Tampa Bay Rays: Blake Snell Says Astros’ Cheating Worse Than PEDs

A few Tampa Bay Rays’ players were at Tropicana Field to get some work in today. Some of them briefly spoke about MLB’s cheating scandal.

Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell were among Tampa Bay Rays‘ players spotted working out at Tropicana Field in preparation for Spring Training.

The Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin caught up with them and spoke about the recent cheating scandal that has rocked the baseball world.

Major League Baseball’s investigation found that the Astros were using a camera feed from centerfield to relay signs to a monitor near the dugout. Someone would then bang a trash can or use some other method to convey the pitch-type that was called.

The players were offered immunity by Major Leauge Baseball in return for their full cooperation into the investigation.

By the end of the investigation, three managers and a general manager had been terminated. Astros’ GM, Jeff Luhnow, and Manager AJ Hinch were the first to go.

Alex Cora, a bench coach with the 2017 Astros and manager of the 2018 World Champion – Boston Red Sox, was determined to have not only been integral in the Astros’ cheating ploy but brought it with him to Boston.

NY Mets’ manager, Carlos Beltran – a player on the 2017 Astros – was determined to be instrumental in the scheme and parted ways with the Mets.

The scandal has cast serious shadows over the game of baseball as two of the past three world champions have been proven to be cheaters. Three of the past three years has had a proven cheater represented in the World Series.

Tyler Glasnow posted a 1.78 ERA in 2019 over 12 starts but couldn’t make it out of the third inning of Game Five of the ALDS against the Astros.

The initial reports stated that he was tipping pitches. Now, we aren’t so sure.

Here’s what Glasnow had to say to reporters today:

Glasnow called the punishment “relatively lax” regarding the players. The reporter mentioned that

“Blake [Snell] compared PEDs and cheating and in his mind, he said cheating is worse.”

Glasnow added, “they are both bad.”

It’s apparent the Rays don’t think the players should have been granted immunity.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ players and fans both have reason to be upset about the ordeal as the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series from their division and the Astros eliminated the Rays in the ALDS last season.