Questions abound in light of leaked Houston Astros trade information

We’re all aware of the publication of the reportedly hacked and stolen information regarding Houston Astros trade chatter. There are numerous places that have either published that info (originally on Deadspin) or linked to the website that was hosting such.

Quick side note. I already read “Houston, we have a problem…” and “Ground control to Major Tom” references within the past 24 hours. More than one for each.

Yesterday, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow issued a statement and addressed some questions pertaining to the release of this highly sensitive information (via Eval Drellich of the Houston Chronicle). Not Luhnow’s greatest day on the job.

As I read the two “files”, I was mesmerized at the number of players that were mentioned. Well over 50 had at least one mention. Maybe this is me being a little naive to the daily grind of a GM around the trade deadline and during the offseason. I knew there was chatter centering around potential deals, but not to this extent. I did get a decent picture on those happenings and even more.

My thoughts and questions from the discovery of these two files…

The first is a simple question: Why Houston? Luhnow was asked this question, and he believes that is due to the Astros being “one of the more active teams in the trade market the last couple years”. Logical response, and it certainly does make sense. I have another theory on this.

Maybe this was because of how the Astros have conducted business over this same period of time. Trading off all of those experienced and expensive players and getting what seems like nothing more in return than prospects. To some it felt like Houston was being taken for a ride on some of those deals.

Losing 100+ games for three consecutive seasons could add to the wonderment of how the franchise is conducting business. We’ve assumed that when owner Jim Crane bought the club that there could be a complete stripping down of the organization. In a sense, these files actually back that notion.

So why just post these two files? Were they the only two that were obtained? I know I’d have to ask the individual(s) that got this information and posted it, so unless the culprit is caught, we might all be asking that for a while. We might never get an answer to that.

From what I have read, the Astros knew of this security breach about a month ago. So did they make any attempt to reach out to those teams that were chatting with Houston in regards to deals? You know, let the proper individuals know of the breach so that if this information ever becomes public (as it did), a proper course of action could be taken by the teams and players named?

"“…I’ve been on the phone with other teams expressing my apology and letting them know what I happened. That’s about all I can do at this point.”"

I’ll take that as a “no”.

So why not? Wouldn’t that course of action stem a lot of the tide that appeared yesterday? Let them know in advance. I would think at that point, common courtesy would take over. Same for addressing the Astros players named in these “transcripts”.

The only reason I can assume this course of action wasn’t taken is because the organization didn’t know exactly what information was taken. Or because of the FBI involvement. Just guesses on my part.

I know I can’t be the only one to ask the following, but how long before another organization’s trade chatter (or other internal dealings) emerges in this fashion? If they have a system similar to “Ground Control”, a collective breath is being held, if it hasn’t already been held.

Welcome to the digital age, I guess.