Following the Houston Astros’ emphatic 18-1 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium—a loss that marked the worst home defeat in franchise history—emotions understandably ran high. Among those who reacted was Dodgers broadcaster and former Cy Young winner Orel Hershiser, who remarked during the broadcast that Houston hitters were “swinging at these breaking balls like they know what is coming.” His comment, delivered with a knowing pause, immediately reignited memories of the Astros’ infamous 2017 sign-stealing scandal, which still looms large over both franchises.
But not everyone in the Dodgers clubhouse is ready to revisit old wounds.
Max Muncy Offers Perspective Amid Astros-Dodgers Controversy
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Appearing on Foul Territory with A.J. Pierzynski and Erik Kratz, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy offered a more grounded take on the situation. Muncy, currently on the injured list, made clear he doesn’t believe the Astros were cheating last week. Instead, he suggested something far more common—pitch tipping.
“Do I think they knew what was coming? Yes, I do. Do I think they were cheating to get there? No,” Muncy said. “I think they had a tip on the pitcher, and that’s on us to clean that up. That’s not cheating, that’s part of the game.”
That pitcher was rookie Ben Casparius, who was tagged for six runs in three innings. It was his second rough outing in a row, following a similar line against the Royals. Muncy believes Houston simply capitalized on something they spotted in Casparius’ delivery or pitch grip—a subtle giveaway that good teams are trained to pick up on.
“You look at their timing. There was just no flinching on any of the pitches,” Muncy explained. “This is a guy throwing 97, 98 with a wicked slider. So for them to be that locked in? That kind of throws up a red flag.”
Hershiser, too, acknowledged the possibility of tipping pitches shortly after his pointed comment. “You analyze your grip, your delivery, your glove position—am I giving something away?” he noted on-air, striking a more technical tone.
In a game that relies as much on preparation and detail as it does on talent, this type of gamesmanship is nothing new. Muncy even admitted that the Dodgers themselves regularly use similar observations to their advantage.
“That’s being a smart baseball player,” he said.
While the shadow of 2017 may never completely fade, Muncy’s comments suggest that sometimes, what looks suspicious is simply the product of sharp eyes and good scouting.