The New York Yankees were affected by the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal as much as any other MLB team. Using the elaborate cheating system during their 2017 championship run, Houston defeated New York in seven games in the ALCS.

The Astros addressed their past transgressions Thursday morning at their spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The players apologized, but owner Jim Crane wouldn’t concede that his team cheated or that stealing signs directly helped Houston win the title.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t agree with Crane’s assessment.

“I think that’s quite a stretch,” Boone said Thursday at Yankees camp in Tampa, Florida. “On what level did it impact things? I guess we’ll never know and that’s for people to draw their own conclusions on. But I think clearly when we’re talking about some of the things that went on, those things have an effect on games. Clearly.”

Houston went a perfect 4-0 at home in the 2017 ALCS, averaging 3.75 runs per game. The Astros were 0-3 at Yankee Stadium, scoring two runs per game.

In nine home games during the 2017 playoffs, Houston hit .273./343/.519 with 18 home runs and 51 runs scored. In just as many road games, the Astros hit .208/.284/.347 with nine homers and 27 runs scored.

Houston also beat New York in the 2019 ALCS. MLB found no evidence that the Astros cheated during the six-game series, but there are suspicions that the AL champs were still stealing signs illegally.

Aroldis Chapman gave up the series-clinching home run to Jose Altuve in Game 6 of the 2019 ALCS. He was also part of the 2017 team that lost to the Astros, taking the loss in Game 2 of that series.

“Hitters, if they have an edge, an advantage of knowing what’s coming, it’s just going to make them stronger,” Chapman said Thursday through an interpreter. “Was that the sole reason they won the World Series? I don’t know. What I can say is that when you have an advantage like that, it’s definitely going to make you a stronger team.”

The Yankees are favored to win the 2020 World Series after signing Gerrit Cole, who led the Astros to last year’s World Series.

Aroldis Chapman Yankees Cubs
New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx of New York City on May 3, 2017. Reuters/Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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