Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hasn't forgotten about the lying, cheating, sign-stealing Houston Astros.
Cashman downplayed the fact that the Yankees had finally ended their 15-year World Series drought, adding that the Astros were to blame for the widening lead.
“I hate the 15-year thing because it totally forgets and downplays that other organizations deceived us when we were already at the end. I don't think they would have made any progress in that time if they knew what they were doing. I think we would have made progress.” Cashman spoke about the Astros on “Mad Dog Radio.”” with Chris Russo, a longtime New York radio host.
“I don't like that 15-year thing because I don't think it accurately reflects history.”
Until 2015, the Yankees had lost to the Astros four times in the playoffs, losing to Houston in the wild card game in 2015 and in the ALCS in 2017, 2019, and 2022, but Cashman lost in the 2017 playoffs. He mentioned the team that he felt the strongest about. The Astros' dirty tactics cost them a potential title.
Although Houston defeated the Yankees in seven games, the Bronx Bombers did not realize how much of a disadvantage they were in during the series.
The Astros are only known to have cheated from 2017 to 2018.
The issue was first reported in November 2019, and Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres believes the situation continued into 2019, when the Yankees lost to the Astros again.
During the playoffs, the Astros stole signals from pitchers and relayed the signals to batters through the sound of each at-bat during each at-bat.
The Yankees led 3-2 in the ALCS, but lost their final two games in Houston.
Cashman's team didn't have to face the Astros this postseason.
Houston lost in two games to the upstart Detroit Tigers in the wild card round. This allowed the Yankees to defeat the Royals and Guardians and earn their way to the World Series.
The Yankees and Dodgers begin the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday night.
