Houston Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman taunted a group of three female reporters regarding Astros closer Roberto Osuna after the team’s AL pennant-winning victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday night, according to Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein.
During the Astros’ ALCS celebration, assistant GM Brandon Taubman yelled, half a dozen times, to three female reporters, “Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f——— glad we got Osuna!” On a systemic problem, in Houston and across the league: https://t.co/8zyVwG2Lpo
— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) October 22, 2019
Apstein reports that Taubman “turned to a group of three female reporters, including one wearing a purple domestic-violence awareness bracelet, and yelled, half a dozen times, ‘Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f—— glad we got Osuna!’”
Apstein adds that the outburst “was offensive and frightening enough” that it led to another Astros staffer apologizing.
And in the center of the room, assistant general manager Brandon Taubman turned to a group of three female reporters, including one wearing a purple domestic-violence awareness bracelet, and yelled, half a dozen times, “Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f—— glad we got Osuna!”
The outburst was offensive and frightening enough that another Houston staffer apologized. The Astros declined to comment. They also declined to make Taubman available for an interview.
While a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Osuna was arrested for allegedly assaulting the mother of his child in May 2018. Prosecutors dropped the charges after she declined to testify, but Osuna was suspended 75 games by Major League Baseball for violating the league’s domestic violence and assault policy. Just two months after being arrested, the Astros traded for Osuna, in a move that was heavily criticized- and once again showed that professional sports organizations prioritize winning games over character or anything else (despite what they tell you).
So, the Astros have never looked good with the decision to carry Osuna on the roster to anyone that cares about more than just wins and losses (especially with their timing of the move), and their assistant GM allegedly taunting female reporters about it only makes things look *much* worse.
Oh, and then there’s this statement released by the Astros on Monday night, calling the Sports Illustrated story “misleading and completely irresponsible.”
The Astros just released the following statement. pic.twitter.com/KnA6kQt0hq
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 22, 2019
“The story posted by Sports Illustrated is misleading and completely irresponsible. An Astros player was being asked questions about a difficult outing. Our executive was supporting the player during a difficult time. His comments had everything to do about the game situation that just occurred and nothing else — they were also not directed toward any specific reporters. We are extremely disappointed in Sports Illustrated’s attempt to fabricate a story where one does not exist.”
That’s not the way to handle this situation, and following the statement, multiple witnesses have come forward confirming Apstein’s report.
The Astros called this @stephapstein report misleading. It is not. I was there. Saw it. And I should’ve said something sooner.
— Hunter Atkins (@HunterAtkins35) October 22, 2019
can confirm https://t.co/iQbcYRIkf0
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) October 22, 2019
Three eyewitnesses —
including two Chronicle reporters — confirm @stephapstein's reporting of Brandon Taubman's conduct in the Astros' ALCS clinching clubhouse – https://t.co/ukRn8TQcFY— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 22, 2019
Here’s how some other media members have reacted:
The reporter asked the Astros for comment before publishing her story. The Astros decline. Then after it is published, then they come out with some crazy allegations? This is both unprofessional and unbelievable.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 22, 2019
The idea that @stephapstein would “fabricate” a story is absurd. She’s a respected journalist who has earned credibility. That the @astros would pass this off as anything but one of their employees saying something really stupid is quite remarkable. https://t.co/hj7e3ZxAVs
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1186476338460397568
https://twitter.com/MarlyRiveraESPN/status/1186482634756689920
Women reporters deal with constant death and rape threats, particularly women who cover sports. This is completely unacceptable, and the Astros' efforts to gaslight the reporters in response to this story are even worse. https://t.co/tEesbEkc7Z
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) October 22, 2019
The team is fully aware of the abuse women reporters take. So is the league. there have been multiple stories written about the abuse women reporters endure in this country. Its no secret. MLB and the Astros should be taking a stand against it, not condoning it
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) October 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/JATayler/status/1186469631025922054
Please, believe women. https://t.co/wjPYkUM9X5
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) October 22, 2019
The Astros figured out how to win games. They never really figured out how to handle human beings.
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) October 22, 2019
…An uninvolved witness catches @astros in a full lie. The Asst GM must be fired and the franchise fined. Before 1st pitch tomorrow or this will loom over the World Series https://t.co/t8apZbJe3b
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 22, 2019
So, everything about this is a very bad look for the Astros, and it comes just two months after they were under fire for blocking a Detroit Free Press reporter from the clubhouse.
UPDATE: The Astros released a statement from Taubman where he apologizes if anyone was offended (which is not an apology).
Astros statement from Brandon Taubman pic.twitter.com/bTERwGkVJF
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) October 22, 2019
MLB also released a statement, claiming they will refrain from issuing a comment of value until they talk to everyone involved.
https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1186716873578164224
