Houston Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman apologises for ’unprofessionalism’

Just hours before the Astros played host to Washington in game one of the World Series, Houston were forced into an embarrassing backdown over a locker-room outburst.

Roberto Osuna came to the Astros in a trade in 2018 from the Blue Jays.

Houston Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman has apologised for a weekend locker-room outburst but denied it had any links to domestic violence as indicated in an article in Sports Illustrated.

Hours before the Astros played host to Washington in game one of the World Series, Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven championship final, the team was trying to move past a response attacking the story.

Taubman admitted his mistake in yelling at three female reporters regarding relief pitcher Robrto Osuna during the locker-room celebration by the Astros after beating the New York Yankees to win the American League crown.

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Roberto Osuna came to the Astros in a trade in 2018 from the Blue Jays.

“My comments were unprofessional and inappropriate,” Taubman said.

Taubman turned to the women, one of whom wore a domestic violence awareness bracelet, and yelled six times: “Thank God we got Osuna. I’m so f-ing glad we got Osuna,” according to the Sports Illustrated story, which said another team staffer quickly apologised for the rant.

Osuna was suspended for 75 games in 2018 after allegedly assaulting the mother of his three-year-old child.

He was later signed by the Astros from the Toronto Blue Jays despite the ban.

Since arriving in Houston, Osuna has compiled a 2.46 earned-run average with 50 saves.

The Astros initially responded with a statement calling the Sports Illustrated story “misleading and completely irresponsible,” saying a player “was being asked questions about a difficult outing.”

But the Houston Chronicle reported that other reporters supported Sports Illustrated’s account, saying no player was being interviewed when Taubman began yelling and that the comments appeared directed to the women reporters.

The Astros took the American Leaguer title with a series win over the Yankees.

That set the stage for Taubman’s statement and another by Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane saying the team has a history of calling out the issue of domestic violence.

“This past Saturday, during our clubhouse celebration, I used inappropriate language for which I am deeply sorry and embarrassed,” Taubman said.

“In retrospect, I realise that my comments were unprofessional and inappropriate.

“My overexuberance in support of a player has been misinterpreted as a demonstration of a regressive attitude about an important social issue. Those that know me know that I am a progressive and charitable member of the community, and a loving and committed husband and father.

“I hope that those who do not know me understand that the Sports Illustrated article does not reflect who I am or my values. I am sorry if anyone was offended by my actions.”

Originally published as Houston Astros assistant general manager Brandon Taubman apologises for ’unprofessionalism’