MLB says it’s looking into Astros executive’s comments about Osuna
As the World Series began Tuesday at Minute Maid Park, Major League Baseball was looking into an Astros executive’s expletive-filled tirade toward a group of female reporters last week.
After the Astros won Game 6 over the Yankees on Saturday to clinch the American League pennant, assistant general manager Brandon Taubman yelled: “Thank God we got (Roberto) Osuna! I’m so (expletive) glad we got Osuna!” about a half dozen times toward a group of three female reporters who were standing in the team’s clubhouse.
When Sports Illustrated first reported Taubman’s outburst on Monday, the Astros issued a statement that said the report was “misleading and completely
irresponsible” while adding they were “extremely disappointed in Sports Illustrated’s attempt to fabricate a story where one does not exist.”
However, on Tuesday the team issued statements from both Taubman and owner Jim Crane. Taubman apologized to “anyone that was offended by my actions,” and Crane emphasized the team’s commitment to creating “awareness and support on the issue of domestic violence.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Major League Baseball said it plans to “interview those involved before commenting further,” intimating it will launch an investigation into the incident.
The roots of Taubman’s rant go back to the team’s signing of closer Roberto Osuna last season.
The Astros acquired Osuna in July 2018 while he was serving a 75-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy.
Osuna accepted his suspension without appeal. Details of his case and the allegations against him have never been revealed.
Charges were withdrawn last September when Osuna entered into a peace bond in Canadian court. Osuna’s accuser — the mother of his son — refused to testify and said she “wished to resume contact and parenting responsibilities” with Osuna.
Taubman has declined to comment beyond the statement issued on Tuesday by the team. Crane also declined when given a chance before Game 1.
“I used inappropriate language for which I am deeply sorry and embarrassed,” Taubman said in a statement. “In retrospect, I realize that my comments were unprofessional and inappropriate. My overexuberance in support of a player has been misinterpreted as a demonstration of a regressive attitude about an important social issue.”
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow declined comment prior to Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.
The only member of the Astros organization to speak about the incident in person Tuesday was manager A.J. Hinch, who said he was not in the clubhouse when the incident occurred.
“I’m very disappointed for a lot of reasons,” said Hinch. “It’s unfortunate, it’s uncalled for. For me as a leader in this organization down here in the clubhouse, on the field, I take everything that happens in the clubhouse to heart.
“No one — it doesn’t matter if it’s a player, a coach, a manager, any of you members of the media — should ever feel like when you come into our clubhouse that you’re going to be uncomfortable or disrespected.”
Sports Illustrated released a statement Tuesday in which it “unequivocally” stood behind the reporting of Stephanie Apstein, the article’s original author.
In the statements released Tuesday, the Astros didn’t deny that Taubman used offensive language.
Eyewitnesses told The Chronicle that no players were in the area of the female reporters who were yelled at, disputing the Astros’ assertion on Monday that Taubman’s rant was about “an Astros player was being asked questions about a difficult outing.”
Since some initial outrage when the team traded for Osuna last season, the Astros have partnered with the Texas Council on Family Violence, a statewide nonprofit organization, to help create better legal protections and resources for victims of domestic violence. The Astros also met with several groups in Houston on the issue.
“The Astros continue to be committed to using our voice to create awareness and support on the issue of domestic violence,” Crane said in a statement. “We not only ensure mandatory training annually for all of our employees, we have also created an important partnership with the Texas Council on Family Violence, and have raised over $300K through our initiatives to help various agencies providing important support for this cause. We fully support MLB and baseball’s stance and values regarding domestic violence. ”