» Former Astro Tony Kemp denies taking part in sign stealing.
Kemp, now playing in Oakland with whistleblower Fiers, didn’t use Astros’ sign-stealing system
MESA, Ariz. — When the A’s acquired Tony Kemp last month, there were some obvious questions: How would a member of the 2017-18 Astros — a team found guilty of stealing signs in real time via video technology — be welcomed in the Oakland clubhouse?
And was Kemp among those Houston players who cheated against Oakland and other clubs? What sort of relationship will he have with former Astros teammate Mike Fiers, the one public whisteblower in the scandal?
Kemp, a candidate for the A’s second-base job, arrived Friday at Hohokam Stadium and calmly answered every question thrown his way about the Astros’ scandal, which has cost three managers and one GM their jobs and dominated the baseball news cycle for weeks.
“I was up and down in 2017 and once I got there in September, the system was already in place,” Kemp said of the team’s sign-stealing scheme. “I just tried to keep my head down and play hard and not really concern myself with it.”
Kemp said he was approached about using the scheme — which involved relaying information about pitch type to hitters at the plate — and he declined.
“It was kind of out of my hands at that point, just having four months in the big leagues at that point,” said Kemp, who declined to disclose which player or players mentioned the sign stealing to him. “I got asked if I wanted to use the system and I said no. I felt like I was having a pretty good season at the plate in Triple-A so just wanted to continue to do that.”
Kemp said he wasn’t sure how widespread the scheme was, because he tried to stay out of it. “I was comfortable with how I was swinging the bat at the time and I didn’t want any distractions,” he said.
Fiers approached Kemp for a chat about 15 minutes before Kemp spoke to a group of reporters and, Kemp said, “It went well. I understand where he comes from. He’s my teammate now. He was my teammate in Houston. Nothing changes.”
Kemp said Fiers was in a tough spot and it’s understandable he would alert the A’s that they’d need to switch their signs up against Houston.
“It’s a sticky situation to be in,” Kemp said.
Fiers, who has not discussed his role as a whisleblower since making his initial public comments to the Athletic last November, was satisfied with the conversation, but he didn’t go into any details.
“I’ve always respected Kemp,” Fiers said. “He’s always been a good guy. I’ve always gotten along with him. He’s a good dude to have on the field and as a teammate . ... Everyone is going to love him here. Everyone’s excited he’s here and I think it will be great for him. It’s a great fit.”
Kemp, who was not asked to speak to MLB investigators, said he doesn’t feel the need to apologize or speak to the A’s as a group, but said, “I’m sure I’m going to go around the locker room. I don’t think I’m really going to make a statement. If I was more involved, I think a statement would be the right thing to do.
“We’re all grown men. If you have a question, you can come up and ask me. I’ll be straightforward with you.”
A’s first baseman Matt Olson, who played with Kemp in the Futures Game, said Kemp doesn’t need to make a teamwide apology whether he was involved in the scheme or not.
“I’m sure it helps a little that he wasn’t,” Olson said, “but whether he was or wasn’t, he’s over here now and it’s something that’s in the past. I think that’s a lot of people’s stance: If he’s on our team, we’re going to go to battle with him regardless.”
Does Kemp believe the Astros’ title is tainted?
“That’s a good question,” he said. “Everyone is going to have their own speculation about it. Everyone is going to have their own opinion about it. But I’m not sure.”
In the wake of the Astros’ apologies Thursday — some which sounded rehearsed, some vague, several more heartfelt, Kemp said, “Everyone is going to have their opinions. If you say you’re sorry, people aren’t going to want that apology and if you say something different, people aren’t going to want that (either). They’re going to say, ‘Wow, they didn’t even say they’re sorry. I’m feeling for those guys over there. They’re going through a rough time.
“I’m not going to say things going over there were right — those things were wrong. I think they’re feeling remorse now, you see how they’re acting and you can tell there was some wrongdoing there. To see the remorse they’re showing is good. It’s sincere.”