Astros’ Hinch calls sign stealing suspicions ‘a joke’

New York — Astros manager AJ Hinch blew his own whistle Thursday on sign stealing and pitch tipping: He's had enough of allegations about Houston hitters going out of bounds to decipher what's coming at the plate.

Hinch eagerly weighed in again on an issue that won't seem to go away this postseason. He was asked before Game 4 of the AL Championship Series on Thursday night (visit www. theday.com for a complete recap) about reports that indicated the New York Yankees suspected the Astros of whistling from their dugout during the opener to communicate pitch selection to their batters.

Major League Baseball looked into it and concluded Houston didn't break any rules, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.

"Man, I'm glad you asked that question, and I thought it would come up today," Hinch said at the start of his Yankee Stadium news conference. "In reality, it's a joke. But Major League Baseball does a lot to ensure the fairness of the game. There's people everywhere. If you go through the dugouts and the clubhouses and the hallways, there's like so many people around.

"And then when I get contacted about some questions about whistling, it made me laugh because it's ridiculous. And had I known that it would take something like that to set off the Yankees or any other team, we would have practiced it in spring training," he added. "It apparently works, even when it doesn't happen."

Hinch said he understands the "gamesmanship" and "creating a narrative for yourself."

But he's bothered by the anonymous accusations.

"The problem I have is when other people take shots at us outside this competition," Hinch said. "When you guys ask me this question, my face, my name is by my quotes, my opinions, my reaction is all for you guys to tweet out and put on the broadcast. But we have people that are unnamed, or you guys have sources that are giving you information. I suggest they put their name by it if they're so passionate about it to comment about my team or my players."

Houston made headlines last year following suspicions of illegal sign stealing when a man associated with the Astros was caught pointing a cellphone into opposing dugouts.

"I understand where the paranoia comes from. We have it. I have it," said Astros ace Justin Verlander, scheduled to start Game 5 tonight in New York.