Astros GM Jeff Luhnow yesterday "reiterated the 'second chance' he felt" P Roberto Osuna deserved after the team reinstated him from the MLB suspended list following a 75-game ban for domestic abuse, according to Chandler Rome of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Luhnow and Osuna met with the media for more than 20 minutes before the Astros' game against the Dodgers, and the GM "exuded optimism" that adding Osuna would "continue a conversation about domestic violence -- a topic Luhnow said is 'front and center' within the organization." He "opted to see the positives of Osuna's arrival" and speculated Osuna could one day "lecture the organization's minor leaguers about his situation." Luhnow said the Astros "looked into the alleged incident" with Osuna and undertook "unprecedented due diligence" in vetting him. Luhnow said that a "handful" of Astros players have met with him one-on-one since acquiring Osuna, as most of them had "questions and wanted to talk about it" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/6).
SOLD THEIR SOUL: MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal said reinstating Osuna is "going to be a bad look for baseball" if he is "on the mound in Game Seven of the World Series closing it out." Rosenthal: "This is an issue that was dropped on the lap of the players, the people in uniform and it's difficult. It's not easy. They're not necessarily equipped to answer the questions they're being asked right now." While the Astros' decision is "perfectly within the rules and boundaries" of MLB, many people "feel uncomfortable" about the team's decision ("MLB Tonight," MLBN, 8/5). USA TODAY's Josh Peter wrote the Astros "gave away a chunk of their integrity," as they made it clear they "do not have a zero-tolerance policy on domestic violence" when they acquired Osuna (USATODAY.com, 8/5). MLB.com's Richard Justice said, "The optics are just terrible because part of the appeal of the team is the likability ... and now you're putting this on the line? You're risking a stain on the franchise and you put your manager in a terrible spot." ESPN's Ryen Russillo said for the Astros, it "became more about packaging." Russillo: "When you say as an organization you have a zero-tolerance policy against domestic violence, but then you trade for somebody it looks bad" ("Get Up!," ESPN, 8/6).
CLUBHOUSE DYNAMICS: ESPN's Trey Wingo said of how Osuna's addition will affect the Astros' clubhouse, "People always say that chemistry isn't part of any team sport, but it is. We will see how this meshes with what has been a very good culture and a very good squad in Houston." ESPN's Karl Ravech: "Even within the clubhouse, this fluctuates between disgust and disdain and acceptance, and it doesn't go above acceptance. There is nobody that is delighted about this within the clubhouse, meaning the guys in uniforms" (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 8/6). ESPN's Mark Teixeira said, "Nobody is accepting that domestic violence is welcomed in a clubhouse, but that is the defending world champions. They are professionals in there" ("Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown," ESPN, 8/5).
