Report: Astros exec Brandon Taubman yelled at female reporters after clinching World Series berth
On the eve of Game 1 of the World Series, the Houston Astros were dealing with a situation off the field.
A Sports Illustrated report paints an unflattering picture of Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman.
During a celebration in the Astros locker room following a 6-4 ALCS clinching win over the New York Yankees on Saturday, Taubman reportedly made some comments.
Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated said 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 (expletive) glad we got Osuna!’ ” The reported comments seemed to reference Astros closer Roberto Osuna, who “allegedly assaulted Alejandra Román Cota, the mother of his then-3-year-old child, in May 2018, as a member of the Blue Jays,” according to Sports Illustrated.
Osuna was suspended in 2018 for 75 games without pay for violating Major League Baseball’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Osuna was charged with assault in May 2018.
Major League Baseball announced Tuesday it would launch an investigation into the comments made by Taubman about Osuna.
Taubman and owner Jim Crane released statements responding to the situation Tuesday.
Astros Assistant GM Brandon Taubman and owner Jim Crane have released the following statements: pic.twitter.com/6v5nfXQNCE
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) October 22, 2019
The Sports Illustrated story went on to say none of those women were talking to Taubman. “They weren’t even talking about Osuna. Taubman brought him up,” Apstein writes.
While initially declining comment, the Astros released a statement Monday, 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
No discipline or action toward Taubman had been announced by the Astros.
Zach Brendza is a Tribune-Review digital producer. You can contact Zach at 724-850-1288, zbrendza@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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