Stanton: I would have hit 80-plus homers if I knew pitches

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton imagined having the advantage the Houston Astros gained in their scam.

"If knew what was coming in '17, I probably would have hit 80-plus home runs," he said Wednesday.

Stanton agreed with teammate Aaron Judge that the Astros should be stripped of their 2017 World Series title and that they kept on cheating during the 2019 season.

Major League Baseball concluded the Astros used a video camera to steal catcher’s signs in 2017, including during the postseason, and in 2018.

"They did their investigation and it was clear-cut that they cheated that year, which means it should be taken away," Stanton said. "If you cheat in another way during the season, you can't even be in the playoffs. It's pretty much the same difference."

Houston owner Jim Crane said at a news conference last week he wasn't sure how much of an advantage the sign stealing was for his team.

Houston beat the Yankees in a seven-game AL Championship Series in 2017, winning all four home games, and defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-game World Series.

Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for one season each, then were fired by the team. Houston was fined $5 million and stripped of its next two first- and second-round draft picks.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said Sunday he wasn’t 100% sure the Astros didn’t violate rules in 2019 but it was his best judgment that they didn’t. The Yankees were beat in the ALCS by Houston.

“I don't think you really stop until you get caught in something like that,” Stanton said.

Astros players were not disciplined by MLB.

"I don't think the penalties were harsh enough player-wise," Stanton said. "At the end of the day it gives more incentive to do that if you're not...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Stanton-I-would-have-hit-80-plus-homers-if-I-15067783.php