Page 12 - Sports Illustrated KIDS Magazine (January - February 2020)

background. Gattis takes outside feature buzzing
again. The next pitch is a fouled-off electronic badges
fastball. Pitch five is a changeup— worn by hitters.
BANG! BANG!—Gattis is sitting on Does the Astros’
the pitch, and, perhaps overeagerly, scheme rise to the
rips it foul. level of Spygate, the

Eventually, Smith steps off the Patriots’ 2007
rubber and points to his ear. He calls signal-taping
the catcher to the mound and initiates scandal? Sign-
a more complex series of signs, the stealing in baseball,
kind the catcher would use if the after all, is a time-
Astros had a runner on second. Gattis honored tradition.
strikes out on an off-speed pitch that Teams expect players
came without warning. to peek; that’s why
FIERSTORM
Turns out Farquhar was on to they talk into their The answer has to do with a
Oakland starter Mike
something. In November, The Athletic gloves during higher consideration than the
Fiers, a member of the
published a report that featured mound conferences. champion ’17 Astros, ethics of cheating versus
allegations from former Houston While what the blew the whistle on gamesmanship: What the
starter Mike Fiers that the 2017 Astros did (using his former team’s Astros did is deeply lame.
hi-tech snooping.
championship team had engineered a electronic Consider the flattering
complex sign-stealing system that equipment) is illegal, description of Houston’s behavior
involved cameras inside Minute Maid the act of stealing signs itself has never as “spying.” The idea of spying is cool
Park. Live video feed of the opposing been against the rules. when it’s Daniel Craig’s James Bond
catcher’s fingers allegedly allowed the In fact, the game has a long history using his wiles to escape the clutches
Astros to relay information to their of illicit technological sign relay, going of a supervillain. That’s the runner
hitters by banging a trash can in the back 120 years to the 1900 Phillies, stealing signs from second: Someone
tunnel between the clubhouse and the who wired buzzers from the outfield to in the game, alone in hostile territory,
dugout—likely the banging sound the third base coaching box. So, why is using just his wits to rapidly decode
Farquhar had identified. Subsequent a runner on second peering at the vital information. Banging on a trash
reports indicate the Astros’ system catcher’s hand O.K., but filming that can while watching TV—that’s about
may have been advanced enough to same hand a violation? as far from 007 as it gets.

UNBOXED

The original XFL
Taking the lid off the was known for

coolest sports gear.

On Februray 8, the XFL
will begin play. It’s a little more traditional
revival of the league (the L.A. team is the
run by WWE that lasted
just one season, in
2001. That means new Guardian?) The coolest logos belong to
teams, new rules (three- the Dallas Renegades (a masked bandit
point conversions after with glowing red eyes) and the Seattle BRAD MANGIN (FIERS); COURTESY XFL (2)
touchdowns!), and, of Dragons (um, a dragon).
course, new gear, which If nothing else, the new league will
is available at XFL.com. be interesting—and look good.

10 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS