CINCINNATI • Major League Baseball does not intend to conduct its own inquiry into the allegations that at least one member of the Cardinals’ front office illegally hacked Houston’s database until the federal investigation has completed. And MLB’s commissioner doesn’t expect that to be resolved swiftly.
During a meeting with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday, Commissioner Rob Manfred said the FBI and Justice Department have kept his office aware of the investigation’s timetable and movement but not many details.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think this is a next-few-days resolution,” Manfred said. “We have regular contact with them in terms of progress, when they expect to be finished, those sorts of things. But they are not sharing with us all of the information they have from their investigation. … We decided the most appropriate course is to let them finish that investigation and delay any action until that process has been completed.”
The Houston Astros reported multiple breaches of their baseball operations database, including at least one from March 2014. An FBI investigation into the hacks focused on the Cardinals’ front office after one of the breaches was traced to a condo in Jupiter, Fla., that had been leased and used by several members of the Cardinals’ baseball operations staff.
There have been no charges filed, and the FBI and U.S. attorney repeatedly have declined to comment.
The Cardinals recently fired scouting director Chris Correa just weeks after he ran the draft. While team officials gave no reason for his firing, multiple sources confirmed that it was the club’s response when it discovered he was involved in at least one of the breaches.
In addition to individuals facing possible charges from the Justice Department, the Cardinals could receive punishment from Major League Baseball. And Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. has said there could be an internal response as well. The team has an investigation running concurrently with the FBI’s.
Manfred praised DeWitt and Astros owner Jim Crane for their cooperation during the investigation, and said there has not been a rupture between the two franchises. There has been friction between the two front offices, though that dates back several years.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow ran the Cardinals’ draft for several years before leaving for Houston, and Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak gave Luhnow a strong recommendation for that job.
“Nobody — nobody — in the game is interested in this kind of activity,” Manfred said. “And there is no issue between the two clubs.”
BOOS GREET CARDINALS
Unbeknownst to him when he found his gear in the National League clubhouse, Yadier Molina’s locker during the All-Star festivities this week is actually Reds infielder Brandon Phillips’ locker during the regular season.
“Think they did that on purpose?” Molina said, grinning as he was told.
Molina and Phillips were at the flashpoint of the brawl between the Cardinals and Reds in 2010. Phillips had called the Cardinals a derogatory name in the press, and Molina confronted him about it during an at-bat that Phillips started by tapping his bat on Molina’s pads. A skirmish erupted between the two teams with exchanges of punches and Johnny Cueto’s cleats raking across Chris Carpenter’s back. Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue sustained a concussion in the conflict and never returned to the field.
Molina has had least favored Cardinal status ever since, and during the All-Star parade Tuesday he was booed fervently by fans lining Cincinnati’s streets. All six of the Cardinals’ All-Stars were booed during their introductions Tuesday. Molina turned and pointed to his name as the fans jeered. In a moment of levity, American League All-Star Albert Pujols joined in, comically booing his former teammates from the third-base line. Molina welcomed boos with a grin. He even suggested that he might leave Phillips a note.
The two have long since mended their rift.
Molina has a photo of their families together.
“Long time,” he said. “Everybody in our division knows you’re going to have to compete. We compete and those things are going to happen. You’ve got to be a man and when you’re outside of baseball, put that away and try to be friends.”
FRANCHISE FOUR NAMED
Major League Baseball revealed the results of the Franchise Four voting before Tuesday’s exhibition, and the four Cardinals greats elected as the organization’s finest were Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Stan Musial, and Rogers Hornsby. Pete Rose, who is still serving a lifetime ban from baseball, was elected as one of the Reds’ Franchise Four and he appeared on the field with Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Barry Larkin. Rose received a standing ovation that matched the other three.
