there's a correlation between the release of the new playoff format and AJ Hinch's press conference where he didn't deny using buzzers as well. MLB wants so badly to make everyone think it was just the trashcans for that one season and for everyone to move on. 

I appreciate that he discussed it at all. However...

• "...he communicated through the Twins that it would be the last time he addressed the topic this season."

"I'm sorry. But now that it's behind us, let's all just move on. I'm remorseful. I'm just not *that* remorseful."

Would you like it to remain a distraction for him and the team? What else can he say? He took part in it. His apology seems sincere. Time to move on. 

I hope he does truly feel remorseful about what happened at Houston.  Just DO NOT bring that crap to Minnesota. 

I would love it if ONE time a player would say, "I'm sorry I got caught cheating." They would look bad, but at least in a refreshingly honest way!

They probably honestly don't think of themselves as a cheater. Before they make a decision to cheat, they rationalize it as not being cheating in their mind, and thus can accept themselves doing it. Heard it with Lance, heard it with Barry, heard it with asbel kiprop, heard it with Pineda.

"everyone else is doing it"

"it doesn't provide that much of an advantage."

"it probably didn't even help."

"I never failed a drug test"

"My superiors told me to do it, and I wanted to keep my job; I have to provide for my family"

Is he more guilty than Polanco or Pineda because he hasn't been punished? He's not in control of punishment. Was his 'apology' any more dissatisfying than the 'apologies' offered by Polanco and Pineda? No and No. I'll say it again to anyone that can't stand the idea of Gonzalez being on the club: would you like the Twins to drop Polanco and Pineda as well?

Is he more guilty than Polanco or Pineda because he hasn't been punished? He's not in control of punishment. Was his 'apology' any more dissatisfying than the 'apologies' offered by Polanco and Pineda? No and No. I'll say it again to anyone that can't stand the idea of Gonzalez being on the club: would you like the Twins to drop Polanco and Pineda as well?

And probably Nelson Cruz.

Would you like it to remain a distraction for him and the team? What else can he say? He took part in it. His apology seems sincere. Time to move on. 

I definitely don't want it to be a distraction to the team. However, I don't think he should get to dictate the timeline of discussing it just because he said he was remorseful.

I'm not sure what else he could say, but I'm certain there are other questions that could be asked where his answers could also be sincere.

• Marwin, what do you think of Mike Bolsinger's lawsuit?
• Marwin, do you think you had an unfair advantage by receiving signals from your teammates?
• Marwin, without naming names, was there anyone on the 2017 team that stated or suggested during the season that what the team was doing should stop?
• Marwin, have you spoken to any of your 2017 Astros teammates or manager about this issue since the story broke?
• Marwin, your team won the World Series in 2017. Does this story change how you feel or think about that season?

I'm sure I could come up with more questions that could be asked of him. But you know, we're done talking about it now.

I think, as most expression of regret in situations like this, we can just ignore them. They say what the PR person tell them to say. 

But, I am curious what more people want Marwin Gonzalez (or others) to say at this point? He expressed regret. He can't really do any more than that.

I didn't read a full transcript of what was said today. I'm certain there are other questions people would want him to speak about.

Why can't he do more than what he did? There literally is no punishment for the players. He can't do more than saying he regrets it?

I'm not of the camp that says all the players should be kicked out, never to play again or anything like that (though I would favor some form of punishment or fine). I'm also not of the camp that says society gets to decide when someone is forgiven for whatever public wrong they have done. But it strikes me that Marwin (and probably others) wants to be seen as being remorseful without really having to answer any tough questions. And I understand wanting that - wanting it to go away. But the way to make it go away isn't by saying "I regret it" AND "I won't talk about it any more."

I mean, he's the first position player to apologize, so that's something. Bregman and Altuve's comments were disgusting and really made me dislike both of them even more.

 

I'm still convinced they used buzzers (and/or some other way of using codebreaker in real time to the hitter without using banging) but the commissioner's report did not mention that. 

 

I think the MLB is trying to sweep this under the rug as quickly as possible. I think there's a correlation between the release of the new playoff format and AJ Hinch's press conference where he didn't deny using buzzers as well. MLB wants so badly to make everyone think it was just the trashcans for that one season and for everyone to move on. 

As a fan I don't mind the circus of intrigue and conspiracy, and maybe MLB doesn't either if the buzzers were in fact pure nonsense.  Astros road attendance will probably be up this year.

I agree with your second sentence above. The second paragraph is true.

 

But, I am curious what more people want Marwin Gonzalez (or others) to say at this point? He expressed regret. He can't really do any more than that.

It sounds like seppuku may be necessary. Aired on ESPN pay-per-view, of course.

It sounds like seppuku may be necessary. Aired on ESPN pay-per-view, of course.

As long as it is remorseful seppuku.

The intern who developed an Excel app used for stealing signs that the Astros GM embraced has been promoted in the front office. I don't think Luhnow will ever get a job. Luhnow saying he didn't read long emails referencing this app is laughable. He should have said I never started out doing something like this. I lost my way.

It's hard to believe the owner isn't aware.