Atlanta Braves: 2 new scandal observations

With World Series Game 3 in the books, we could be about a week from learning the organization’s fate in this Game of iPhones rule-breaking scandal.

The Atlanta Braves are still in trouble. There have still been no hints on exactly who will be implicated and – more importantly to fans going forward – what penalties could be imposed. But there are some hints and observations that might hold us in the meantime.

1. Outside Guesses

Though we keep hearing that the Braves generally ‘engaged in nothing more than what other teams do routinely’, others aren’t so sure. Consider Jon Heyman’s remarks this week:

"MLB once punished the Boston Red Sox for rules infractions on international signings, setting a few players free and barring them from signing players in the next signing period. The Braves’ violations are said to be more even more widespread, and could therefore potentially result in harsher penalties."

Well, that’s just fun. Good way to get started. But perhaps there’s another way to mitigate the damage… by throwing in another sacrificial lamb.

2. The Dayton Moore Inquiry

The Braves have been acting as if their senior management was above it all – that somehow, John Coppolella and Gordon Blakeley were running a rogue operation that neither John Schuerholz nor John Hart were aware of.

Apparently MLB investigators either didn’t by that or they at least wanted to get those statements on the record.

Heyman also reported in the most clear terms yet that this pair has been required to give their statements:

"“The league has interviewed team president John Hart multiple times, as well as legendary GM John Schuerholz, who just got into the Hall of Fame…”"

Note that phrase “multiple times” on Hart. That leads me back to the headline of this observation.

Dan Horton noted yesterday the report that the Braves had formally requested the chance to speak with Dayton Moore – a request that was denied by Royals ownership.

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Let’s break this down:

Moore was said to be the preferred new GM candidate of the Braves
Moore was said to want control of all of baseball operations as a condition for leaving Kansas City (all of this is anecdotal, but makes sense given his current role)
For that to happen, John Hart would be out of the picture
Hart was said to want to stay on with the team
But if the Braves made the request to speak with Moore, that would imply a willingness for Hart to step away
Why would Hart change his mind… unless MLB has perhaps now implicated him in their investigation?

Normally, for investigators to come back and re-interview someone, it’s not just because they needed the answer to an additional question. It’s normally because something they learned from someone else that they wish to confront a subject with… or perhaps some irregularity with testimony that doesn’t add up.

It’s also noteworthy that John Hart’s contract renewal hasn’t been announced – even while Brian Snitker’s was.

MLB already has two pelts in their trophy case for this inquiry – those of Coppolella and Blakeley. But now the fate of John Hart seems to be hanging in the balance.

Dan gave you a ‘worst-case’ scenario for this: in my mind, the best case could be this:

Coppy, Blakeley, and then Hart all go away
Ban on international signings for a year

Next: A Scary Scenario this Halloween

All that is speculation, and we’re still hoping for the best… and whatever the result is, that we find out quickly.

With World Series Game 3 in the books, we could be about a week from learning the organization’s fate in this Game of iPhones rule-breaking scandal.

1. Outside Guesses

2. The Dayton Moore Inquiry

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